Amended in Assembly April 21, 2014

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 2198

Introduced by Assembly Member Levine

(Principal coauthor: Senator Hill)

February 20, 2014

An act to add begin delete Chapter 17 (commencing with Section 4999.150) to Division 2 of end delete begin insert Sections 2915.3, 2915.4, 4980.393, 4980.394, 4989.21, 4989.35, 4996.27, 4996.275, 4999.37, and 4999.77 end insert begin insert to end insert the Business and Professions Code, relating to healing arts.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 2198, as amended, Levine. Mental health professionals: suicide prevention training.

Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of various professionals who provide mental health-related services, including psychologists, marriage and family therapists, educational psychologists, begin insert professional clinical counselors, end insert and clinical social workers. Under existing law, an applicant for licensure in these professions is required to complete certain coursework or training in order to be eligible for a license. Existing law also requires these professionals to participate in continuing education as a prerequisite for renewing their license.

begin delete

This bill would require a mental health professional, defined to include, but not be limited to, certain types of professionals, to complete a training program in suicide assessment, treatment, and management that is administered by the relevant board or other state entity responsible for the licensure and regulation of the mental health professional. The bill would require the Department of Consumer Affairs to conduct a study evaluating the effect of evidence-based suicide assessment, treatment, and management training on the ability of licensed health care professionals to identify, refer, treat, and manage patients with suicidal ideation, and would require the department, no later than January 1, 2016, to prepare and submit to the Legislature report summarizing the findings of that study.

end delete begin insert

This bill would require a psychologist, marriage and family therapist, educational psychologist, professional clinical counselor, and clinical social worker who began graduate study on or after January 1, 2016, to complete a minimum of 15 contact hours of coursework in suicide assessment, treatment, and management before he or she may be issued a license. The bill would also require, commencing January 1, 2016, a person licensed in these professions who began graduate study prior to January 1, 2016, to take a six-hour continuing education course in suicide assessment, treatment, and management in order to renew his or her license.

end insert

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

begin insert

begin insert SECTION 1. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 2915.3 is added to the end insert begin insert Business and
Professions Code end insert begin insert , to read: end insert

begin insert

begin insert 2915.3. end insert   

(a) Any applicant for licensure as a psychologist who
began graduate study on or after January 1, 2016, shall complete,
as a condition of licensure, a minimum of 15 contact hours of
coursework in suicide assessment, treatment, and management.

(b) The board shall not issue a license to the applicant until the
applicant has met the requirements of this section.

end insert

begin insert

begin insert SEC. 2. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 2915.4 is added to the end insert begin insert Business and Professions
Code end insert begin insert , to read: end insert

begin insert

begin insert 2915.4. end insert   

(a) A licensee who began graduate study prior to
January 1, 2016, shall complete a six-hour continuing education
course in best practices for suicide assessment, treatment, and
management during his or her first renewal period after the
operative date of this section, and shall submit to the board
evidence acceptable to the board of the person’s satisfactory
completion of that course.

(b) The board shall not issue a license to the applicant until the
applicant has met the requirements of this section.

(c) Continuing education courses taken pursuant to this section
shall be applied to the 36 hours of approved continuing education
required by Section 2915.

(d) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

end insert

begin insert

begin insert SEC. 3. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 4980.393 is added to the end insert begin insert Business and
Professions Code end insert begin insert , end insert immediately following Section 4980.39 begin insert , to read: end insert

begin insert

begin insert 4980.393. end insert   

(a) An applicant for licensure who began graduate
study on or after January 1, 2016, and whose education qualifies
him or her under Section 4980.36 or 4980.37 shall complete, as
a condition of licensure, a minimum of 15 contact hours of
coursework in suicide assessment, treatment, and management.

end insert

begin insert

begin insert SEC. 4. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 4980.394 is added to the end insert begin insert Business and
Professions Code end insert begin insert , to read: end insert

begin insert

begin insert 4980.394. end insert   

(a) A licensee who began graduate study before
January 1, 2016, shall complete a six-hour continuing education
course in best practices for suicide assessment, treatment, and
management, during his or her first renewal period after the
operative date of this section and shall submit to the board
evidence, acceptable to the board, of the person’s satisfactory
completion of the course.

(b) Continuing education courses taken pursuant to this section
shall be applied to the 36 hours of approved continuing education
required by Section 4980.54.

(c) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

end insert

begin insert

begin insert SEC. 5. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 4989.21 is added to the end insert begin insert Business and
Professions Code end insert begin insert , to read: end insert

begin insert

begin insert 4989.21. end insert   

(a) Any applicant for licensure as an educational
psychologist who began graduate study on or after January 1,
2016, shall complete, as a condition of licensure, a minimum of
15 contact hours of coursework in suicide assessment, treatment,
and management.

(b) The board shall not issue a license to the applicant until the
applicant has met the requirements of this section.

end insert

begin insert

begin insert SEC. 6. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 4989.35 is added to the end insert begin insert Business and
Professions Code end insert begin insert , to read: end insert

begin insert

begin insert 4989.35. end insert   

(a) A licensee who began graduate study before
January 1, 2016, shall complete a six-hour continuing education
course in best practices for suicide assessment, treatment, and
management, during his or her first renewal period after the
operative date of this section and shall submit to the board
evidence, acceptable to the board, of the person’s satisfactory
completion of the course.

