SPONSOR: Fitzwater
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Professional Registration and Licensing by a vote of 11 to 0. Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Rules- Administrative Oversight by a vote of 9 to 0.
Current statute prohibits any documentation to be placed in a psychologist's file or for any disciplinary action to be taken against a psychologist, unless there is merit to a complaint against a psychologist by an individual who is incarcerated or held under civil detention procedures. If a complaint against a psychologist by an individual who is incarcerated or held under civil detention procedures is found to be without merit, a psychologist may submit a written request to destroy all documentation about the complaint. This bill adds the same requirements for complaints against a psychologist by an individual who is being evaluated in a criminal proceeding involving mental illness.
This bill is the same as HB 441 (2019) and HB 2709 (2018).
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that this bill will help provide a solution that is a true issue for psychologists, and will help do away with frivolous complaints.
Testifying for the bill were Representative Fitzwater; Chuck Hollister, Phd, Missouri Psychological Association; and Richard Gowdy, Department of Mental Health.
OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee.
Statutes affected: