SB 1024: Healing arts: Board of Behavioral Sciences: licensees and registrants.
- Session Year: 2023-2024
- House: Senate
- Latest Version Date: 2024-07-18
Current Status:
Passed
(2024-07-18: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 160, Statutes of 2024.)
Introduced
In Committee
First Chamber
In Committee
Second Chamber
Enacted
What does this bill do?
The bill requires providers regulated by the Board of Behavioral Sciences—marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, professional clinical counselors, and educational psychologists—to display their license during in‑person clinical services and to give clients a written notice (starting July 1, 2025) listing the provider’s full board name, license or registration number, type, and expiration date. It also changes supervision rules: it defines an hour of direct supervisor contact, replaces the term "supervisee" with "person receiving supervision," caps supervisors in nonexempt settings at six supervisees who are not fully licensed, and removes the rule requiring clinical social workers to post a renewal receipt.
The summary is provided by generative AI which can make mistakes. For original language, please view the details in the table below.
(1)Existing law establishes the Board of Behavioral Sciences within the Department of Consumer Affairs and requires the board to regulate various registrants and licensees under the Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Act (LMFTA), the Educational Psychologist Practice Act (EPPA), the Clinical Social Worker Practice Act (CSWPA), and the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Act (LPCCA). Existing law makes a violation of the provisions under those acts a crime.
Existing law, under those acts, requires a licensee to display their license in a conspicuous place in the licensees primary place of practice. Existing law requires a licensee or registrant to provide, before initiating specified services or as soon as practicably possible thereafter, a client with a prescribed written notice that specifies that the board receives and responds to complaints regarding services within the scope of the licensed practiced, among other things.
This bill would provide that a licensee is required to display their license in a conspicuous place in the licensees primary place of practice when rendering professional clinical services in person. The bill, commencing July 1, 2025, would require the above-described written notice to additionally include information about the licensee or registrant, including, among others, the licensees or registrants full name as filed with the board and the license or registration number, as prescribed.
(2)Existing law, under the LMFTA, CSWPA, and LPCCA, requires an applicant for licensure to have, among other things, at least one hour of direct supervisor contact, as defined, in each week for which experience is credited in each work setting. For purposes of that definition, existing law refers to the individual receiving supervision as the supervisee. Existing law prohibits supervisors of supervisees, as specified, from serving as individual or triadic supervisors for more than 6 supervisees at any time, as provided.
This bill would revise the definition of one hour of direct supervisor contact, delete references to supervisee, and instead refer to that individual as the person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services. The bill would delete the above-described prohibition and instead prohibit supervisors in nonexempt settings from serving as individual or triadic supervisors for more than a total of 6 persons who are not fully licensed at the highest level for independent clinical practice and who are receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services in a nonexempt setting.
(3)Existing law, under the CSWPA, requires a licensee to complete specified actions on or before the expiration date of the license to renew an unexpired license. Existing law requires the current renewal receipt to be displayed near the licensees license.
This bill would repeal the above-described requirement that the current renewal receipt be displayed near the licensees license.
(4)Because the bill would impose new requirements on licensees and registrants under the LMFTA, EPPA, CSWPA, and LPCCA, the violation of which is a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
(1)Existing law establishes the Board of Behavioral Sciences within the Department of Consumer Affairs and requires the board to regulate various registrants and licensees under the Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Act (LMFTA), the Educational Psychologist Practice Act (EPPA), the Clinical Social Worker Practice Act (CSWPA), and the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Act (LPCCA). Existing law makes a violation of the provisions under those acts a crime.
Existing law, under those acts, requires a licensee to display their license in a conspicuous place in the licensees primary place of practice. Existing law requires a licensee or registrant to provide, before initiating specified services or as soon as practicably possible thereafter, a client with a prescribed written notice that specifies that the board receives and responds to complaints regarding services within the scope of the licensed practiced, among other things.
This bill would provide that a licensee is required to display their license in a conspicuous place in the licensees primary place of practice when rendering professional clinical services in person. The bill, commencing July 1, 2025, would require the above-described written notice to additionally include information about the licensee or registrant, including, among others, the licensees or registrants full name as filed with the board and the license or registration number, as prescribed.
(2)Existing law, under the LMFTA, CSWPA, and LPCCA, requires an applicant for licensure to have, among other things, at least one hour of direct supervisor contact, as defined, in each week for which experience is credited in each work setting. For purposes of that definition, existing law refers to the individual receiving supervision as the supervisee. Existing law prohibits supervisors of supervisees, as specified, from serving as individual or triadic supervisors for more than 6 supervisees at any time, as provided.
This bill would revise the definition of one hour of direct supervisor contact, delete references to supervisee, and instead refer to that individual as the person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services. The bill would delete the above-described prohibition and instead prohibit supervisors in nonexempt settings from serving as individual or triadic supervisors for more than a total of 6 persons who are not fully licensed at the highest level for independent clinical practice and who are receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services in a nonexempt setting.
(3)Existing law, under the CSWPA, requires a licensee to complete specified actions on or before the expiration date of the license to renew an unexpired license. Existing law requires the current renewal receipt to be displayed near the licensees license.
This bill would repeal the above-described requirement that the current renewal receipt be displayed near the licensees license.
(4)Because the bill would impose new requirements on licensees and registrants under the LMFTA, EPPA, CSWPA, and LPCCA, the violation of which is a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
(1)Existing law establishes the Board of Behavioral Sciences within the Department of Consumer Affairs and requires the board to regulate various registrants and licensees under the Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Act (LMFTA), the Educational Psychologist Practice Act (EPPA), the Clinical Social Worker Practice Act (CSWPA), and the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Act (LPCCA). Existing law makes a violation of the provisions under those acts a crime.
Existing law, under those acts, requires a licensee to display their license in a conspicuous place in the licensees primary place of practice. Existing law requires a licensee or registrant to provide, before initiating specified services or as soon as practicably possible thereafter, a client with a prescribed written notice that specifies that the board receives and responds to complaints regarding services within the scope of the licensed practiced, among other things.
This bill would provide that a licensee is required to display their license in a conspicuous place in the licensees primary place of practice when seeing clients rendering professional clinical services in person. The bill, commencing July 1, 2025, would require the above-described written notice to additionally include information about the licensee or registrant, including, among others, the licensees or registrants full name as filed with the board and the license or registration number, as prescribed.
(2)Existing law, under the LMFTA, CSWPA, and LPCCA, requires an applicant for licensure to have, among other things, at least one hour of direct supervisor contact, as defined, in each week for which experience is credited in each work setting. For purposes of that definition, existing law refers to the individual receiving supervision as the supervisee. Existing law prohibits supervisors of supervisees, as specified, from serving as individual or triadic supervisors for more than 6 supervisees at any time, as provided.
This bill would revise the definition of one hour of direct supervisor contact, delete references to supervisee, and instead refer to that individual as the person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services. The bill would delete the above-described prohibition and instead prohibit supervisors in nonexempt settings from serving as individual or triadic supervisors for more than a total of 6 persons who are not fully licensed at the highest level for independent clinical practice and who are receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services in a nonexempt setting.
(3)Existing law, under the CSWPA, requires a licensee to complete specified actions on or before the expiration date of the license to renew an unexpired license. Existing law requires the current renewal receipt to be displayed near the licensees license.
This bill would repeal the above-described requirement that the current renewal receipt be displayed near the licensees license.
(4)Because the bill would impose new requirements on licensees and registrants under the LMFTA, EPPA, CSWPA, and LPCCA, the violation of which is a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
(1)Existing law establishes the Board of Behavioral Sciences within the Department of Consumer Affairs and requires the board to regulate various registrants and licensees under the Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Act (LMFTA), the Educational Psychologist Practice Act (EPPA), the Clinical Social Worker Practice Act (CSWPA), and the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Act (LPCCA). Existing law makes a violation of the provisions under those acts a crime.
Existing law, under those acts, requires a licensee to display their license in a conspicuous place in the licensees primary place of practice. Existing law requires a licensee or registrant to provide, before initiating specified services or as soon as practicably possible thereafter, a client with a prescribed written notice that specifies that the board receives and responds to complaints regarding services within the scope of the licensed practiced, among other things.
This bill would repeal the requirement provide that a licensee is required to display their license in a conspicuous place in the licensees primary place of practice. practice when seeing clients in person. The bill, commencing July 1, 2025, would require the above-described written notice to additionally include information about the licensee or registrant, including, among others, the licensees or registrants full name as filed with the board and the license or registration number, as prescribed. The bill would require a licensee or registrant to inform their clients of any change to the active status of their license or registration.
(2)Existing law, under the LMFTA, CSWPA, and LPCCA, requires an applicant for licensure to have, among other things, at least one hour of direct supervisor contact, as defined, in each week for which experience is credited in each work setting. For purposes of that definition, existing law refers to the individual receiving supervision as the supervisee. Existing law prohibits supervisors of supervisees, as specified, from serving as individual or triadic supervisors for more than 6 supervisees at any time, as provided.
This bill would revise the definition of one hour of direct supervisor contact, delete references to supervisee, and instead refer to that individual as the person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services. The bill would delete the above-described prohibition and instead prohibit supervisors in nonexempt settings from serving as individual or triadic supervisors for more than a total of 6 individuals persons who are receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services in a nonexempt setting.
(3)Existing law, under the CSWPA, requires a licensee to complete specified actions on or before the expiration date of the license to renew an unexpired license. Existing law requires the current renewal receipt to be displayed near the licensees license.
This bill would repeal the above-described requirement that the current renewal receipt be displayed near the licensees license.
(4)Because the bill would impose new requirements on licensees and registrants under the LMFTA, EPPA, CSWPA, and LPCCA, the violation of which is a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
(1)Existing law establishes the Board of Behavioral Sciences within the Department of Consumer Affairs and requires the board to regulate various registrants and licensees under the Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Act (LMFTA), the Educational Psychologist Practice Act (EPPA), the Clinical Social Worker Practice Act (CSWPA), and the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Act (LPCCA). Existing law makes a violation of the provisions under those acts a crime.
Existing law, under those acts, requires a licensee to display their license in a conspicuous place in the licensees primary place of practice. Existing law requires a licensee or registrant to provide, before initiating specified services or as soon as practicably possible thereafter, a client with a prescribed written notice that specifies that the board receives and responds to complaints regarding services within the scope of the licensed practiced, among other things.
This bill would repeal the requirement that a licensee display their license in a conspicuous place in the licensees primary place of practice. The bill, commencing July 1, 2025, would require the above-described written notice to additionally include information about the licensee or registrant, including, among others, the licensees or registrants full name as filed with the board and the license or registration number, as prescribed. The bill would require a licensee or registrant to inform their clients of any change to the active status of their license or registration.
(2)Existing law, under the LMFTA, CSWPA, and LPCCA, requires an applicant for licensure to have, among other things, at least one hour of direct supervisor contact, as defined, in each week for which experience is credited in each work setting. For purposes of that definition, existing law refers to the individual receiving supervision as the supervisee. Existing law prohibits supervisors of supervisees, as specified, from serving as individual or triadic supervisors for more than 6 supervisees at any time, as provided.
This bill would revise the definition of one hour of direct supervisor contact, delete references to supervisee, and instead refer to that individual as the person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services. The bill would delete the above-described prohibition and instead prohibit supervisors in nonexempt settings from serving as individual or triadic supervisors for more than a total of 6 individuals who are receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services in a nonexempt setting.
(3)Existing law, under the CSWPA, requires a licensee to complete specified actions on or before the expiration date of the license to renew an unexpired license. Existing law requires the current renewal receipt to be displayed near the licensees license.
This bill would repeal the above-described requirement that the current renewal receipt be displayed near the licensees license.
(4)Because the bill would impose new requirements on licensees and registrants under the LMFTA, EPPA, CSWPA, and LPCCA, the violation of which is a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
A licensee shall display their license in a conspicuous place in the licensees primary place of practice when rendering professional clinical services in person.
SEC. 2.Section 4980.32 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4980.32.(a)A licensee or registrant shall provide a client with a notice written in at least 12-point type prior to initiating psychotherapy services, or as soon as practicably possible thereafter, that reads as follows:
NOTICE TO CLIENTS
The Board of Behavioral Sciences receives and responds to complaints regarding services provided within the scope of practice of marriage and family therapists. You may contact the board online at www.bbs.ca.gov, or by calling (916) 574-7830.
(b)On and after July 1, 2025, upon initiation of psychotherapy services with a client, the notice described in subdivision (a) shall also include the licensees or registrants full name as filed with the board, the license or registration number, the type of license or registration, and the license or registration expiration date.
(c)Delivery of the notice required by this section to the client shall be documented.
SEC. 3.Section 4980.43.2 of the Business and Professions Code, as amended by Section 1 of Chapter 204 of the Statutes of 2022, is amended to read:4980.43.2.(a)Except for experience gained by attending workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences, as described in paragraph (10) of subdivision (c) of Section 4980.43, direct supervisor contact shall occur as follows:
(1)Supervision shall include at least one hour of direct supervisor contact in each week for which experience is credited in each work setting.
(2)A trainee shall receive an average of at least one hour of direct supervisor contact for every five hours of direct clinical counseling performed each week in each setting. For experience gained on or after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual, triadic, or group, shall be credited during any single week.
(3)An associate gaining experience who performs more than 10 hours of direct clinical counseling in a week in any setting shall receive at least one additional hour of direct supervisor contact for that setting. For experience gained on or after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual, triadic, or group, shall be credited during any single week.
(4)Of the 104 weeks of required supervision, 52 weeks shall be individual supervision, triadic supervision, or a combination of both.
(b)(1)For purposes of this chapter, one hour of direct supervisor contact means any of the following:
(A)Individual supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and one person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(B)Triadic supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and two persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(C)Group supervision, which means two hours of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and no more than eight persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services. Segments of group supervision may be split into no less than one continuous hour. A supervisor shall ensure that the amount and degree of supervision is appropriate for each person in the group.
(2)For purposes of this subdivision, face-to-face contact means in-person contact, contact via two-way, real-time videoconferencing, or some combination of these.
(c)The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with federal and state laws relating to confidentiality of patient health information.
(d)(1)Within 60 days of the commencement of supervision, a supervisor shall conduct a meeting with the supervisee during which the supervisor shall assess the appropriateness of allowing the supervisee to receive supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing. This assessment of appropriateness shall include, but is not limited to, the abilities of the supervisee, the preferences of both the supervisee and supervisor, and the privacy of the locations of the supervisee and supervisor while supervision is conducted.
(2)The supervisor shall document the results of the assessment made pursuant to paragraph (1), and shall not utilize supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing if their assessment finds it is not appropriate.
(e)Direct supervisor contact shall occur within the same week as the hours claimed.
(f)Alternative supervision may be arranged during a supervisors vacation or sick leave if the alternative supervision meets the requirements of this chapter.
(g)Notwithstanding any other law, once the required number of experience hours are gained, associates and applicants for licensure shall receive a minimum of one hour of direct supervisor contact per week for each practice setting in which direct clinical counseling is performed. Once the required number of experience hours are gained, further supervision for nonclinical practice, as defined in paragraph (10) of subdivision (c) of Section 4980.43, shall be at the supervisors discretion.
(h)This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2026, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 4.Section 4980.43.2 of the Business and Professions Code, as added by Section 2 of Chapter 204 of the Statutes of 2022, is amended to read:4980.43.2.(a)Except for experience gained by attending workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences, as described in paragraph (10) of subdivision (c) of Section 4980.43, direct supervisor contact shall occur as follows:
(1)Supervision shall include at least one hour of direct supervisor contact in each week for which experience is credited in each work setting.
(2)A trainee shall receive an average of at least one hour of direct supervisor contact for every five hours of direct clinical counseling performed each week in each setting. For experience gained on or after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual, triadic, or group, shall be credited during any single week.
(3)An associate gaining experience who performs more than 10 hours of direct clinical counseling in a week in any setting shall receive at least one additional hour of direct supervisor contact for that setting. For experience gained on or after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual, triadic, or group, shall be credited during any single week.
(4)Of the 104 weeks of required supervision, 52 weeks shall be individual supervision, triadic supervision, or a combination of both.
(b)For purposes of this chapter, one hour of direct supervisor contact means any of the following:
(1)Individual supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and one person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(2)Triadic supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and two persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(3)Group supervision, which means two hours of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and no more than eight persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services. Segments of group supervision may be split into no less than one continuous hour. A supervisor shall ensure that the amount and degree of supervision is appropriate for each person in the group.
(c)Direct supervisor contact shall occur within the same week as the hours claimed.
(d)Alternative supervision may be arranged during a supervisors vacation or sick leave if the alternative supervision meets the requirements of this chapter.
(e)Notwithstanding subdivision (b), a supervisee working in an exempt setting described in Section 4980.01 may obtain the required weekly direct supervisor contact via two-way, real-time videoconferencing. The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with federal and state laws relating to confidentiality of patient health information.
(f)Notwithstanding any other law, once the required number of experience hours are gained, associates and applicants for licensure shall receive a minimum of one hour of direct supervisor contact per week for each practice setting in which direct clinical counseling is performed. Once the required number of experience hours are gained, further supervision for nonclinical practice, as defined in paragraph (10) of subdivision (c) of Section 4980.43, shall be at the supervisors discretion.
(g)This section shall become operative on January 1, 2026.
SEC. 5.Section 4980.43.4 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4980.43.4.(a)A trainee, associate, or applicant for licensure shall only perform mental health and related services at the places where their employer permits business to be conducted.
(b)An associate who is employed by or is volunteering in a private practice or a professional corporation shall be supervised by an individual who is both of the following:
(1)Is employed by or contracted by the associates employer or is an owner of the private practice or professional corporation.
(2)Either provides psychotherapeutic services to clients for the associates employer, or meets both of the following:
(A)The supervisor and the associates employer have a written contract providing the supervisor the same access to the associates clinical records provided to employees of that employer.
(B)The associates clients authorize the release of their clinical records to the supervisor.
(c)At any one time, supervisors in nonexempt settings shall not serve as individual or triadic supervisors for more than a total of six persons who are not fully licensed at the highest level for independent clinical practice and who are receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services in a nonexempt setting.
(d)A written oversight agreement, as specified by the board by regulation, shall be executed between the supervisor and employer when the supervisor is not employed by the supervisees employer or is a volunteer. The supervisor shall evaluate the site or sites where the supervisee will be gaining experience to determine that the site or sites comply with the requirements of this chapter.
SEC. 6.Section 4989.17 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4989.17.(a)A licensee shall provide a client with a notice written in at least 12-point type prior to initiating psychological services, or as soon as practicably possible thereafter, that reads as follows:
NOTICE TO CLIENTS
The Board of Behavioral Sciences receives and responds to complaints regarding services provided within the scope of practice of licensed educational psychologists. You may contact the board online at www.bbs.ca.gov, or by calling (916) 574-7830.
(b)On and after July 1, 2025, upon initiation of psychological services with a client, the notice described in subdivision (a) shall also include the licensees full name as filed with the board, the license number, the type of license, and the license expiration date.
(c)Delivery of the notice required by this section to the client shall be documented.
SEC. 7.Section 4989.48 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4989.48.A licensee shall display their license in a conspicuous place in the licensees primary place of practice when rendering professional clinical services in person.
SEC. 8.Section 4996.23.1 of the Business and Professions Code, as amended by Section 3 of Chapter 204 of the Statutes of 2022, is amended to read:4996.23.1.(a)Except for experience gained by attending workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences, as described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 4996.23, direct supervisor contact shall occur as follows:
(1)Supervision shall include at least one hour of direct supervisor contact each week for which experience is credited in each work setting.
(2)An associate gaining experience who performs more than 10 hours of direct clinical counseling in a week in any setting shall receive at least one additional hour of direct supervisor contact for that setting.
(b)(1)For purposes of this chapter, one hour of direct supervisor contact means any of the following:
(A)Individual supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and one person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(B)Triadic supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and two persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(C)Group supervision, which means two hours of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and no more than eight persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services. Segments of group supervision may be split into no less than one continuous hour. A supervisor shall ensure that the amount and degree of supervision is appropriate for each person in the group.
(2)For purposes of this subdivision, face-to-face contact means in-person contact, contact via two-way, real-time videoconferencing, or some combination of these.
(c)The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with federal and state laws relating to confidentiality of patient health information.
(d)(1)Within 60 days of the commencement of supervision, a supervisor shall conduct a meeting with the supervisee during which the supervisor shall assess the appropriateness of allowing the supervisee to receive supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing. This assessment of appropriateness shall include, but is not limited to, the abilities of the supervisee, the preferences of both the supervisee and supervisor, and the privacy of the locations of the supervisee and supervisor while supervision is conducted.
(2)The supervisor shall document the results of the assessment made pursuant to paragraph (1), and shall not utilize supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing if their assessment finds it is not appropriate.
(e)Direct supervisor contact shall occur within the same week as the hours claimed.
(f)Of the 104 weeks of required supervision, 52 weeks shall be individual supervision, triadic supervision, or a combination of both.
(g)Of the 52 weeks of required individual or triadic supervision, no less than 13 weeks shall be supervised by a licensed clinical social worker.
(h)Alternative supervision may be arranged during a supervisors vacation or sick leave if the alternative supervision meets the requirements of this chapter.
(i)Notwithstanding any other law, once the required number of experience hours are gained, an associate clinical social worker or applicant for licensure shall receive a minimum of one hour of direct supervisor contact per week for each practice setting in which direct clinical counseling is performed. Once the required number of experience hours are gained, further supervision for nonclinical practice, as described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 4996.23, shall be at the supervisors discretion.
(j)This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2026, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 9.Section 4996.23.1 of the Business and Professions Code, as added by Section 4 of Chapter 204 of the Statutes of 2022, is amended to read:4996.23.1.(a)Except for experience gained by attending workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences, as described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 4996.23, direct supervisor contact shall occur as follows:
(1)Supervision shall include at least one hour of direct supervisor contact each week for which experience is credited in each work setting.
(2)An associate gaining experience who performs more than 10 hours of direct clinical counseling in a week in any setting shall receive at least one additional hour of direct supervisor contact for that setting.
(b)For purposes of this chapter, one hour of direct supervisor contact means any of the following:
(1)Individual supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and one person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(2)Triadic supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and two persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(3)Group supervision, which means two hours of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and no more than eight persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services. Segments of group supervision may be split into no less than one continuous hour. A supervisor shall ensure that the amount and degree of supervision is appropriate for each person in the group.
(c)Direct supervisor contact shall occur within the same week as the hours claimed.
(d)Of the 104 weeks of required supervision, 52 weeks shall be individual supervision, triadic supervision, or a combination of both.
(e)Of the 52 weeks of required individual or triadic supervision, no less than 13 weeks shall be supervised by a licensed clinical social worker.
(f)Alternative supervision may be arranged during a supervisors vacation or sick leave if the alternative supervision meets the requirements of this chapter.
(g)Notwithstanding subdivision (b), a supervisee working in an exempt setting described in Section 4996.14 may obtain the required weekly direct supervisor contact via two-way, real-time videoconferencing. The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with state and federal laws relating to confidentiality of patient health information.
(h)Notwithstanding any other law, once the required number of experience hours are gained, an associate clinical social worker or applicant for licensure shall receive a minimum of one hour of direct supervisor contact per week for each practice setting in which direct clinical counseling is performed. Once the required number of experience hours are gained, further supervision for nonclinical practice, as described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 4996.23, shall be at the supervisors discretion.
(i)This section shall become operative on January 1, 2026.
SEC. 10.Section 4996.23.3 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4996.23.3.(a)An associate clinical social worker or an applicant for licensure shall only perform mental health and related services at the places where their employer permits business to be conducted.
(b)An associate who is employed by, or volunteering in, a private practice or a professional corporation shall be supervised by an individual who is both of the following:
(1)Is employed by or contracted by the associates employer or is an owner of the private practice or professional corporation.
(2)Either provides psychotherapeutic services to clients for the associates employer, or meets both of the following:
(A)The supervisor and the associates employer have a written contract providing the supervisor the same access to the associates clinical records provided to employees of that employer.
(B)The associates clients authorize the release of their clinical records to the supervisor.
(c)At any one time, supervisors in nonexempt settings shall not serve as individual or triadic supervisors for more than a total of six persons who are not fully licensed at the highest level for independent clinical practice and who are receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services in a nonexempt setting.
(d)A written oversight agreement, as specified by the board by regulation, shall be executed between the supervisor and employer when the supervisor is not employed by the supervisees employer or is a volunteer. The supervisor shall evaluate the site or sites where the supervisee will be gaining experience to determine that the site or sites comply with the requirements of this chapter.
SEC. 11.Section 4996.7 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4996.7.A licensee shall display their license in a conspicuous place in the licensees primary place of practice when rendering professional clinical services in person.
SEC. 12.Section 4996.75 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4996.75.(a)A licensee or registrant shall provide a client with a notice written in at least 12-point type prior to initiating psychotherapy services, or as soon as practicably possible thereafter, that reads as follows:
NOTICE TO CLIENTS
The Board of Behavioral Sciences receives and responds to complaints regarding services provided within the scope of practice of clinical social workers. You may contact the board online at www.bbs.ca.gov, or by calling (916) 574-7830.
(b)On and after July 1, 2025, upon initiation of psychotherapy services with a client, the notice described in subdivision (a) shall also include the licensees or registrants full name as filed with the board, the license or registration number, the type of license or registration, and the license or registration expiration date.
(c)Delivery of the notice required by this section to the client shall be documented.
SEC. 13.Section 4996.8 of the Business and Professions Code is repealed.SEC. 14.Section 4999.46.2 of the Business and Professions Code, as amended by Section 5 of Chapter 204 of the Statutes of 2022, is amended to read:4999.46.2.(a)Except for experience gained by attending workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences, as described in paragraph (4) of subdivision (c) of Section 4999.46, direct supervisor contact shall occur as follows:
(1)Supervision shall include at least one hour of direct supervisor contact in each week for which experience is credited in each work setting.
(2)A trainee shall receive an average of at least one hour of direct supervisor contact for every five hours of direct clinical counseling performed each week in each setting. For experience gained after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual, triadic, or group, shall be credited during any single week.
(3)An associate gaining experience who performs more than 10 hours of direct clinical counseling in a week in any setting shall receive at least one additional hour of direct supervisor contact for that setting. For experience gained after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual supervision, triadic supervision, or group supervision, shall be credited during any single week.
(4)Of the 104 weeks of required supervision, 52 weeks shall be individual supervision, triadic supervision, or a combination of both.
(b)(1)For purposes of this chapter, one hour of direct supervisor contact means any of the following:
(A)Individual supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and one person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(B)Triadic supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and two persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(C)Group supervision, which means two hours of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and no more than eight persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services. Segments of group supervision may be split into no less than one continuous hour. The supervisor shall ensure that the amount and degree of supervision is appropriate for each person in the group.
(2)For purposes of this subdivision, face-to-face contact means in-person contact, contact via two-way, real-time videoconferencing, or some combination of these.
(c)The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with federal and state laws relating to confidentiality of patient health information.
(d)(1)Within 60 days of the commencement of supervision, a supervisor shall conduct a meeting with the supervisee during which the supervisor shall assess the appropriateness of allowing the supervisee to receive supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing. This assessment of appropriateness shall include, but is not limited to, the abilities of the supervisee, the preferences of both the supervisee and supervisor, and the privacy of the locations of the supervisee and supervisor while supervision is conducted.
(2)The supervisor shall document the results of the assessment made pursuant to paragraph (1), and shall not utilize supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing if their assessment finds it is not appropriate.
(e)Direct supervisor contact shall occur within the same week as the hours claimed.
(f)Alternative supervision may be arranged during a supervisors vacation or sick leave if the alternative supervision meets the requirements in this chapter.
(g)Notwithstanding any other law, once the required number of experience hours are gained, associates and applicants for licensure shall receive a minimum of one hour of direct supervisor contact per week for each practice setting in which direct clinical counseling is performed. Once the required number of experience hours are gained, further supervision for nonclinical practice, as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (c) of Section 4999.46, shall be at the supervisors discretion.
(h)This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2026, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 15.Section 4999.46.2 of the Business and Professions Code, as added by Section 6 of Chapter 204 of the Statutes of 2022, is amended to read:4999.46.2.(a)Except for experience gained by attending workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences, as described in paragraph (4) of subdivision (c) of Section 4999.46, direct supervisor contact shall occur as follows:
(1)Supervision shall include at least one hour of direct supervisor contact in each week for which experience is credited in each work setting.
(2)A trainee shall receive an average of at least one hour of direct supervisor contact for every five hours of direct clinical counseling performed each week in each setting. For experience gained after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual, triadic, or group, shall be credited during any single week.
(3)An associate gaining experience who performs more than 10 hours of direct clinical counseling in a week in any setting shall receive at least one additional hour of direct supervisor contact for that setting. For experience gained after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual supervision, triadic supervision, or group supervision, shall be credited during any single week.
(4)Of the 104 weeks of required supervision, 52 weeks shall be individual supervision, triadic supervision, or a combination of both.
(b)For purposes of this chapter, one hour of direct supervisor contact means any of the following:
(1)Individual supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and one person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(2)Triadic supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and two persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(3)Group supervision, which means two hours of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and no more than eight persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services. Segments of group supervision may be split into no less than one continuous hour. The supervisor shall ensure that the amount and degree of supervision is appropriate for each person in the group.
(c)Direct supervisor contact shall occur within the same week as the hours claimed.
(d)Alternative supervision may be arranged during a supervisors vacation or sick leave if the alternative supervision meets the requirements in this chapter.
(e)Notwithstanding subdivision (b), a supervisee working in an exempt setting described in Section 4999.22 may obtain the required weekly direct supervisor contact via two-way, real-time videoconferencing. The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with federal and state laws relating to confidentiality of patient health information.
(f)Notwithstanding any other law, once the required number of experience hours are gained, associates and applicants for licensure shall receive a minimum of one hour of direct supervisor contact per week for each practice setting in which direct clinical counseling is performed. Once the required number of experience hours are gained, further supervision for nonclinical practice, as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (c) of Section 4999.46, shall be at the supervisors discretion.
(g)This section shall become operative on January 1, 2026.
SEC. 16.Section 4999.46.4 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4999.46.4.(a)A clinical counselor trainee, associate, or applicant for licensure shall only perform mental health and related services at the places where their employer permits business to be conducted.
(b)An associate who is employed by or volunteering in a private practice or a professional corporation shall be supervised by an individual who is both of the following:
(1)Is employed by or contracted by the associates employer or is an owner of the private practice or professional corporation.
(2)Either provides psychotherapeutic services to clients for the associates employer, or meets both of the following:
(A)The supervisor and the associates employer have a written contract providing the supervisor the same access to the associates clinical records provided to employees of that employer.
(B)The associates clients authorize the release of their clinical records to the supervisor.
(c)At any one time, supervisors in nonexempt settings shall not serve as individual or triadic supervisors for more than a total of six persons who are not fully licensed at the highest level for independent clinical practice and who are receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services in a nonexempt setting.
(d)A written oversight agreement, as specified by the board by regulation, shall be executed between the supervisor and employer when the supervisor is not employed by the supervisees employer or is a volunteer. The supervisor shall evaluate the site or sites where the supervisee will be gaining experience to determine that the site or sites comply with the requirements of this chapter.
SEC. 17.Section 4999.70 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4999.70.A licensee shall display their license in a conspicuous place in the licensees primary place of practice when rendering professional clinical services in person.
SEC. 18.Section 4999.71 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4999.71.(a)A licensee or registrant shall provide a client with a notice written in at least 12-point type prior to initiating psychotherapy services, or as soon as practicably possible thereafter, that reads as follows:
NOTICE TO CLIENTS
The Board of Behavioral Sciences receives and responds to complaints regarding services provided within the scope of practice of professional clinical counselors. You may contact the board online at www.bbs.ca.gov, or by calling (916) 574-7830.
(b)On and after July 1, 2025, upon initiation of psychotherapy services with a client, the notice described in subdivision (a) shall also include the licensees or registrants full name as filed with the board, the license or registration number, the type of license or registration, and the license or registration expiration date.
(c)Delivery of the notice required by this section to the client shall be documented.
SEC. 19.No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
A licensee shall display their license in a conspicuous place in the licensees primary place of practice when rendering professional clinical services in person.
SEC. 2.Section 4980.32 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4980.32.(a)A licensee or registrant shall provide a client with a notice written in at least 12-point type prior to initiating psychotherapy services, or as soon as practicably possible thereafter, that reads as follows:
NOTICE TO CLIENTS
The Board of Behavioral Sciences receives and responds to complaints regarding services provided within the scope of practice of marriage and family therapists. You may contact the board online at www.bbs.ca.gov, or by calling (916) 574-7830.
(b)On and after July 1, 2025, upon initiation of psychotherapy services with a client, the notice described in subdivision (a) shall also include the licensees or registrants full name as filed with the board, the license or registration number, the type of license or registration, and the license or registration expiration date.
(c)Delivery of the notice required by this section to the client shall be documented.
SEC. 3.Section 4980.43.2 of the Business and Professions Code, as amended by Section 1 of Chapter 204 of the Statutes of 2022, is amended to read:4980.43.2.(a)Except for experience gained by attending workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences, as described in paragraph (10) of subdivision (c) of Section 4980.43, direct supervisor contact shall occur as follows:
(1)Supervision shall include at least one hour of direct supervisor contact in each week for which experience is credited in each work setting.
(2)A trainee shall receive an average of at least one hour of direct supervisor contact for every five hours of direct clinical counseling performed each week in each setting. For experience gained on or after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual, triadic, or group, shall be credited during any single week.
(3)An associate gaining experience who performs more than 10 hours of direct clinical counseling in a week in any setting shall receive at least one additional hour of direct supervisor contact for that setting. For experience gained on or after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual, triadic, or group, shall be credited during any single week.
(4)Of the 104 weeks of required supervision, 52 weeks shall be individual supervision, triadic supervision, or a combination of both.
(b)(1)For purposes of this chapter, one hour of direct supervisor contact means any of the following:
(A)Individual supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and one person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(B)Triadic supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and two persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(C)Group supervision, which means two hours of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and no more than eight persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services. Segments of group supervision may be split into no less than one continuous hour. A supervisor shall ensure that the amount and degree of supervision is appropriate for each person in the group.
(2)For purposes of this subdivision, face-to-face contact means in-person contact, contact via two-way, real-time videoconferencing, or some combination of these.
(c)The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with federal and state laws relating to confidentiality of patient health information.
(d)(1)Within 60 days of the commencement of supervision, a supervisor shall conduct a meeting with the supervisee during which the supervisor shall assess the appropriateness of allowing the supervisee to receive supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing. This assessment of appropriateness shall include, but is not limited to, the abilities of the supervisee, the preferences of both the supervisee and supervisor, and the privacy of the locations of the supervisee and supervisor while supervision is conducted.
(2)The supervisor shall document the results of the assessment made pursuant to paragraph (1), and shall not utilize supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing if their assessment finds it is not appropriate.
(e)Direct supervisor contact shall occur within the same week as the hours claimed.
(f)Alternative supervision may be arranged during a supervisors vacation or sick leave if the alternative supervision meets the requirements of this chapter.
(g)Notwithstanding any other law, once the required number of experience hours are gained, associates and applicants for licensure shall receive a minimum of one hour of direct supervisor contact per week for each practice setting in which direct clinical counseling is performed. Once the required number of experience hours are gained, further supervision for nonclinical practice, as defined in paragraph (10) of subdivision (c) of Section 4980.43, shall be at the supervisors discretion.
(h)This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2026, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 4.Section 4980.43.2 of the Business and Professions Code, as added by Section 2 of Chapter 204 of the Statutes of 2022, is amended to read:4980.43.2.(a)Except for experience gained by attending workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences, as described in paragraph (10) of subdivision (c) of Section 4980.43, direct supervisor contact shall occur as follows:
(1)Supervision shall include at least one hour of direct supervisor contact in each week for which experience is credited in each work setting.
(2)A trainee shall receive an average of at least one hour of direct supervisor contact for every five hours of direct clinical counseling performed each week in each setting. For experience gained on or after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual, triadic, or group, shall be credited during any single week.
(3)An associate gaining experience who performs more than 10 hours of direct clinical counseling in a week in any setting shall receive at least one additional hour of direct supervisor contact for that setting. For experience gained on or after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual, triadic, or group, shall be credited during any single week.
(4)Of the 104 weeks of required supervision, 52 weeks shall be individual supervision, triadic supervision, or a combination of both.
(b)For purposes of this chapter, one hour of direct supervisor contact means any of the following:
(1)Individual supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and one person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(2)Triadic supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and two persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(3)Group supervision, which means two hours of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and no more than eight persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services. Segments of group supervision may be split into no less than one continuous hour. A supervisor shall ensure that the amount and degree of supervision is appropriate for each person in the group.
(c)Direct supervisor contact shall occur within the same week as the hours claimed.
(d)Alternative supervision may be arranged during a supervisors vacation or sick leave if the alternative supervision meets the requirements of this chapter.
(e)Notwithstanding subdivision (b), a supervisee working in an exempt setting described in Section 4980.01 may obtain the required weekly direct supervisor contact via two-way, real-time videoconferencing. The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with federal and state laws relating to confidentiality of patient health information.
(f)Notwithstanding any other law, once the required number of experience hours are gained, associates and applicants for licensure shall receive a minimum of one hour of direct supervisor contact per week for each practice setting in which direct clinical counseling is performed. Once the required number of experience hours are gained, further supervision for nonclinical practice, as defined in paragraph (10) of subdivision (c) of Section 4980.43, shall be at the supervisors discretion.
(g)This section shall become operative on January 1, 2026.
SEC. 5.Section 4980.43.4 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4980.43.4.(a)A trainee, associate, or applicant for licensure shall only perform mental health and related services at the places where their employer permits business to be conducted.
(b)An associate who is employed by or is volunteering in a private practice or a professional corporation shall be supervised by an individual who is both of the following:
(1)Is employed by or contracted by the associates employer or is an owner of the private practice or professional corporation.
(2)Either provides psychotherapeutic services to clients for the associates employer, or meets both of the following:
(A)The supervisor and the associates employer have a written contract providing the supervisor the same access to the associates clinical records provided to employees of that employer.
(B)The associates clients authorize the release of their clinical records to the supervisor.
(c)At any one time, supervisors in nonexempt settings shall not serve as individual or triadic supervisors for more than a total of six persons who are not fully licensed at the highest level for independent clinical practice and who are receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services in a nonexempt setting.
(d)A written oversight agreement, as specified by the board by regulation, shall be executed between the supervisor and employer when the supervisor is not employed by the supervisees employer or is a volunteer. The supervisor shall evaluate the site or sites where the supervisee will be gaining experience to determine that the site or sites comply with the requirements of this chapter.
SEC. 6.Section 4989.17 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4989.17.(a)A licensee shall provide a client with a notice written in at least 12-point type prior to initiating psychological services, or as soon as practicably possible thereafter, that reads as follows:
NOTICE TO CLIENTS
The Board of Behavioral Sciences receives and responds to complaints regarding services provided within the scope of practice of licensed educational psychologists. You may contact the board online at www.bbs.ca.gov, or by calling (916) 574-7830.
(b)On and after July 1, 2025, upon initiation of psychological services with a client, the notice described in subdivision (a) shall also include the licensees full name as filed with the board, the license number, the type of license, and the license expiration date.
(c)Delivery of the notice required by this section to the client shall be documented.
SEC. 7.Section 4989.48 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4989.48.A licensee shall display their license in a conspicuous place in the licensees primary place of practice when rendering professional clinical services in person.
SEC. 8.Section 4996.23.1 of the Business and Professions Code, as amended by Section 3 of Chapter 204 of the Statutes of 2022, is amended to read:4996.23.1.(a)Except for experience gained by attending workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences, as described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 4996.23, direct supervisor contact shall occur as follows:
(1)Supervision shall include at least one hour of direct supervisor contact each week for which experience is credited in each work setting.
(2)An associate gaining experience who performs more than 10 hours of direct clinical counseling in a week in any setting shall receive at least one additional hour of direct supervisor contact for that setting.
(b)(1)For purposes of this chapter, one hour of direct supervisor contact means any of the following:
(A)Individual supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and one person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(B)Triadic supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and two persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(C)Group supervision, which means two hours of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and no more than eight persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services. Segments of group supervision may be split into no less than one continuous hour. A supervisor shall ensure that the amount and degree of supervision is appropriate for each person in the group.
(2)For purposes of this subdivision, face-to-face contact means in-person contact, contact via two-way, real-time videoconferencing, or some combination of these.
(c)The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with federal and state laws relating to confidentiality of patient health information.
(d)(1)Within 60 days of the commencement of supervision, a supervisor shall conduct a meeting with the supervisee during which the supervisor shall assess the appropriateness of allowing the supervisee to receive supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing. This assessment of appropriateness shall include, but is not limited to, the abilities of the supervisee, the preferences of both the supervisee and supervisor, and the privacy of the locations of the supervisee and supervisor while supervision is conducted.
(2)The supervisor shall document the results of the assessment made pursuant to paragraph (1), and shall not utilize supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing if their assessment finds it is not appropriate.
(e)Direct supervisor contact shall occur within the same week as the hours claimed.
(f)Of the 104 weeks of required supervision, 52 weeks shall be individual supervision, triadic supervision, or a combination of both.
(g)Of the 52 weeks of required individual or triadic supervision, no less than 13 weeks shall be supervised by a licensed clinical social worker.
(h)Alternative supervision may be arranged during a supervisors vacation or sick leave if the alternative supervision meets the requirements of this chapter.
(i)Notwithstanding any other law, once the required number of experience hours are gained, an associate clinical social worker or applicant for licensure shall receive a minimum of one hour of direct supervisor contact per week for each practice setting in which direct clinical counseling is performed. Once the required number of experience hours are gained, further supervision for nonclinical practice, as described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 4996.23, shall be at the supervisors discretion.
(j)This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2026, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 9.Section 4996.23.1 of the Business and Professions Code, as added by Section 4 of Chapter 204 of the Statutes of 2022, is amended to read:4996.23.1.(a)Except for experience gained by attending workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences, as described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 4996.23, direct supervisor contact shall occur as follows:
(1)Supervision shall include at least one hour of direct supervisor contact each week for which experience is credited in each work setting.
(2)An associate gaining experience who performs more than 10 hours of direct clinical counseling in a week in any setting shall receive at least one additional hour of direct supervisor contact for that setting.
(b)For purposes of this chapter, one hour of direct supervisor contact means any of the following:
(1)Individual supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and one person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(2)Triadic supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and two persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(3)Group supervision, which means two hours of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and no more than eight persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services. Segments of group supervision may be split into no less than one continuous hour. A supervisor shall ensure that the amount and degree of supervision is appropriate for each person in the group.
(c)Direct supervisor contact shall occur within the same week as the hours claimed.
(d)Of the 104 weeks of required supervision, 52 weeks shall be individual supervision, triadic supervision, or a combination of both.
(e)Of the 52 weeks of required individual or triadic supervision, no less than 13 weeks shall be supervised by a licensed clinical social worker.
(f)Alternative supervision may be arranged during a supervisors vacation or sick leave if the alternative supervision meets the requirements of this chapter.
(g)Notwithstanding subdivision (b), a supervisee working in an exempt setting described in Section 4996.14 may obtain the required weekly direct supervisor contact via two-way, real-time videoconferencing. The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with state and federal laws relating to confidentiality of patient health information.
(h)Notwithstanding any other law, once the required number of experience hours are gained, an associate clinical social worker or applicant for licensure shall receive a minimum of one hour of direct supervisor contact per week for each practice setting in which direct clinical counseling is performed. Once the required number of experience hours are gained, further supervision for nonclinical practice, as described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 4996.23, shall be at the supervisors discretion.
(i)This section shall become operative on January 1, 2026.
SEC. 10.Section 4996.23.3 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4996.23.3.(a)An associate clinical social worker or an applicant for licensure shall only perform mental health and related services at the places where their employer permits business to be conducted.
(b)An associate who is employed by, or volunteering in, a private practice or a professional corporation shall be supervised by an individual who is both of the following:
(1)Is employed by or contracted by the associates employer or is an owner of the private practice or professional corporation.
(2)Either provides psychotherapeutic services to clients for the associates employer, or meets both of the following:
(A)The supervisor and the associates employer have a written contract providing the supervisor the same access to the associates clinical records provided to employees of that employer.
(B)The associates clients authorize the release of their clinical records to the supervisor.
(c)At any one time, supervisors in nonexempt settings shall not serve as individual or triadic supervisors for more than a total of six persons who are not fully licensed at the highest level for independent clinical practice and who are receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services in a nonexempt setting.
(d)A written oversight agreement, as specified by the board by regulation, shall be executed between the supervisor and employer when the supervisor is not employed by the supervisees employer or is a volunteer. The supervisor shall evaluate the site or sites where the supervisee will be gaining experience to determine that the site or sites comply with the requirements of this chapter.
SEC. 11.Section 4996.7 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4996.7.A licensee shall display their license in a conspicuous place in the licensees primary place of practice when rendering professional clinical services in person.
SEC. 12.Section 4996.75 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4996.75.(a)A licensee or registrant shall provide a client with a notice written in at least 12-point type prior to initiating psychotherapy services, or as soon as practicably possible thereafter, that reads as follows:
NOTICE TO CLIENTS
The Board of Behavioral Sciences receives and responds to complaints regarding services provided within the scope of practice of clinical social workers. You may contact the board online at www.bbs.ca.gov, or by calling (916) 574-7830.
(b)On and after July 1, 2025, upon initiation of psychotherapy services with a client, the notice described in subdivision (a) shall also include the licensees or registrants full name as filed with the board, the license or registration number, the type of license or registration, and the license or registration expiration date.
(c)Delivery of the notice required by this section to the client shall be documented.
SEC. 13.Section 4996.8 of the Business and Professions Code is repealed.SEC. 14.Section 4999.46.2 of the Business and Professions Code, as amended by Section 5 of Chapter 204 of the Statutes of 2022, is amended to read:4999.46.2.(a)Except for experience gained by attending workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences, as described in paragraph (4) of subdivision (c) of Section 4999.46, direct supervisor contact shall occur as follows:
(1)Supervision shall include at least one hour of direct supervisor contact in each week for which experience is credited in each work setting.
(2)A trainee shall receive an average of at least one hour of direct supervisor contact for every five hours of direct clinical counseling performed each week in each setting. For experience gained after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual, triadic, or group, shall be credited during any single week.
(3)An associate gaining experience who performs more than 10 hours of direct clinical counseling in a week in any setting shall receive at least one additional hour of direct supervisor contact for that setting. For experience gained after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual supervision, triadic supervision, or group supervision, shall be credited during any single week.
(4)Of the 104 weeks of required supervision, 52 weeks shall be individual supervision, triadic supervision, or a combination of both.
(b)(1)For purposes of this chapter, one hour of direct supervisor contact means any of the following:
(A)Individual supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and one person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(B)Triadic supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and two persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(C)Group supervision, which means two hours of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and no more than eight persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services. Segments of group supervision may be split into no less than one continuous hour. The supervisor shall ensure that the amount and degree of supervision is appropriate for each person in the group.
(2)For purposes of this subdivision, face-to-face contact means in-person contact, contact via two-way, real-time videoconferencing, or some combination of these.
(c)The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with federal and state laws relating to confidentiality of patient health information.
(d)(1)Within 60 days of the commencement of supervision, a supervisor shall conduct a meeting with the supervisee during which the supervisor shall assess the appropriateness of allowing the supervisee to receive supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing. This assessment of appropriateness shall include, but is not limited to, the abilities of the supervisee, the preferences of both the supervisee and supervisor, and the privacy of the locations of the supervisee and supervisor while supervision is conducted.
(2)The supervisor shall document the results of the assessment made pursuant to paragraph (1), and shall not utilize supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing if their assessment finds it is not appropriate.
(e)Direct supervisor contact shall occur within the same week as the hours claimed.
(f)Alternative supervision may be arranged during a supervisors vacation or sick leave if the alternative supervision meets the requirements in this chapter.
(g)Notwithstanding any other law, once the required number of experience hours are gained, associates and applicants for licensure shall receive a minimum of one hour of direct supervisor contact per week for each practice setting in which direct clinical counseling is performed. Once the required number of experience hours are gained, further supervision for nonclinical practice, as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (c) of Section 4999.46, shall be at the supervisors discretion.
(h)This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2026, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 15.Section 4999.46.2 of the Business and Professions Code, as added by Section 6 of Chapter 204 of the Statutes of 2022, is amended to read:4999.46.2.(a)Except for experience gained by attending workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences, as described in paragraph (4) of subdivision (c) of Section 4999.46, direct supervisor contact shall occur as follows:
(1)Supervision shall include at least one hour of direct supervisor contact in each week for which experience is credited in each work setting.
(2)A trainee shall receive an average of at least one hour of direct supervisor contact for every five hours of direct clinical counseling performed each week in each setting. For experience gained after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual, triadic, or group, shall be credited during any single week.
(3)An associate gaining experience who performs more than 10 hours of direct clinical counseling in a week in any setting shall receive at least one additional hour of direct supervisor contact for that setting. For experience gained after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual supervision, triadic supervision, or group supervision, shall be credited during any single week.
(4)Of the 104 weeks of required supervision, 52 weeks shall be individual supervision, triadic supervision, or a combination of both.
(b)For purposes of this chapter, one hour of direct supervisor contact means any of the following:
(1)Individual supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and one person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(2)Triadic supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and two persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(3)Group supervision, which means two hours of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and no more than eight persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services. Segments of group supervision may be split into no less than one continuous hour. The supervisor shall ensure that the amount and degree of supervision is appropriate for each person in the group.
(c)Direct supervisor contact shall occur within the same week as the hours claimed.
(d)Alternative supervision may be arranged during a supervisors vacation or sick leave if the alternative supervision meets the requirements in this chapter.
(e)Notwithstanding subdivision (b), a supervisee working in an exempt setting described in Section 4999.22 may obtain the required weekly direct supervisor contact via two-way, real-time videoconferencing. The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with federal and state laws relating to confidentiality of patient health information.
(f)Notwithstanding any other law, once the required number of experience hours are gained, associates and applicants for licensure shall receive a minimum of one hour of direct supervisor contact per week for each practice setting in which direct clinical counseling is performed. Once the required number of experience hours are gained, further supervision for nonclinical practice, as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (c) of Section 4999.46, shall be at the supervisors discretion.
(g)This section shall become operative on January 1, 2026.
SEC. 16.Section 4999.46.4 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4999.46.4.(a)A clinical counselor trainee, associate, or applicant for licensure shall only perform mental health and related services at the places where their employer permits business to be conducted.
(b)An associate who is employed by or volunteering in a private practice or a professional corporation shall be supervised by an individual who is both of the following:
(1)Is employed by or contracted by the associates employer or is an owner of the private practice or professional corporation.
(2)Either provides psychotherapeutic services to clients for the associates employer, or meets both of the following:
(A)The supervisor and the associates employer have a written contract providing the supervisor the same access to the associates clinical records provided to employees of that employer.
(B)The associates clients authorize the release of their clinical records to the supervisor.
(c)At any one time, supervisors in nonexempt settings shall not serve as individual or triadic supervisors for more than a total of six persons who are not fully licensed at the highest level for independent clinical practice and who are receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services in a nonexempt setting.
(d)A written oversight agreement, as specified by the board by regulation, shall be executed between the supervisor and employer when the supervisor is not employed by the supervisees employer or is a volunteer. The supervisor shall evaluate the site or sites where the supervisee will be gaining experience to determine that the site or sites comply with the requirements of this chapter.
SEC. 17.Section 4999.70 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4999.70.A licensee shall display their license in a conspicuous place in the licensees primary place of practice when rendering professional clinical services in person.
SEC. 18.Section 4999.71 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4999.71.(a)A licensee or registrant shall provide a client with a notice written in at least 12-point type prior to initiating psychotherapy services, or as soon as practicably possible thereafter, that reads as follows:
NOTICE TO CLIENTS
The Board of Behavioral Sciences receives and responds to complaints regarding services provided within the scope of practice of professional clinical counselors. You may contact the board online at www.bbs.ca.gov, or by calling (916) 574-7830.
(b)On and after July 1, 2025, upon initiation of psychotherapy services with a client, the notice described in subdivision (a) shall also include the licensees or registrants full name as filed with the board, the license or registration number, the type of license or registration, and the license or registration expiration date.
(c)Delivery of the notice required by this section to the client shall be documented.
SEC. 19.No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
A licensee shall display their license in a conspicuous place in the licensees primary place of practice when seeing clients rendering professional clinical services in person.
SEC. 2.Section 4980.32 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4980.32.(a)A licensee or registrant shall provide a client with a notice written in at least 12-point type prior to initiating psychotherapy services, or as soon as practicably possible thereafter, that reads as follows:
NOTICE TO CLIENTS
The Board of Behavioral Sciences receives and responds to complaints regarding services provided within the scope of practice of marriage and family therapists. You may contact the board online at www.bbs.ca.gov, or by calling (916) 574-7830.
(b)On and after July 1, 2025, upon initiation of psychotherapy services with a client, the notice described in subdivision (a) shall also include the licensees or registrants full name as filed with the board, the license or registration number, the type of license or registration, and the license or registration expiration date.
(c)Delivery of the notice required by this section to the client shall be documented.
SEC. 3.Section 4980.43.2 of the Business and Professions Code, as amended by Section 1 of Chapter 204 of the Statutes of 2022, is amended to read:4980.43.2.(a)Except for experience gained by attending workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences, as described in paragraph (10) of subdivision (c) of Section 4980.43, direct supervisor contact shall occur as follows:
(1)Supervision shall include at least one hour of direct supervisor contact in each week for which experience is credited in each work setting.
(2)A trainee shall receive an average of at least one hour of direct supervisor contact for every five hours of direct clinical counseling performed each week in each setting. For experience gained on or after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual, triadic, or group, shall be credited during any single week.
(3)An associate gaining experience who performs more than 10 hours of direct clinical counseling in a week in any setting shall receive at least one additional hour of direct supervisor contact for that setting. For experience gained on or after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual, triadic, or group, shall be credited during any single week.
(4)Of the 104 weeks of required supervision, 52 weeks shall be individual supervision, triadic supervision, or a combination of both.
(b)(1)For purposes of this chapter, one hour of direct supervisor contact means any of the following:
(A)Individual supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and one person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(B)Triadic supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and two persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(C)Group supervision, which means two hours of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and no more than eight persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services. Segments of group supervision may be split into no less than one continuous hour. A supervisor shall ensure that the amount and degree of supervision is appropriate for each person in the group.
(2)For purposes of this subdivision, face-to-face contact means in-person contact, contact via two-way, real-time videoconferencing, or some combination of these.
(c)The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with federal and state laws relating to confidentiality of patient health information.
(d)(1)Within 60 days of the commencement of supervision, a supervisor shall conduct a meeting with the supervisee during which the supervisor shall assess the appropriateness of allowing the supervisee to receive supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing. This assessment of appropriateness shall include, but is not limited to, the abilities of the supervisee, the preferences of both the supervisee and supervisor, and the privacy of the locations of the supervisee and supervisor while supervision is conducted.
(2)The supervisor shall document the results of the assessment made pursuant to paragraph (1), and shall not utilize supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing if their assessment finds it is not appropriate.
(e)Direct supervisor contact shall occur within the same week as the hours claimed.
(f)Alternative supervision may be arranged during a supervisors vacation or sick leave if the alternative supervision meets the requirements of this chapter.
(g)Notwithstanding any other law, once the required number of experience hours are gained, associates and applicants for licensure shall receive a minimum of one hour of direct supervisor contact per week for each practice setting in which direct clinical counseling is performed. Once the required number of experience hours are gained, further supervision for nonclinical practice, as defined in paragraph (10) of subdivision (c) of Section 4980.43, shall be at the supervisors discretion.
(h)This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2026, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 4.Section 4980.43.2 of the Business and Professions Code, as added by Section 2 of Chapter 204 of the Statutes of 2022, is amended to read:4980.43.2.(a)Except for experience gained by attending workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences, as described in paragraph (10) of subdivision (c) of Section 4980.43, direct supervisor contact shall occur as follows:
(1)Supervision shall include at least one hour of direct supervisor contact in each week for which experience is credited in each work setting.
(2)A trainee shall receive an average of at least one hour of direct supervisor contact for every five hours of direct clinical counseling performed each week in each setting. For experience gained on or after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual, triadic, or group, shall be credited during any single week.
(3)An associate gaining experience who performs more than 10 hours of direct clinical counseling in a week in any setting shall receive at least one additional hour of direct supervisor contact for that setting. For experience gained on or after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual, triadic, or group, shall be credited during any single week.
(4)Of the 104 weeks of required supervision, 52 weeks shall be individual supervision, triadic supervision, or a combination of both.
(b)For purposes of this chapter, one hour of direct supervisor contact means any of the following:
(1)Individual supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and one person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(2)Triadic supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and two persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(3)Group supervision, which means two hours of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and no more than eight persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services. Segments of group supervision may be split into no less than one continuous hour. A supervisor shall ensure that the amount and degree of supervision is appropriate for each person in the group.
(c)Direct supervisor contact shall occur within the same week as the hours claimed.
(d)Alternative supervision may be arranged during a supervisors vacation or sick leave if the alternative supervision meets the requirements of this chapter.
(e)Notwithstanding subdivision (b), a supervisee working in an exempt setting described in Section 4980.01 may obtain the required weekly direct supervisor contact via two-way, real-time videoconferencing. The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with federal and state laws relating to confidentiality of patient health information.
(f)Notwithstanding any other law, once the required number of experience hours are gained, associates and applicants for licensure shall receive a minimum of one hour of direct supervisor contact per week for each practice setting in which direct clinical counseling is performed. Once the required number of experience hours are gained, further supervision for nonclinical practice, as defined in paragraph (10) of subdivision (c) of Section 4980.43, shall be at the supervisors discretion.
(g)This section shall become operative on January 1, 2026.
SEC. 5.Section 4980.43.4 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4980.43.4.(a)A trainee, associate, or applicant for licensure shall only perform mental health and related services at the places where their employer permits business to be conducted.
(b)An associate who is employed by or is volunteering in a private practice or a professional corporation shall be supervised by an individual who is both of the following:
(1)Is employed by or contracted by the associates employer or is an owner of the private practice or professional corporation.
(2)Either provides psychotherapeutic services to clients for the associates employer, or meets both of the following:
(A)The supervisor and the associates employer have a written contract providing the supervisor the same access to the associates clinical records provided to employees of that employer.
(B)The associates clients authorize the release of their clinical records to the supervisor.
(c)At any one time, supervisors in nonexempt settings shall not serve as individual or triadic supervisors for more than a total of six persons who are not fully licensed at the highest level for independent clinical practice and who are receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services in a nonexempt setting.
(d)A written oversight agreement, as specified by the board by regulation, shall be executed between the supervisor and employer when the supervisor is not employed by the supervisees employer or is a volunteer. The supervisor shall evaluate the site or sites where the supervisee will be gaining experience to determine that the site or sites comply with the requirements of this chapter.
SEC. 6.Section 4989.17 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4989.17.(a)A licensee shall provide a client with a notice written in at least 12-point type prior to initiating psychological services, or as soon as practicably possible thereafter, that reads as follows:
NOTICE TO CLIENTS
The Board of Behavioral Sciences receives and responds to complaints regarding services provided within the scope of practice of licensed educational psychologists. You may contact the board online at www.bbs.ca.gov, or by calling (916) 574-7830.
(b)On and after July 1, 2025, upon initiation of psychological services with a client, the notice described in subdivision (a) shall also include the licensees full name as filed with the board, the license number, the type of license, and the license expiration date.
(c)Delivery of the notice required by this section to the client shall be documented.
SEC. 7.Section 4989.48 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4989.48.A licensee shall display their license in a conspicuous place in the licensees primary place of practice when seeing clients rendering professional clinical services in person.
SEC. 8.Section 4996.23.1 of the Business and Professions Code, as amended by Section 3 of Chapter 204 of the Statutes of 2022, is amended to read:4996.23.1.(a)Except for experience gained by attending workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences, as described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 4996.23, direct supervisor contact shall occur as follows:
(1)Supervision shall include at least one hour of direct supervisor contact each week for which experience is credited in each work setting.
(2)An associate gaining experience who performs more than 10 hours of direct clinical counseling in a week in any setting shall receive at least one additional hour of direct supervisor contact for that setting.
(b)(1)For purposes of this chapter, one hour of direct supervisor contact means any of the following:
(A)Individual supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and one person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(B)Triadic supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and two persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(C)Group supervision, which means two hours of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and no more than eight persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services. Segments of group supervision may be split into no less than one continuous hour. A supervisor shall ensure that the amount and degree of supervision is appropriate for each person in the group.
(2)For purposes of this subdivision, face-to-face contact means in-person contact, contact via two-way, real-time videoconferencing, or some combination of these.
(c)The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with federal and state laws relating to confidentiality of patient health information.
(d)(1)Within 60 days of the commencement of supervision, a supervisor shall conduct a meeting with the supervisee during which the supervisor shall assess the appropriateness of allowing the supervisee to receive supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing. This assessment of appropriateness shall include, but is not limited to, the abilities of the supervisee, the preferences of both the supervisee and supervisor, and the privacy of the locations of the supervisee and supervisor while supervision is conducted.
(2)The supervisor shall document the results of the assessment made pursuant to paragraph (1), and shall not utilize supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing if their assessment finds it is not appropriate.
(e)Direct supervisor contact shall occur within the same week as the hours claimed.
(f)Of the 104 weeks of required supervision, 52 weeks shall be individual supervision, triadic supervision, or a combination of both.
(g)Of the 52 weeks of required individual or triadic supervision, no less than 13 weeks shall be supervised by a licensed clinical social worker.
(h)Alternative supervision may be arranged during a supervisors vacation or sick leave if the alternative supervision meets the requirements of this chapter.
(i)Notwithstanding any other law, once the required number of experience hours are gained, an associate clinical social worker or applicant for licensure shall receive a minimum of one hour of direct supervisor contact per week for each practice setting in which direct clinical counseling is performed. Once the required number of experience hours are gained, further supervision for nonclinical practice, as described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 4996.23, shall be at the supervisors discretion.
(j)This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2026, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 9.Section 4996.23.1 of the Business and Professions Code, as added by Section 4 of Chapter 204 of the Statutes of 2022, is amended to read:4996.23.1.(a)Except for experience gained by attending workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences, as described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 4996.23, direct supervisor contact shall occur as follows:
(1)Supervision shall include at least one hour of direct supervisor contact each week for which experience is credited in each work setting.
(2)An associate gaining experience who performs more than 10 hours of direct clinical counseling in a week in any setting shall receive at least one additional hour of direct supervisor contact for that setting.
(b)For purposes of this chapter, one hour of direct supervisor contact means any of the following:
(1)Individual supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and one person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(2)Triadic supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and two persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(3)Group supervision, which means two hours of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and no more than eight persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services. Segments of group supervision may be split into no less than one continuous hour. A supervisor shall ensure that the amount and degree of supervision is appropriate for each person in the group.
(c)Direct supervisor contact shall occur within the same week as the hours claimed.
(d)Of the 104 weeks of required supervision, 52 weeks shall be individual supervision, triadic supervision, or a combination of both.
(e)Of the 52 weeks of required individual or triadic supervision, no less than 13 weeks shall be supervised by a licensed clinical social worker.
(f)Alternative supervision may be arranged during a supervisors vacation or sick leave if the alternative supervision meets the requirements of this chapter.
(g)Notwithstanding subdivision (b), a supervisee working in an exempt setting described in Section 4996.14 may obtain the required weekly direct supervisor contact via two-way, real-time videoconferencing. The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with state and federal laws relating to confidentiality of patient health information.
(h)Notwithstanding any other law, once the required number of experience hours are gained, an associate clinical social worker or applicant for licensure shall receive a minimum of one hour of direct supervisor contact per week for each practice setting in which direct clinical counseling is performed. Once the required number of experience hours are gained, further supervision for nonclinical practice, as described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 4996.23, shall be at the supervisors discretion.
(i)This section shall become operative on January 1, 2026.
SEC. 10.Section 4996.23.3 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4996.23.3.(a)An associate clinical social worker or an applicant for licensure shall only perform mental health and related services at the places where their employer permits business to be conducted.
(b)An associate who is employed by, or volunteering in, a private practice or a professional corporation shall be supervised by an individual who is both of the following:
(1)Is employed by or contracted by the associates employer or is an owner of the private practice or professional corporation.
(2)Either provides psychotherapeutic services to clients for the associates employer, or meets both of the following:
(A)The supervisor and the associates employer have a written contract providing the supervisor the same access to the associates clinical records provided to employees of that employer.
(B)The associates clients authorize the release of their clinical records to the supervisor.
(c)At any one time, supervisors in nonexempt settings shall not serve as individual or triadic supervisors for more than a total of six persons who are not fully licensed at the highest level for independent clinical practice and who are receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services in a nonexempt setting.
(d)A written oversight agreement, as specified by the board by regulation, shall be executed between the supervisor and employer when the supervisor is not employed by the supervisees employer or is a volunteer. The supervisor shall evaluate the site or sites where the supervisee will be gaining experience to determine that the site or sites comply with the requirements of this chapter.
SEC. 11.Section 4996.7 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4996.7.A licensee shall display their license in a conspicuous place in the licensees primary place of practice when seeing clients rendering professional clinical services in person.
SEC. 12.Section 4996.75 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4996.75.(a)A licensee or registrant shall provide a client with a notice written in at least 12-point type prior to initiating psychotherapy services, or as soon as practicably possible thereafter, that reads as follows:
NOTICE TO CLIENTS
The Board of Behavioral Sciences receives and responds to complaints regarding services provided within the scope of practice of clinical social workers. You may contact the board online at www.bbs.ca.gov, or by calling (916) 574-7830.
(b)On and after July 1, 2025, upon initiation of psychotherapy services with a client, the notice described in subdivision (a) shall also include the licensees or registrants full name as filed with the board, the license or registration number, the type of license or registration, and the license or registration expiration date.
(c)Delivery of the notice required by this section to the client shall be documented.
SEC. 13.Section 4996.8 of the Business and Professions Code is repealed.SEC. 14.Section 4999.46.2 of the Business and Professions Code, as amended by Section 5 of Chapter 204 of the Statutes of 2022, is amended to read:4999.46.2.(a)Except for experience gained by attending workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences, as described in paragraph (4) of subdivision (c) of Section 4999.46, direct supervisor contact shall occur as follows:
(1)Supervision shall include at least one hour of direct supervisor contact in each week for which experience is credited in each work setting.
(2)A trainee shall receive an average of at least one hour of direct supervisor contact for every five hours of direct clinical counseling performed each week in each setting. For experience gained after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual, triadic, or group, shall be credited during any single week.
(3)An associate gaining experience who performs more than 10 hours of direct clinical counseling in a week in any setting shall receive at least one additional hour of direct supervisor contact for that setting. For experience gained after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual supervision, triadic supervision, or group supervision, shall be credited during any single week.
(4)Of the 104 weeks of required supervision, 52 weeks shall be individual supervision, triadic supervision, or a combination of both.
(b)(1)For purposes of this chapter, one hour of direct supervisor contact means any of the following:
(A)Individual supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and one person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(B)Triadic supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and two persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(C)Group supervision, which means two hours of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and no more than eight persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services. Segments of group supervision may be split into no less than one continuous hour. The supervisor shall ensure that the amount and degree of supervision is appropriate for each person in the group.
(2)For purposes of this subdivision, face-to-face contact means in-person contact, contact via two-way, real-time videoconferencing, or some combination of these.
(c)The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with federal and state laws relating to confidentiality of patient health information.
(d)(1)Within 60 days of the commencement of supervision, a supervisor shall conduct a meeting with the supervisee during which the supervisor shall assess the appropriateness of allowing the supervisee to receive supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing. This assessment of appropriateness shall include, but is not limited to, the abilities of the supervisee, the preferences of both the supervisee and supervisor, and the privacy of the locations of the supervisee and supervisor while supervision is conducted.
(2)The supervisor shall document the results of the assessment made pursuant to paragraph (1), and shall not utilize supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing if their assessment finds it is not appropriate.
(e)Direct supervisor contact shall occur within the same week as the hours claimed.
(f)Alternative supervision may be arranged during a supervisors vacation or sick leave if the alternative supervision meets the requirements in this chapter.
(g)Notwithstanding any other law, once the required number of experience hours are gained, associates and applicants for licensure shall receive a minimum of one hour of direct supervisor contact per week for each practice setting in which direct clinical counseling is performed. Once the required number of experience hours are gained, further supervision for nonclinical practice, as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (c) of Section 4999.46, shall be at the supervisors discretion.
(h)This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2026, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 15.Section 4999.46.2 of the Business and Professions Code, as added by Section 6 of Chapter 204 of the Statutes of 2022, is amended to read:4999.46.2.(a)Except for experience gained by attending workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences, as described in paragraph (4) of subdivision (c) of Section 4999.46, direct supervisor contact shall occur as follows:
(1)Supervision shall include at least one hour of direct supervisor contact in each week for which experience is credited in each work setting.
(2)A trainee shall receive an average of at least one hour of direct supervisor contact for every five hours of direct clinical counseling performed each week in each setting. For experience gained after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual, triadic, or group, shall be credited during any single week.
(3)An associate gaining experience who performs more than 10 hours of direct clinical counseling in a week in any setting shall receive at least one additional hour of direct supervisor contact for that setting. For experience gained after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual supervision, triadic supervision, or group supervision, shall be credited during any single week.
(4)Of the 104 weeks of required supervision, 52 weeks shall be individual supervision, triadic supervision, or a combination of both.
(b)For purposes of this chapter, one hour of direct supervisor contact means any of the following:
(1)Individual supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and one person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(2)Triadic supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and two persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(3)Group supervision, which means two hours of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and no more than eight persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services. Segments of group supervision may be split into no less than one continuous hour. The supervisor shall ensure that the amount and degree of supervision is appropriate for each person in the group.
(c)Direct supervisor contact shall occur within the same week as the hours claimed.
(d)Alternative supervision may be arranged during a supervisors vacation or sick leave if the alternative supervision meets the requirements in this chapter.
(e)Notwithstanding subdivision (b), a supervisee working in an exempt setting described in Section 4999.22 may obtain the required weekly direct supervisor contact via two-way, real-time videoconferencing. The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with federal and state laws relating to confidentiality of patient health information.
(f)Notwithstanding any other law, once the required number of experience hours are gained, associates and applicants for licensure shall receive a minimum of one hour of direct supervisor contact per week for each practice setting in which direct clinical counseling is performed. Once the required number of experience hours are gained, further supervision for nonclinical practice, as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (c) of Section 4999.46, shall be at the supervisors discretion.
(g)This section shall become operative on January 1, 2026.
SEC. 16.Section 4999.46.4 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4999.46.4.(a)A clinical counselor trainee, associate, or applicant for licensure shall only perform mental health and related services at the places where their employer permits business to be conducted.
(b)An associate who is employed by or volunteering in a private practice or a professional corporation shall be supervised by an individual who is both of the following:
(1)Is employed by or contracted by the associates employer or is an owner of the private practice or professional corporation.
(2)Either provides psychotherapeutic services to clients for the associates employer, or meets both of the following:
(A)The supervisor and the associates employer have a written contract providing the supervisor the same access to the associates clinical records provided to employees of that employer.
(B)The associates clients authorize the release of their clinical records to the supervisor.
(c)At any one time, supervisors in nonexempt settings shall not serve as individual or triadic supervisors for more than a total of six persons who are not fully licensed at the highest level for independent clinical practice and who are receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services in a nonexempt setting.
(d)A written oversight agreement, as specified by the board by regulation, shall be executed between the supervisor and employer when the supervisor is not employed by the supervisees employer or is a volunteer. The supervisor shall evaluate the site or sites where the supervisee will be gaining experience to determine that the site or sites comply with the requirements of this chapter.
SEC. 17.Section 4999.70 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4999.70.A licensee shall display their license in a conspicuous place in the licensees primary place of practice when seeing clients rendering professional clinical services in person.
SEC. 18.Section 4999.71 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4999.71.(a)A licensee or registrant shall provide a client with a notice written in at least 12-point type prior to initiating psychotherapy services, or as soon as practicably possible thereafter, that reads as follows:
NOTICE TO CLIENTS
The Board of Behavioral Sciences receives and responds to complaints regarding services provided within the scope of practice of professional clinical counselors. You may contact the board online at www.bbs.ca.gov, or by calling (916) 574-7830.
(b)On and after July 1, 2025, upon initiation of psychotherapy services with a client, the notice described in subdivision (a) shall also include the licensees or registrants full name as filed with the board, the license or registration number, the type of license or registration, and the license or registration expiration date.
(c)Delivery of the notice required by this section to the client shall be documented.
SEC. 19.No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
A licensee shall display his or her their license in a conspicuous place in the licensees primary place of practice. practice when seeing clients in person.
SEC. 2.Section 4980.32 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4980.32.(a)On and after July 1, 2020, a A licensee or registrant shall provide a client with a notice written in at least 12-point type prior to initiating psychotherapy services, or as soon as practicably possible thereafter, that reads as follows:
NOTICE TO CLIENTS
The Board of Behavioral Sciences receives and responds to complaints regarding services provided within the scope of practice of marriage and family therapists. You may contact the board online
at www.bbs.ca.gov, or by calling (916) 574-7830.
(b)On and after July 1, 2025, upon initiation of psychotherapy services with a client, the notice described in subdivision (a) shall also include the licensees or registrants full name as filed with the board, the license or registration number, the type of license or registration, and the license or registration expiration date.
(c)Delivery of the notice required by this section to the client shall be documented.
(d)A licensee or registrant shall inform their clients of any change to the active status of their license or registration.SEC. 3.Section 4980.43.2 of the Business and Professions Code, as amended by Section 1 of Chapter 204 of the Statutes of 2022, is amended to read:4980.43.2.(a)Except for experience gained by attending workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences, as described in paragraph (10) of subdivision (c) of Section 4980.43, direct supervisor contact shall occur as follows:
(1)Supervision shall include at least one hour of direct supervisor contact in each week for which experience is credited in each work setting.
(2)A trainee shall receive an average of at least one hour of direct supervisor contact for every five hours of direct clinical counseling performed each week in each setting. For experience gained on or after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual, triadic, or group, shall be credited during any single week.
(3)An associate gaining experience who performs more than 10 hours of direct clinical counseling in a week in any setting shall receive at least one additional hour of direct supervisor contact for that setting. For experience gained on or after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual, triadic, or group, shall be credited during any single week.
(4)Of the 104 weeks of required supervision, 52 weeks shall be individual supervision, triadic supervision, or a combination of both.
(b)(1)For purposes of this chapter, one hour of direct supervisor contact means any of the following:
(A)Individual supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and one person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(B)Triadic supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and two persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(C)Group supervision, which means two hours of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and no more than eight persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services. Segments of group supervision may be split into no less than one continuous hour. A supervisor shall ensure that the amount and degree of supervision is appropriate for each person in the group.
(2)For purposes of this subdivision, face-to-face contact means in-person contact, contact via two-way, real-time videoconferencing, or some combination of these.
(c)The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with federal and state laws relating to confidentiality of patient health information.
(d)(1)Within 60 days of the commencement of supervision, a supervisor shall conduct a meeting with the supervisee during which the supervisor shall assess the appropriateness of allowing the supervisee to receive supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing. This assessment of appropriateness shall include, but is not limited to, the abilities of the supervisee, the preferences of both the supervisee and supervisor, and the privacy of the locations of the supervisee and supervisor while supervision is conducted.
(2)The supervisor shall document the results of the assessment made pursuant to paragraph (1), and shall not utilize supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing if their assessment finds it is not appropriate.
(e)Direct supervisor contact shall occur within the same week as the hours claimed.
(f)Alternative supervision may be arranged during a supervisors vacation or sick leave if the alternative supervision meets the requirements of this chapter.
(g)Notwithstanding any other law, once the required number of experience hours are gained, associates and applicants for licensure shall receive a minimum of one hour of direct supervisor contact per week for each practice setting in which direct clinical counseling is performed. Once the required number of experience hours are gained, further supervision for nonclinical practice, as defined in paragraph (10) of subdivision (c) of Section 4980.43, shall be at the supervisors discretion.
(h)This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2026, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 4.Section 4980.43.2 of the Business and Professions Code, as added by Section 2 of Chapter 204 of the Statutes of 2022, is amended to read:4980.43.2.(a)Except for experience gained by attending workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences, as described in paragraph (10) of subdivision (c) of Section 4980.43, direct supervisor contact shall occur as follows:
(1)Supervision shall include at least one hour of direct supervisor contact in each week for which experience is credited in each work setting.
(2)A trainee shall receive an average of at least one hour of direct supervisor contact for every five hours of direct clinical counseling performed each week in each setting. For experience gained on or after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual, triadic, or group, shall be credited during any single week.
(3)An associate gaining experience who performs more than 10 hours of direct clinical counseling in a week in any setting shall receive at least one additional hour of direct supervisor contact for that setting. For experience gained on or after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual, triadic, or group, shall be credited during any single week.
(4)Of the 104 weeks of required supervision, 52 weeks shall be individual supervision, triadic supervision, or a combination of both.
(b)For purposes of this chapter, one hour of direct supervisor contact means any of the following:
(1)Individual supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and one supervisee. person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(2)Triadic supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and two supervisees. persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(3)Group supervision, which means two hours of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and no more than eight supervisees. persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services. Segments of group supervision may be split into no less than one continuous hour. A supervisor shall ensure that the amount and degree of supervision is appropriate for each supervisee. person in the group.
(c)Direct supervisor contact shall occur within the same week as the hours claimed.
(d)Alternative supervision may be arranged during a supervisors vacation or sick leave if the alternative supervision meets the requirements of this chapter.
(e)Notwithstanding subdivision (b), a supervisee working in an exempt setting described in Section 4980.01 may obtain the required weekly direct supervisor contact via two-way, real-time videoconferencing. The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with federal and state laws relating to confidentiality of patient health information.
(f)Notwithstanding any other law, once the required number of experience hours are gained, associates and applicants for licensure shall receive a minimum of one hour of direct supervisor contact per week for each practice setting in which direct clinical counseling is performed. Once the required number of experience hours are gained, further supervision for nonclinical practice, as defined in paragraph (10) of subdivision (c) of Section 4980.43, shall be at the supervisors discretion.
(g)This section shall become operative on January 1, 2026.
SEC. 4.SEC. 5.Section 4980.43.4 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4980.43.4.(a)A trainee, associate, or applicant for licensure shall only perform mental health and related services at the places where their employer permits business to be conducted.
(b)An associate who is employed by or is volunteering in a private practice or a professional corporation shall be supervised by an individual who is both of the following:
(1)Is employed by or contracted by the associates employer or is an owner of the private practice or professional corporation.
(2)Either provides psychotherapeutic services to clients for the associates employer, or meets both of the following:
(A)The supervisor and the associates employer have a written contract providing the supervisor the same access to the associates clinical records provided to employees of that employer.
(B)The associates clients authorize the release of their clinical records to the supervisor.
(c)At any one time, supervisors in nonexempt settings shall not serve as individual or triadic supervisors for more than a total of six individuals persons who are receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services in a nonexempt setting.
(d)A written oversight agreement, as specified by the board by regulation, shall be executed between the supervisor and employer when the supervisor is not employed by the supervisees employer or is a volunteer. The supervisor shall evaluate the site or sites where the supervisee will be gaining experience to determine that the site or sites comply with the requirements of this chapter.
SEC. 5.SEC. 6.Section 4989.17 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4989.17.(a)On and after July 1, 2020, a A licensee shall provide a client with a notice written in at least 12-point type prior to initiating psychological services, or as soon as practicably possible thereafter, that reads as follows:
NOTICE TO CLIENTS
The Board of Behavioral Sciences receives and responds to complaints regarding services provided within the scope of practice of licensed educational psychologists. You may contact the board online
at www.bbs.ca.gov, or by calling (916) 574-7830.
(b)On and after July 1, 2025, upon initiation of psychological services with a client, the notice described in subdivision (a) shall also include the licensees full name as filed with the board, the license number, the type of license, and the license expiration date.
(c)Delivery of the notice required by this section to the client shall be documented.
(d)A licensee shall inform their clients of any change to the active status of their license.SEC. 6.Section 4989.48 of the Business and Professions Code is repealed.SEC. 7.Section 4989.48 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4989.48.A licensee shall display his or her their license in a conspicuous place in the licensees primary place of practice. practice when seeing clients in person.
SEC. 7.SEC. 8.Section 4996.23.1 of the Business and Professions Code, as amended by Section 3 of Chapter 204 of the Statutes of 2022, is amended to read:4996.23.1.(a)Except for experience gained by attending workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences, as described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 4996.23, direct supervisor contact shall occur as follows:
(1)Supervision shall include at least one hour of direct supervisor contact each week for which experience is credited in each work setting.
(2)An associate gaining experience who performs more than 10 hours of direct clinical counseling in a week in any setting shall receive at least one additional hour of direct supervisor contact for that setting.
(b)(1)For purposes of this chapter, one hour of direct supervisor contact means any of the following:
(A)Individual supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and one person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(B)Triadic supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and two persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(C)Group supervision, which means two hours of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and no more than eight persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services. Segments of group supervision may be split into no less than one continuous hour. A supervisor shall ensure that the amount and degree of supervision is appropriate for each person in the group.
(2)For purposes of this subdivision, face-to-face contact means in-person contact, contact via two-way, real-time videoconferencing, or some combination of these.
(c)The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with federal and state laws relating to confidentiality of patient health information.
(d)(1)Within 60 days of the commencement of supervision, a supervisor shall conduct a meeting with the supervisee during which the supervisor shall assess the appropriateness of allowing the supervisee to receive supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing. This assessment of appropriateness shall include, but is not limited to, the abilities of the supervisee, the preferences of both the supervisee and supervisor, and the privacy of the locations of the supervisee and supervisor while supervision is conducted.
(2)The supervisor shall document the results of the assessment made pursuant to paragraph (1), and shall not utilize supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing if their assessment finds it is not appropriate.
(e)Direct supervisor contact shall occur within the same week as the hours claimed.
(f)Of the 104 weeks of required supervision, 52 weeks shall be individual supervision, triadic supervision, or a combination of both.
(g)Of the 52 weeks of required individual or triadic supervision, no less than 13 weeks shall be supervised by a licensed clinical social worker.
(h)Alternative supervision may be arranged during a supervisors vacation or sick leave if the alternative supervision meets the requirements of this chapter.
(i)Notwithstanding any other law, once the required number of experience hours are gained, an associate clinical social worker or applicant for licensure shall receive a minimum of one hour of direct supervisor contact per week for each practice setting in which direct clinical counseling is performed. Once the required number of experience hours are gained, further supervision for nonclinical practice, as described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 4996.23, shall be at the supervisors discretion.
(j)This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2026, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 9.Section 4996.23.1 of the Business and Professions Code, as added by Section 4 of Chapter 204 of the Statutes of 2022, is amended to read:4996.23.1.(a)Except for experience gained by attending workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences, as described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 4996.23, direct supervisor contact shall occur as follows:
(1)Supervision shall include at least one hour of direct supervisor contact each week for which experience is credited in each work setting.
(2)An associate gaining experience who performs more than 10 hours of direct clinical counseling in a week in any setting shall receive at least one additional hour of direct supervisor contact for that setting.
(b)For purposes of this chapter, one hour of direct supervisor contact means any of the following:
(1)Individual supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and one supervisee. person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(2)Triadic supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and two supervisees. persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(3)Group supervision, which means two hours of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and no more than eight supervisees. persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services. Segments of group supervision may be split into no less than one continuous hour. A supervisor shall ensure that the amount and degree of supervision is appropriate for each supervisee. person in the group.
(c)Direct supervisor contact shall occur within the same week as the hours claimed.
(d)Of the 104 weeks of required supervision, 52 weeks shall be individual supervision, triadic supervision, or a combination of both.
(e)Of the 52 weeks of required individual or triadic supervision, no less than 13 weeks shall be supervised by a licensed clinical social worker.
(f)Alternative supervision may be arranged during a supervisors vacation or sick leave if the alternative supervision meets the requirements of this chapter.
(g)Notwithstanding subdivision (b), a supervisee working in an exempt setting described in Section 4996.14 may obtain the required weekly direct supervisor contact via two-way, real-time videoconferencing. The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with state and federal laws relating to confidentiality of patient health information.
(h)Notwithstanding any other law, once the required number of experience hours are gained, an associate clinical social worker or applicant for licensure shall receive a minimum of one hour of direct supervisor contact per week for each practice setting in which direct clinical counseling is performed. Once the required number of experience hours are gained, further supervision for nonclinical practice, as described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 4996.23, shall be at the supervisors discretion.
(i)This section shall become operative on January 1, 2026.
SEC. 8.SEC. 10.Section 4996.23.3 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4996.23.3.(a)An associate clinical social worker or an applicant for licensure shall only perform mental health and related services at the places where their employer permits business to be conducted.
(b)An associate who is employed by, or volunteering in, a private practice or a professional corporation shall be supervised by an individual who is both of the following:
(1)Is employed by or contracted by the associates employer or is an owner of the private practice or professional corporation.
(2)Either provides psychotherapeutic services to clients for the associates employer, or meets both of the following:
(A)The supervisor and the associates employer have a written contract providing the supervisor the same access to the associates clinical records provided to employees of that employer.
(B)The associates clients authorize the release of their clinical records to the supervisor.
(c)At any one time, supervisors in nonexempt settings shall not serve as individual or triadic supervisors for more than a total of six individuals persons who are receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services in a nonexempt setting.
(d)A written oversight agreement, as specified by the board by regulation, shall be executed between the supervisor and employer when the supervisor is not employed by the supervisees employer or is a volunteer. The supervisor shall evaluate the site or sites where the supervisee will be gaining experience to determine that the site or sites comply with the requirements of this chapter.
SEC. 9.Section 4996.7 of the Business and Professions Code is repealed.SEC. 11.Section 4996.7 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4996.7.A licensee shall display his or her their license in a conspicuous place in the licensees primary place of practice. practice when seeing clients in person.
SEC. 10.SEC. 12.Section 4996.75 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4996.75.(a)On and after July 1, 2020, a A licensee or registrant shall provide a client with a notice written in at least 12-point type prior to initiating psychotherapy services, or as soon as practicably possible thereafter, that reads as follows:
NOTICE TO CLIENTS
The Board of Behavioral Sciences receives and responds to complaints regarding services provided within the scope of practice of clinical social workers. You may contact the board
online at www.bbs.ca.gov, or by calling (916) 574-7830.
(b)On and after July 1, 2025, upon initiation of psychotherapy services with a client, the notice described in subdivision (a) shall also include the licensees or registrants full name as filed with the board, the license or registration number, the type of license or registration, and the license or registration expiration date.
(c)Delivery of the notice required by this section to the client shall be documented.
(d)A licensee or registrant shall inform their clients of any change to the active status of their license or registration.SEC. 11.SEC. 13.Section 4996.8 of the Business and Professions Code is repealed.SEC. 12.SEC. 14.Section 4999.46.2 of the Business and Professions Code, as amended by Section 5 of Chapter 204 of the Statutes of 2022, is amended to read:4999.46.2.(a)Except for experience gained by attending workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences, as described in paragraph (4) of subdivision (c) of Section 4999.46, direct supervisor contact shall occur as follows:
(1)Supervision shall include at least one hour of direct supervisor contact in each week for which experience is credited in each work setting.
(2)A trainee shall receive an average of at least one hour of direct supervisor contact for every five hours of direct clinical counseling performed each week in each setting. For experience gained after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual, triadic, or group, shall be credited during any single week.
(3)An associate gaining experience who performs more than 10 hours of direct clinical counseling in a week in any setting shall receive at least one additional hour of direct supervisor contact for that setting. For experience gained after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual supervision, triadic supervision, or group supervision, shall be credited during any single week.
(4)Of the 104 weeks of required supervision, 52 weeks shall be individual supervision, triadic supervision, or a combination of both.
(b)(1)For purposes of this chapter, one hour of direct supervisor contact means any of the following:
(A)Individual supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and one person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(B)Triadic supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and two persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(C)Group supervision, which means two hours of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and no more than eight persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services. Segments of group supervision may be split into no less than one continuous hour. The supervisor shall ensure that the amount and degree of supervision is appropriate for each person in the group.
(2)For purposes of this subdivision, face-to-face contact means in-person contact, contact via two-way, real-time videoconferencing, or some combination of these.
(c)The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with federal and state laws relating to confidentiality of patient health information.
(d)(1)Within 60 days of the commencement of supervision, a supervisor shall conduct a meeting with the supervisee during which the supervisor shall assess the appropriateness of allowing the supervisee to receive supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing. This assessment of appropriateness shall include, but is not limited to, the abilities of the supervisee, the preferences of both the supervisee and supervisor, and the privacy of the locations of the supervisee and supervisor while supervision is conducted.
(2)The supervisor shall document the results of the assessment made pursuant to paragraph (1), and shall not utilize supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing if their assessment finds it is not appropriate.
(e)Direct supervisor contact shall occur within the same week as the hours claimed.
(f)Alternative supervision may be arranged during a supervisors vacation or sick leave if the alternative supervision meets the requirements in this chapter.
(g)Notwithstanding any other law, once the required number of experience hours are gained, associates and applicants for licensure shall receive a minimum of one hour of direct supervisor contact per week for each practice setting in which direct clinical counseling is performed. Once the required number of experience hours are gained, further supervision for nonclinical practice, as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (c) of Section 4999.46, shall be at the supervisors discretion.
(h)This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2026, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 15.Section 4999.46.2 of the Business and Professions Code, as added by Section 6 of Chapter 204 of the Statutes of 2022, is amended to read:4999.46.2.(a)Except for experience gained by attending workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences, as described in paragraph (4) of subdivision (c) of Section 4999.46, direct supervisor contact shall occur as follows:
(1)Supervision shall include at least one hour of direct supervisor contact in each week for which experience is credited in each work setting.
(2)A trainee shall receive an average of at least one hour of direct supervisor contact for every five hours of direct clinical counseling performed each week in each setting. For experience gained after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual, triadic, or group, shall be credited during any single week.
(3)An associate gaining experience who performs more than 10 hours of direct clinical counseling in a week in any setting shall receive at least one additional hour of direct supervisor contact for that setting. For experience gained after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual supervision, triadic supervision, or group supervision, shall be credited during any single week.
(4)Of the 104 weeks of required supervision, 52 weeks shall be individual supervision, triadic supervision, or a combination of both.
(b)For purposes of this chapter, one hour of direct supervisor contact means any of the following:
(1)Individual supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and one supervisee. person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(2)Triadic supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and two supervisees. persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(3)Group supervision, which means two hours of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and no more than eight supervisees. persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services. Segments of group supervision may be split into no less than one continuous hour. The supervisor shall ensure that the amount and degree of supervision is appropriate for each supervisee. person in the group.
(c)Direct supervisor contact shall occur within the same week as the hours claimed.
(d)Alternative supervision may be arranged during a supervisors vacation or sick leave if the alternative supervision meets the requirements in this chapter.
(e)Notwithstanding subdivision (b), a supervisee working in an exempt setting described in Section 4999.22 may obtain the required weekly direct supervisor contact via two-way, real-time videoconferencing. The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with federal and state laws relating to confidentiality of patient health information.
(f)Notwithstanding any other law, once the required number of experience hours are gained, associates and applicants for licensure shall receive a minimum of one hour of direct supervisor contact per week for each practice setting in which direct clinical counseling is performed. Once the required number of experience hours are gained, further supervision for nonclinical practice, as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (c) of Section 4999.46, shall be at the supervisors discretion.
(g)This section shall become operative on January 1, 2026.
SEC. 13.SEC. 16.Section 4999.46.4 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4999.46.4.(a)A clinical counselor trainee, associate, or applicant for licensure shall only perform mental health and related services at the places where their employer permits business to be conducted.
(b)An associate who is employed by or volunteering in a private practice or a professional corporation shall be supervised by an individual who is both of the following:
(1)Is employed by or contracted by the associates employer or is an owner of the private practice or professional corporation.
(2)Either provides psychotherapeutic services to clients for the associates employer, or meets both of the following:
(A)The supervisor and the associates employer have a written contract providing the supervisor the same access to the associates clinical records provided to employees of that employer.
(B)The associates clients authorize the release of their clinical records to the supervisor.
(c)At any one time, supervisors in nonexempt settings shall not serve as individual or triadic supervisors for more than a total of six individuals persons who are receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services in a nonexempt setting.
(d)A written oversight agreement, as specified by the board by regulation, shall be executed between the supervisor and employer when the supervisor is not employed by the supervisees employer or is a volunteer. The supervisor shall evaluate the site or sites where the supervisee will be gaining experience to determine that the site or sites comply with the requirements of this chapter.
SEC. 14.Section 4999.70 of the Business and Professions Code is repealed.SEC. 17.Section 4999.70 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4999.70.A licensee shall display his or her their license in a conspicuous place in his or her the licensees primary place of practice. practice when seeing clients in person.
SEC. 15.SEC. 18.Section 4999.71 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4999.71.(a)On and after July 1, 2020, a A licensee or registrant shall provide a client with a notice written in at least 12-point type prior to initiating psychotherapy services, or as soon as practicably possible thereafter, that reads as follows:
NOTICE TO CLIENTS
The Board of Behavioral Sciences receives and responds to complaints regarding services provided within the scope of practice of professional clinical counselors. You may contact the board online
at www.bbs.ca.gov, or by calling (916) 574-7830.
(b)On and after July 1, 2025, upon initiation of psychotherapy services with a client, the notice described in subdivision (a) shall also include the licensees or registrants full name as filed with the board, the license or registration number, the type of license or registration, and the license or registration expiration date.
(c)Delivery of the notice required by this section to the client shall be documented.
(d)A licensee or registrant shall inform their clients of any change to the active status of their license or registration.SEC. 16.SEC. 19.No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
(a)On and after July 1, 2020, a licensee or registrant shall provide a client with a notice written in at least 12-point type prior to initiating psychotherapy services, or as soon as practicably possible thereafter, that reads as follows:
NOTICE TO CLIENTS
The Board of Behavioral Sciences receives and responds to complaints regarding services provided within the scope of practice of marriage and family therapists. You may contact the board online at www.bbs.ca.gov, or by calling (916) 574-7830.
(b)On and after July 1, 2025, upon initiation of psychotherapy services with a client, the notice described in subdivision (a) shall also include the licensees or registrants full name as filed with the board, the license or registration number, the type of license or registration, and the license or registration expiration date.
(b)The delivery(c)Delivery of the notice required by this section to the client shall be documented.
(d)A licensee or registrant shall inform their clients of any change to the active status of their license or registration.
SEC. 3.Section 4980.43.2 of the Business and Professions Code, as amended by Section 1 of Chapter 204 of the Statutes of 2022, is amended to read:4980.43.2.(a)Except for experience gained by attending workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences, as described in paragraph (10) of subdivision (c) of Section 4980.43, direct supervisor contact shall occur as follows:
(1)Supervision shall include at least one hour of direct supervisor contact in each week for which experience is credited in each work setting.
(2)A trainee shall receive an average of at least one hour of direct supervisor contact for every five hours of direct clinical counseling performed each week in each setting. For experience gained on or after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual, triadic, or group, shall be credited during any single week.
(3)An associate gaining experience who performs more than 10 hours of direct clinical counseling in a week in any setting shall receive at least one additional hour of direct supervisor contact for that setting. For experience gained on or after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual, triadic, or group, shall be credited during any single week.
(4)Of the 104 weeks of required supervision, 52 weeks shall be individual supervision, triadic supervision, or a combination of both.
(b)(1)For purposes of this chapter, one hour of direct supervisor contact means any of the following:
(A)Individual supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and one supervisee. person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(B)Triadic supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and two supervisees. persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(C)Group supervision, which means two hours of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and no more than eight supervisees. persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services. Segments of group supervision may be split into no less than one continuous hour. A supervisor shall ensure that the amount and degree of supervision is appropriate for each supervisee. person in the group.
(2)For purposes of this subdivision, face-to-face contact means in-person contact, contact via two-way, real-time videoconferencing, or some combination of these.
(c)The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with federal and state laws relating to confidentiality of patient health information.
(d)(1)Within 60 days of the commencement of supervision, a supervisor shall conduct a meeting with the supervisee during which the supervisor shall assess the appropriateness of allowing the supervisee to receive supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing. This assessment of appropriateness shall include, but is not limited to, the abilities of the supervisee, the preferences of both the supervisee and supervisor, and the privacy of the locations of the supervisee and supervisor while supervision is conducted.
(2)The supervisor shall document the results of the assessment made pursuant to paragraph (1), and shall not utilize supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing if their assessment finds it is not appropriate.
(e)Direct supervisor contact shall occur within the same week as the hours claimed.
(f)Alternative supervision may be arranged during a supervisors vacation or sick leave if the alternative supervision meets the requirements of this chapter.
(g)Notwithstanding any other law, once the required number of experience hours are gained, associates and applicants for licensure shall receive a minimum of one hour of direct supervisor contact per week for each practice setting in which direct clinical counseling is performed. Once the required number of experience hours are gained, further supervision for nonclinical practice, as defined in paragraph (10) of subdivision (c) of Section 4980.43, shall be at the supervisors discretion.
(h)This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2026, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 4.Section 4980.43.4 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4980.43.4.(a)A trainee, associate, or applicant for licensure shall only perform mental health and related services at the places where their employer permits business to be conducted.
(b)An associate who is employed by or is volunteering in a private practice or a professional corporation shall be supervised by an individual who is both of the following:
(1)Is employed by or contracted by the associates employer or is an owner of the private practice or professional corporation.
(2)Either provides psychotherapeutic services to clients for the associates employer, or meets both of the following:
(A)The supervisor and the associates employer have a written contract providing the supervisor the same access to the associates clinical records provided to employees of that employer.
(B)The associates clients authorize the release of their clinical records to the supervisor.
(c)Supervisors of supervisees At any one time, supervisors in a nonexempt setting settings shall not serve as individual or triadic supervisors for more than a total of six supervisees at any time. Supervisees may be registered as associate marriage and family therapists, associate professional clinical counselors, associate clinical social workers, or any combination of those registrations. individuals who are receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services in a nonexempt setting.
(d)A written oversight agreement, as specified by the board by regulation, shall be executed between the supervisor and employer when the supervisor is not employed by the supervisees employer or is a volunteer. The supervisor shall evaluate the site or sites where the supervisee will be gaining experience to determine that the site or sites comply with the requirements of this chapter.
SEC. 5.Section 4989.17 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4989.17.(a)On and after July 1, 2020, a licensee shall provide a client with a notice written in at least 12-point type prior to initiating psychological services, or as soon as practicably possible thereafter, that reads as follows:
NOTICE TO CLIENTS
The Board of Behavioral Sciences receives and responds to complaints regarding services provided within the scope of practice of licensed educational psychologists. You may contact the board online at www.bbs.ca.gov, or by calling (916) 574-7830.
(b)On and after July 1, 2025, upon initiation of psychological services with a client, the notice described in subdivision (a) shall also include the licensees full name as filed with the board, the license number, the type of license, and the license expiration date.
(b)(c)Delivery of the notice required by this section to the client shall be documented.
(d)A licensee shall inform their clients of any change to the active status of their license.
SEC. 6.Section 4989.48 of the Business and Professions Code is repealed.4989.48.A licensee shall display his or her license in a conspicuous place in the licensees primary place of practice.SEC. 7.Section 4996.23.1 of the Business and Professions Code, as amended by Section 3 of Chapter 204 of the Statutes of 2022, is amended to read:4996.23.1.(a)Except for experience gained by attending workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences, as described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 4996.23, direct supervisor contact shall occur as follows:
(1)Supervision shall include at least one hour of direct supervisor contact each week for which experience is credited in each work setting.
(2)An associate gaining experience who performs more than 10 hours of direct clinical counseling in a week in any setting shall receive at least one additional hour of direct supervisor contact for that setting.
(b)(1)For purposes of this chapter, one hour of direct supervisor contact means any of the following:
(A)Individual supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and one supervisee. person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(B)Triadic supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and two supervisees. persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(C)Group supervision, which means two hours of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and no more than eight supervisees. persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services. Segments of group supervision may be split into no less than one continuous hour. A supervisor shall ensure that the amount and degree of supervision is appropriate for each supervisee. person in the group.
(2)For purposes of this subdivision, face-to-face contact means in-person contact, contact via two-way, real-time videoconferencing, or some combination of these.
(c)The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with federal and state laws relating to confidentiality of patient health information.
(d)(1)Within 60 days of the commencement of supervision, a supervisor shall conduct a meeting with the supervisee during which the supervisor shall assess the appropriateness of allowing the supervisee to receive supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing. This assessment of appropriateness shall include, but is not limited to, the abilities of the supervisee, the preferences of both the supervisee and supervisor, and the privacy of the locations of the supervisee and supervisor while supervision is conducted.
(2)The supervisor shall document the results of the assessment made pursuant to paragraph (1), and shall not utilize supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing if their assessment finds it is not appropriate.
(e)Direct supervisor contact shall occur within the same week as the hours claimed.
(f)Of the 104 weeks of required supervision, 52 weeks shall be individual supervision, triadic supervision, or a combination of both.
(g)Of the 52 weeks of required individual or triadic supervision, no less than 13 weeks shall be supervised by a licensed clinical social worker.
(h)Alternative supervision may be arranged during a supervisors vacation or sick leave if the alternative supervision meets the requirements of this chapter.
(i)Notwithstanding any other law, once the required number of experience hours are gained, an associate clinical social worker or applicant for licensure shall receive a minimum of one hour of direct supervisor contact per week for each practice setting in which direct clinical counseling is performed. Once the required number of experience hours are gained, further supervision for nonclinical practice, as described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 4996.23, shall be at the supervisors discretion.
(j)This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2026, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 8.Section 4996.23.3 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4996.23.3.(a)An associate clinical social worker or an applicant for licensure shall only perform mental health and related services at the places where their employer permits business to be conducted.
(b)An associate who is employed by, or volunteering in, a private practice or a professional corporation shall be supervised by an individual who is both of the following:
(1)Is employed by or contracted by the associates employer or is an owner of the private practice or professional corporation.
(2)Either provides psychotherapeutic services to clients for the associates employer, or meets both of the following:
(A)The supervisor and the associates employer have a written contract providing the supervisor the same access to the associates clinical records provided to employees of that employer.
(B)The associates clients authorize the release of their clinical records to the supervisor.
(c)Supervisors of supervisees At any one time, supervisors in a nonexempt setting settings shall not serve as individual or triadic supervisors for more than a total of six supervisees at any time. Supervisees may be registered as associate marriage and family therapists, associate professional clinical counselors, associate clinical social workers, or any combination of those registrations. individuals who are receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services in a nonexempt setting.
(d)A written oversight agreement, as specified by the board by regulation, shall be executed between the supervisor and employer when the supervisor is not employed by the supervisees employer or is a volunteer. The supervisor shall evaluate the site or sites where the supervisee will be gaining experience to determine that the site or sites comply with the requirements of this chapter.
SEC. 9.Section 4996.7 of the Business and Professions Code is repealed.4996.7.A licensee shall display his or her license in a conspicuous place in the licensees primary place of practice.SEC. 10.Section 4996.75 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4996.75.(a)On and after July 1, 2020, a licensee or registrant shall provide a client with a notice written in at least 12-point type prior to initiating psychotherapy services, or as soon as practicably possible thereafter, that reads as follows:
NOTICE TO CLIENTS
The Board of Behavioral Sciences receives and responds to complaints regarding services provided within the scope of practice of clinical social workers. You may contact the board online at www.bbs.ca.gov, or by calling (916) 574-7830.
(b)On and after July 1, 2025, upon initiation of psychotherapy services with a client, the notice described in subdivision (a) shall also include the licensees or registrants full name as filed with the board, the license or registration number, the type of license or registration, and the license or registration expiration date.
