Board Meeting Highlights August 8-9, 2008

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The Board of Psychology conducts four quarterly board meetings each year. Board meeting minutes are available to the public once they have been approved and adopted by the Board at a subsequent meeting. To inform the public of the major actions or discussions of each Board meeting without waiting for the approved minutes, Board staff produces this document entitled "Board Meeting Highlights" and makes it available to the public as soon as possible following the Board meeting. This summary is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be viewed as the official minutes of the Board meeting.

The Board of Psychology met on August 8 - 9, 2008, at the Sheraton Suites San Diego at Symphony Hall, 701 A Street, San Diego, CA 92101. The following summarizes the major highlights of the board meeting:

• The Credentials Committee reported that after the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education (BPPVE) was disbanded, legislation was passed to recognize the schools that had previously been approved by BPPVE for purposes of meeting qualifications for licensure and licensing examinations through January 1, 2009. At this time, this date has not been extended. The Board stated that its position on this issue is that, unless further legislation is passed to extend this date, anyone who has a degree conferred by an approved school prior to January 1, 2009 can continue the licensing process based on that degree. However, if the degree was awarded after January 1, 2009, the degree will not quality for licensure. The Board will send a letter to the affected schools and let them know its position.
• The Board held a regulation hearing regarding the submission of a plan by a psychological assistant accruing supervised professional experience in private practice (Title 16, California Code of Regulations, Sections 1387(b)(10) and 1387.6). The Board voted to accept the proposed regulations as noticed and to delegate to staff the authority to make any required non-substantive changes in continuing the rulemaking process.
• The Board held a regulation hearing regarding changing the expiration date of a psychological assistant registration from January 31st of each year to one year from the date of issuance of the registration (Title 16, California Code of Regulations, Sections 1391.4, 1391.10 and 1391.12). The Board voted to retain the current language of section 1391.4 regarding the American Psychological Association's Guidelines and Principles for Accreditation of Programs in Professional Psychology, issue a 15-day notice of that modification, delegate to the Executive Officer the authority to adopt the modified text in the absence of any negative comments, adopt the remaining proposed changes as noticed, and delegate to staff the authority to make any required non-substantive changes in continuing the rulemaking process.
• The Board is moving forth with its plans to conduct a diversity conference in collaboration with the California Psychological Association. The Board is currently aiming to hold the conference on November 7, 2008 and is working with CPA to finalize the agenda and tentative speakers.
• Regulation updates:
  • - Postdoctoral Supervised Professional Experience (CAPIC) – Amendments to Title 16, California Code of Regulations section 1387(a)(2)(A) – Hearing was held on November 17, 2007, at which the Board adopted the proposed language. Board staff has been working with the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) to revise the Economic and Fiscal Impact Statement. The final rulemaking file will be submitted to DCA by close of business on August 12, 2008.
• The Board will conduct its next Board meeting on November 21-22, 2008 as part of the Professionals Achieving Consumer Trust Summit (Consumer Trust Summit), presented by the Department of Consumer Affairs and the California Consumer Affairs Association, at the Westin Los Angeles Airport, 5400 West Century Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045. The Consumer Trust Summit, being held from November 18 through November 21, 2008, will provide an unprecedented opportunity for Board members, consumer advocates, law enforcement and stakeholders to meet. This event will lay the foundation for further cooperation and future collaboration in areas that impact consumers and licensees across the state. The Consumer Trust Summit will include:
  • DCA board and bureau regulatory meetings
  • Training sessions designed especially for board members, consumer advocates and law enforcement
  • Panel discussions on issues that affect DCA's consumer protection mission
  • The California Consumer Affairs Association Training Session
  • The Small Claims Court Advisors Association Training Session
  The Consumer Trust Summit will enable participants to establish new channels of communication, share best practices, leverage resources, and build partnerships. This will enhance participants' ability to gather and share information and to address common issues like workforce shortage and the value of a California professional license.