Bill Text: CA AB2198 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Amended
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Mental health professionals: suicide prevention training.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Vetoed) 2014-09-18 - Vetoed by Governor. [AB2198 Detail]
Download: California-2013-AB2198-Amended.html
Bill Title: Mental health professionals: suicide prevention training.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Vetoed) 2014-09-18 - Vetoed by Governor. [AB2198 Detail]
Download: California-2013-AB2198-Amended.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 2198 AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 21, 2014 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Levine (Principal coauthor: Senator Hill) FEBRUARY 20, 2014 An act to addChapter 17 (commencing with Section 4999.150) to Division 2 ofSections 2915.3, 2915.4, 4980.393, 4980.394, 4989.21, 4989.35, 4996.27, 4996.275, 4999.37, and 4999.77 to 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, professional clinical counselors, 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.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.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. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 2915.3 is added to the Business and Professions Code , to read: 2915.3. (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. SEC. 2. Section 2915.4 is added to the Business and Professions Code , to read: 2915.4. (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. SEC. 3. Section 4980.393 is added to the Business and Professions Code , immediately following Section 4980.39 , to read: 4980.393. (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. SEC. 4. Section 4980.394 is added to the Business and Professions Code , to read: 4980.394. (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. SEC. 5. Section 4989.21 is added to the Business and Professions Code , to read: 4989.21. (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. SEC. 6. Section 4989.35 is added to the Business and Professions Code , to read: 4989.35. (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. SEC. 7. Section 4996.27 is added to the Business and Professions Code , immediately following Section 4996.26 , to read: 4996.27. (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. SEC. 8. Section 4996.275 is added to the Business and Professions Code , immediately following Section 4996.27 , to read: 4996.275. (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. SEC. 9. Section 4999.37 is added to the Business and Professions Code , to read: 4999.37. 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. SEC. 10. Section 4999.77 is added to the Business and Professions Code , to read: 4999.77. (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.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.