SB 660
Modifies the law relating to mental health
Sponsor:
LR Number:
4178S.04T
Committee:
Last Action:
6/1/2018 - Signed by Governor
Journal Page:
Title:
CCS HCS SB 660
Calendar Position:
Effective Date:
August 28, 2018
House Handler:

Current Bill Summary

CCS/HCS/SB 660 - This act modifies provisions relating to mental health, including: (1) "Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day"; (2) Department of Mental Health contracts; (3) psychologist training; (4) the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact; (5) Department of Mental Health standing in certain hearings; (6) Department of Mental Health inspections; (7) working hours in certain mental health facilities; and (8) mental health professionals.

POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS AWARENESS DAY (Section 9.270)

This act establishes June 27 of each year as "Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day".

This provision is identical to the perfected HB 1375 (2018).

DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH CONTRACTS (Section 208.217)

Current law permits the Department of Social Services to enter into contracts with an entity for the provision of the medical insurance information of certain persons applying for or receiving MO HealthNet benefits. Such information is limited to those insurance benefits that could have been claimed and paid by an insurance policy or are otherwise covered by MO HealthNet. Under this act, the Department of Mental Health may enter into such contracts for the medical insurance information of persons receiving Department of Mental Health services.

This provision is identical to a provision in the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/HCS/SB 951 (2018), SB 1083 (2018), and HB 2716 (2018).

PSYCHOLOGIST TRAINING (Sections 337.025, 337.029, and 337.033)

This act provides that a doctoral degree in psychology from a program accredited, or provisionally accredited, by the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System is acceptable to meet various requirements for licensure as a psychologist if the degree program meets certain requirements as set forth in the act.

These provisions are identical to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/HCS/SB 951 (2018), the perfected HB 1419 (2018), the perfected HB 1629 (2018), and the perfected HB 1896 (2018), substantially similar to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/HCS/SCS/SB 718 (2018), the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/SS/SCS/HB 1719 (2018), SCS/HCS/HB 2127 (2018), HCS/SB 796 (2018), and the perfected HB 1896 (2018) and similar to SCS/HCS/HB 316 (2017), HB 2639 (2016), and HB 1083 (2015).

PSYCHOLOGY INTERJURISDICTIONAL COMPACT (Sections 337.100 to 337.165)

This act establishes a new psychology interjurisdictional compact for the practice of telepsychology. The compact does not apply to permanent in-person practice, but regulates the temporary practice of psychology and the day to day practice of telepsychology.

Psychologists licensed in a home state are allowed to practice telepsychology into other receiving states where the psychologist is not licensed under an authority to practice interjurisdictional telepsychology. In order to obtain this authority, the psychologist must meet certain educational, licensure, background, and other requirements as specified in the act. The psychologist shall be subject to the receiving state's scope of practice requirements.

The compact creates the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact Commission. Each compact state's psychology regulatory authority shall appoint one delegate to serve as a commissioner. The delegate will have the authority to act on behalf of the compact state. The Commission must meet once a year and all meetings are open to the public. The Commission may close a meeting to discuss certain matters as established in the compact. All documents of a closed meeting will remain closed unless a majority of the commissioners vote to release such records or upon court order. The Commission may also collect an annual fee from each compact state to cover the cost of operations.

When a home state takes adverse action against a psychologist's license, the psychologist's authority to practice interjurisdictional telepsychology or temporary authorization to practice is terminated and his or her E. Passport or IPC is revoked. A compact state must report actions against a licensee to the Commission. When a complaint is filed against a licensee for conduct occurring in a receiving state, the licensee's home state psychology regulatory authority must investigate and take appropriate action as if the conduct had occurred within the home state. In such cases, the home state's law shall be used to determine any adverse action against the psychologist's license.

The compact shall go into effect after seven states have enacted the compact legislation.

These provisions are identical to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/SS/SCS/HB 1719 (2018), HCS/SB 796 (2018), the perfected HB 1419 (2018), the perfected HB 1629 (2018), and the perfected HB 1896 (2018) and substantially similar to SB 462 (2017), HB 227 (2017), and provisions in HCS/SB 125 (2017).

DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH STANDING IN CERTAIN HEARINGS (Section 552.020)

This act provides that after a person accused of committing a crime has been committed to the Department of Mental Health due to lack of mental fitness to stand trial, the legal counsel for the Department shall have standing to participate in hearings regarding involuntary medications for the accused and motions to proceed.

This provision is identical to HB 1970 (2018) and substantially similar to SCS/SB 661 (2018).

DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH INSPECTIONS (Section 630.745)

This act removes the requirement that a written correction order be sent, by certified mail, to the head of a facility or program inspected by the Department of Mental Health. Instead, the correction order shall be sent to the facility or program at the facility or program's address. Additionally, this act changes the time period for a reinspection from 55 days after the original inspection to 60 days after the original inspection.

This provision is identical to SB 1095 (2018), HB 2611 (2018), and SB 532 (2017).

WORKING HOURS IN CERTAIN MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES (Section 630.945)

This act exempts the first Sunday of November each year when Daylight Saving Time ends from current law requirements that limit the number of hours a state employee may work in a 24 hour period in certain secured mental health facilities.

This provision is identical to SCS/SB 229 (2017).

MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS (Section 632.005)

The act adds psychiatric physician assistants, psychiatric advanced practice registered nurses, and psychiatric assistant physicians to the definition of mental health professionals for the purposes of provisions of law relating to alcohol and drug abuse and comprehensive psychiatric services and adds a definition for each term.

These provisions are identical to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/HCS/SCS/SB 718 (2018), SCS/HCS/HB 2127 (2018), and HB 1719 (2018), substantially similar to provisions in HCS/SCS/SB 846 (2018), and similar to HB 2295 (2018).

SARAH HASKINS

Amendments