(b) Continuing education courses taken pursuant to this section
shall be applied to the 36 hours of approved continuing education
required by Section 4989.34.

(c) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

end insert

begin insert

begin insert SEC. 7. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 4996.27 is added to the end insert begin insert Business and
Professions Code end insert begin insert , end insert immediately following Section 4996.26 begin insert , to read: end insert

begin insert

begin insert 4996.27. end insert   

(a) Any applicant for licensure as a licensed clinical
social worker who began graduate study on or after January 1,
2016, shall complete, as a condition of licensure, a minimum of
15 contact hours of coursework in suicide assessment, treatment,
and management.

(b) The board shall not issue a license to the applicant until the
applicant has met the requirements of this section.

end insert

begin insert

begin insert SEC. 8. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 4996.275 is added to the end insert begin insert Business and
Professions Code end insert begin insert , end insert immediately following Section 4996.27 begin insert , to read: end insert

begin insert

begin insert 4996.275. end insert   

(a) A licensee who began graduate study prior to
January 1, 2016, shall complete a six-hour continuing education
course in best practices for suicide assessment, treatment, and
management, during his or her first renewal period after the
operative date of this section, and shall submit to the board
evidence, acceptable to the board, of the person’s satisfactory
completion of the course.

(b) Continuing education courses taken pursuant to this section
shall be applied to the 36 hours of approved continuing education
required in Section 4996.22.

(c) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

end insert

begin insert

begin insert SEC. 9. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 4999.37 is added to the end insert begin insert Business and
Professions Code end insert begin insert , to read: end insert

begin insert

begin insert 4999.37. end insert   

An applicant for examination eligibility or registration
who began graduate study on or after January 1, 2016, and whose
education qualifies him or her under Section 4999.32 or 4999.33
shall complete, as a condition of licensure, a minimum of 15
contact hours of coursework in suicide assessment, treatment, and
management.

end insert

begin insert

begin insert SEC. 10. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 4999.77 is added to the end insert begin insert Business and
Professions Code end insert begin insert , to read: end insert

begin insert

begin insert 4999.77. end insert   

(a) A licensee who began graduate study prior to
January 1, 2016, shall complete a six-hour continuing education
course in best practices for suicide assessment, treatment, and
management, during his or her first renewal period after the
operative date of this section, and shall submit to the board
evidence, acceptable to the board, of the person’s satisfactory
completion of the course.

(b) Continuing education courses taken pursuant to this section
shall be applied to the 36 hours of approved continuing education
required in Section 4999.76.

(c) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

end insert

begin delete

SECTION 1.  

Chapter 17 (commencing with Section 4999.150)
is added to Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, to
read:

 

Chapter  17. Mental Health Professional Suicide
Prevention Training

 

4999.150.  

The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:

(a) According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention:

(1) In 2008, more than 36,000 people died by suicide in the
United States, making it the 10th leading cause of death nationally.

(2) During 2007 to 2008, inclusive, an estimated 569,000 people
visited hospital emergency departments with self-inflicted injuries
in the United States, 70 percent of whom had attempted suicide.

(b) According to a national study, veterans face an elevated risk
of suicide as compared to the general population, more than twice
the risk among male veterans. Another study has indicated a
positive correlation between posttraumatic stress disorder and
suicide.

(c) Research continues on how the effects of wartime service
and injuries such as traumatic brain injury, posttraumatic stress
disorder, or other service-related conditions, may increase the
number of veterans who attempt suicide.

(d) As more men and women separate from the military and
transition back into civilian life, community mental health
providers will become a vital resource to help these veterans and
their families deal with issues that may arise.

(e) Suicide has an enormous impact on the family and friends
of the victim as well as the community as a whole.

(f) Approximately 90 percent of people who die by suicide had
a diagnosable psychiatric disorder at the time of death. Most suicide
victims exhibit warning signs or behaviors prior to an attempt.

(g) Improved training and education in suicide assessment,
treatment, and management has been recommended by a variety
of organizations, including the United States Department of Health
and Human Services and the Institute of Medicine.

(h) It is the intent of the Legislature to help lower the suicide
rate in this state by requiring certain health professionals to
complete training in suicide assessment, treatment, and
management as part of their continuing education, continuing
competency, or recertification requirements.

(i) The Legislature does not intend to expand or limit the existing
scope of practice of any health professional affected by this chapter.

4999.151.  

As used in this chapter, “mental health professional”
includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:

(a) A psychologist.

(b) A marriage and family therapist.

(c) A clinical social worker.

4999.152.  

Commencing January 1, 2015, a mental health
professional subject to this chapter shall complete a training
program in suicide assessment, treatment, and management as
prescribed by this chapter and administered by the relevant board
or other state entity responsible for the licensure and regulation of
the mental health professional.

4999.153.  

(a) The Department of Consumer Affairs shall
conduct a study evaluating the effect of evidence-based suicide
assessment, treatment, and management training on the ability of
licensed health care professionals to identify, refer, treat, and
manage patients with suicidal ideation.

(b) The Department of Consumer Affairs shall prepare and
submit to the Legislature, no later than January 1, 2016, a report
summarizing the findings of the study pursuant to subdivision (a).
The report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of
the Government Code.

(c) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2019,
and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that
is enacted before January 1, 2019, deletes or extends that date.

end delete