(b)(c)Delivery of the notice required by this section to the client shall be documented.
(d)A licensee or registrant shall inform their clients of any change to the active status of their license or registration.
SEC. 11.Section 4996.8 of the Business and Professions Code is repealed.4996.8.The current renewal receipt shall be displayed near the license.SEC. 12.Section 4999.46.2 of the Business and Professions Code, as amended by Section 5 of Chapter 204 of the Statutes of 2022, is amended to read:4999.46.2.(a)Except for experience gained by attending workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences, as described in paragraph (4) of subdivision (c) of Section 4999.46, direct supervisor contact shall occur as follows:
(1)Supervision shall include at least one hour of direct supervisor contact in each week for which experience is credited in each work setting.
(2)A trainee shall receive an average of at least one hour of direct supervisor contact for every five hours of direct clinical counseling performed each week in each setting. For experience gained after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual, triadic, or group, shall be credited during any single week.
(3)An associate gaining experience who performs more than 10 hours of direct clinical counseling in a week in any setting shall receive at least one additional hour of direct supervisor contact for that setting. For experience gained after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual supervision, triadic supervision, or group supervision, shall be credited during any single week.
(4)Of the 104 weeks of required supervision, 52 weeks shall be individual supervision, triadic supervision, or a combination of both.
(b)(1)For purposes of this chapter, one hour of direct supervisor contact means any of the following:
(A)Individual supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and one supervisee. person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(B)Triadic supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and two supervisees. persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.
(C)Group supervision, which means two hours of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and no more than eight supervisees. persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services. Segments of group supervision may be split into no less than one continuous hour. The supervisor shall ensure that the amount and degree of supervision is appropriate for each supervisee. person in the group.
(2)For purposes of this subdivision, face-to-face contact means in-person contact, contact via two-way, real-time videoconferencing, or some combination of these.
(c)The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with federal and state laws relating to confidentiality of patient health information.
(d)(1)Within 60 days of the commencement of supervision, a supervisor shall conduct a meeting with the supervisee during which the supervisor shall assess the appropriateness of allowing the supervisee to receive supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing. This assessment of appropriateness shall include, but is not limited to, the abilities of the supervisee, the preferences of both the supervisee and supervisor, and the privacy of the locations of the supervisee and supervisor while supervision is conducted.
(2)The supervisor shall document the results of the assessment made pursuant to paragraph (1), and shall not utilize supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing if their assessment finds it is not appropriate.
(e)Direct supervisor contact shall occur within the same week as the hours claimed.
(f)Alternative supervision may be arranged during a supervisors vacation or sick leave if the alternative supervision meets the requirements in this chapter.
(g)Notwithstanding any other law, once the required number of experience hours are gained, associates and applicants for licensure shall receive a minimum of one hour of direct supervisor contact per week for each practice setting in which direct clinical counseling is performed. Once the required number of experience hours are gained, further supervision for nonclinical practice, as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (c) of Section 4999.46, shall be at the supervisors discretion.
(h)This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2026, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 13.Section 4999.46.4 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4999.46.4.(a)A clinical counselor trainee, associate, or applicant for licensure shall only perform mental health and related services at the places where their employer permits business to be conducted.
(b)An associate who is employed by or volunteering in a private practice or a professional corporation shall be supervised by an individual who is both of the following:
(1)Is employed by or contracted by the associates employer or is an owner of the private practice or professional corporation.
(2)Either provides psychotherapeutic services to clients for the associates employer, or meets both of the following:
(A)The supervisor and the associates employer have a written contract providing the supervisor the same access to the associates clinical records provided to employees of that employer.
(B)The associates clients authorize the release of their clinical records to the supervisor.
(c)Supervisors of supervisees At any one time, supervisors in a nonexempt setting settings shall not serve as individual or triadic supervisors for more than a total of six supervisees at any time. Supervisees may be registered as associate marriage and family therapists, associate professional clinical counselors, associate clinical social workers, or any combination of these registrations. individuals who are receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services in a nonexempt setting.
(d)A written oversight agreement, as specified by the board by regulation, shall be executed between the supervisor and employer when the supervisor is not employed by the supervisees employer or is a volunteer. The supervisor shall evaluate the site or sites where the supervisee will be gaining experience to determine that the site or sites comply with the requirements of this chapter.
SEC. 14.Section 4999.70 of the Business and Professions Code is repealed.4999.70.A licensee shall display his or her license in a conspicuous place in his or her primary place of practice.SEC. 15.Section 4999.71 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4999.71.(a)Effective On and after July 1, 2020, a licensee or registrant shall provide a client with a notice written in at least 12-point type prior to initiating psychotherapy services, or as soon as practicably possible thereafter, that reads as follows:
NOTICE TO CLIENTS
The Board of Behavioral Sciences receives and responds to complaints regarding services provided within the scope of practice of professional clinical counselors. You may contact the board online at www.bbs.ca.gov, or by calling (916)
574-7830.
(b)On and after July 1, 2025, upon initiation of psychotherapy services with a client, the notice described in subdivision (a) shall also include the licensees or registrants full name as filed with the board, the license or registration number, the type of license or registration, and the license or registration expiration date.
(b)The delivery(c)Delivery of the notice required by this section to the client shall be documented.
(d)A licensee or registrant shall inform their clients of any change to the active status of their license or registration.
SEC. 16.No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
|
Date
|
Status
|
|---|---|
| Jul 18, 2024 | Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 160, Statutes of 2024. |
| Jul 18, 2024 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Jul 16, 2024 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2:30 p.m. |
| Jul 3, 2024 | Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 4932.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling. |
| Jul 1, 2024 | Ordered to special consent calendar. |
| Jun 27, 2024 | In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending. |
| Jun 26, 2024 | Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 75. Noes 0. Page 6037.) Ordered to the Senate. |
| Jun 20, 2024 | Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar. |
| Jun 19, 2024 | From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (June 19). |
| Jun 11, 2024 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (June 11). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| May 23, 2024 | June 4 hearing postponed by committee. |
| May 20, 2024 | From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on B. & P. |
| Apr 29, 2024 | Referred to Com. on B. & P. |
| Apr 11, 2024 | In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk. |
| Apr 11, 2024 | Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 3576.) Ordered to the Assembly. |
| Apr 9, 2024 | Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar. |
| Apr 8, 2024 | From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to consent calendar. |
| Mar 28, 2024 | Set for hearing April 8. |
| Mar 18, 2024 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0. Page 3332.) (March 18). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Mar 14, 2024 | Set for hearing March 18. |
| Mar 14, 2024 | From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on B., P. & E. D. |
| Feb 14, 2024 | Referred to Com. on B., P. & E. D. |
| Feb 7, 2024 | From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 8. |
| Feb 6, 2024 | Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print. |
|
Date
|
Description
|
Location
|
Votes
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 3, 2024 | Special Consent SB1024 Ochoa Bogh | Senate Floor |
Passed |
|
| Jun 26, 2024 | SB 1024 Ochoa Bogh Consent Calendar Second Day Regular Session | Assembly Floor |
Passed |
|
| Jun 19, 2024 | Do pass. To Consent Calendar. | Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations |
Passed |
|
| Jun 11, 2024 | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar | Assembly Standing Committee on Business and Professions |
Passed |
|
| Apr 11, 2024 | Consent Calendar 2nd SB1024 Ochoa Bogh | Senate Floor |
Passed |
|
| Mar 18, 2024 | Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar | Senate Standing Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
|
Organization
|
Position
|
Date
|
|---|---|---|
| Board of Behavioral Sciences | ** Support | |
| California Association Of Marriage And Family Therapists | ** Support |
SENATE RULES COMMITTEE Office of Senate Floor Analyses (916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) 327-4478 | SB 1024 |
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Bill No: SB 1024
Author: Ochoa Bogh (R)
Amended: 5/20/24
Vote: 21
SENATE BUS., PROF. & ECON. DEV. COMMITTEE: 12-0, 3/18/24
AYES: Ashby, Nguyen, Alvarado-Gil, Archuleta, Becker, Dodd, Eggman, Menjivar, Niello, Roth, Smallwood-Cuevas, Wilk
NO VOTE RECORDED: Glazer
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: Senate Rule 28.8
SENATE FLOOR: 39-0, 4/11/24 (Consent)
AYES: Allen, Alvarado-Gil, Archuleta, Ashby, Atkins, Becker, Blakespear, Bradford, Caballero, Cortese, Dahle, Dodd, Durazo, Eggman, Glazer, Gonzalez, Grove, Hurtado, Jones, Laird, Limón, McGuire, Menjivar, Min, Newman, Nguyen, Niello, Ochoa Bogh, Portantino, Roth, Rubio, Seyarto, Skinner, Smallwood-Cuevas, Stern, Umberg, Wahab, Wiener, Wilk
NO VOTE RECORDED: Padilla
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 75-0, 6/26/24 (Consent) - See last page for vote
SUBJECT: Healing arts: Board of Behavioral Sciences: licensees and registrants
SOURCE: Board of Behavioral Sciences
DIGEST:
This bill revises licensure display and disclosure requirements for a Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) licensee and clarifies the number of persons that count as supervisees, as specified.
Assembly Amendments
add clarifying language that the supervisor limit is six individuals receiving individual or triadic supervision who are not fully licensed at the highest level for independent practice and make minor, technical changes.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
- Establishes the BBS to license and regulate Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT), Educational Psychologists (LEP), Clinical Social Workers (LCSW), and Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCC). (Business and Professions Code (BPC) § 4980 et seq.)
- Requires a LMFT, LEP, LCSW, and LPCC to display their license in a conspicuous place in the licensee’s primary place of practice. (BPC §§ 4980.31, 4989.48, 4996.7, 4999.70)
- Requires a LMFT, LEP, LCSW, and LPCC to provide a written notice to clients prior to initiating psychotherapy services, that informs the client that the BBS receives and reviews complaints, as specified. (BPC §§ 4980.32, 4989.17, 4996.75, 4999.71)
- Requires all trainees, associates, and applicants for licensure as an LMFT to be under the supervision of a supervisor at all times and defines “supervision” to mean responsibility for, and control of, the quality of mental health and related services provided by the supervisee, as specified. (BPC § 4980.43.1(a)(b))
- Requires applicants for LCSW or LPCC to have an active registration with the BBS, unless they meet specified criteria, in order to gain hours of supervised experience as specified. (BPC §§ 4996.22(a)(1), 4999.46(a)(b))
- Defines “one hour of direct supervisor contact” to mean any of the following:
- Individual supervision, one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and one supervisee;
- Triadic supervision, one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisors two supervisees; and,
- Group supervision, two hours of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and no more than eight supervisees. Segments of group supervision may be split into no less than one continuous hour, and a supervisor must ensure that the amount and degree of supervision is appropriate for each supervisee. (BPC §§ 4980.43.2(b), 4996.23.1(b)(1), 4999.46.2(b))
This bill:
- Revises the current requirement for a LMFT, LEP, LCSW, and LEP to display their license in the licensee’s primary place of practice only when rendering professional clinical services.
- Adds additional written information that must be disclosed to a client prior to initiating psychotherapy services to include the licensee or registrant’s full name as filed with the BBS, the license or registrant number, the type of license or registration, and the license or registration expiration date beginning January 1, 2025.
- Clarifies that at any one time, supervisors in nonexempt settings shall not serve as individual or triadic supervisors for more than a total of six persons who are not fully licensed at the highest level for independent clinical practice and who are receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services in a nonexempt setting.
- Replaces the term “supervisees” with “persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services” for the definition of “one hour of direct supervisor contact,” as specified.
Background
Board of Behavioral Sciences. The BBS is responsible for the licensure and regulation of LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs. Additionally, the BBS registers Associate Clinical Social Workers (ACSWs), Associate Marriage and Family Therapists (AMFTs), and Associate Professional Clinical Counselors (APCCs). Under current law, the pathway to licensure for LMFTs, LCSWs and LPCCs is complex. Applicants must obtain at a minimum, a master's degree in designated counseling fields, acquire two years of supervised work experience, which consists of at least 3,000-hours and pass two examinations.
The term “supervisees” in the context of BBS’s practice acts for LMFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs is typically understood to refer to those individuals (associates) required by the BBS to be under supervision of a licensed mental health professional while obtaining the required experience hours needed for licensure. However, current law does not define “supervisee” in these instances. To ensure quality supervision, there are certain restrictions placed on supervisors as to the number of “supervisees” that a supervisor may supervise at one time in non-exempt settings.
Current law requires that supervisors of supervisees in non-exempt settings have no more than six individual or triadic supervisees at any one time. (In exempt settings, there is no limit on the number of supervisees per individual or triadic supervisor.) The provisions further specify that supervisees may be AMFTs, ACSWs, or APCCs, or any combination thereof. The reason for the limitation on number of supervisees is to ensure that a supervisor can dedicate enough time to properly supervise individuals. However, current law might not account for other types of supervisees, such as trainees or those seeking a psychology license who are acquiring supervised experience. This bill attempts to clarify who may count as a supervisee for purposes of the number of persons a supervisor may supervise, to include all “persons” who may be receiving supervision from a supervisor.
Licensure and Disclosure Requirements. Under current law, the mental health professions licensed by the BBS are required to display their license in a conspicuous place in the licensee’s primary place of practice. This helps clients identify that the individual mental health practitioner has the required license to provide mental health services. In addition to displaying their license, licensees are also required to provide a written notice to clients informing them of the role of BBS in receiving and responding to consumer complaints about licensees. The written notice must be documented and provided to the client before beginning psychotherapy services, or as soon as possible thereafter, to allow for emergencies, when a notice might not be provided before initiating the therapy service.
Posting license information in the licensees primary place of practice has been required for LMFTs and LCSWs since the mid-1990s, and required for both LEPs and the LPCCs as part of the originating statutes creating these practice acts (2006 and 2009) respectively. The requirement to display the license in a place of practice was likely required before accessible licensure information was available on the BBS’s website, and therapy services were typically conducted in-person. According to the BBS, with the rise of telehealth therapy services, the need for a physically displayed license may need updating. This bill proposes to update current law to require that a license be physically displayed in a conspicuous place in a licensee’s primary place of practice when seeing the client in-person.
This bill also updates what information must be included in the written notice provided to patients prior to initiating therapy services to include the licensee or registrant’s full name (consistent with the name provided to the BBS for purposes of licensure), the license or registration number, type of license or registration and the expiration date. Adding this additional information will help provide pertinent licensing information to clients when they are not able to view license information as they receive services when they are not physically present in an office setting.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: Yes
SUPPORT: (Verified 6/27/24)
Board of Behavioral Sciences (source)
California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
OPPOSITION: (Verified 6/27/24)
None received
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: Supporters note generally that this bill clarifies who counts as a “supervisee” for purposes of group supervision and updates license disclosure requirements.
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 75-0, 6/26/24
AYES: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Alanis, Alvarez, Arambula, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Juan Carrillo, Wendy Carrillo, Cervantes, Chen, Connolly, Megan Dahle, Davies, Dixon, Essayli, Flora, Mike Fong, Friedman, Gabriel, Gallagher, Garcia, Grayson, Haney, Hart, Holden, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Kalra, Lackey, Lee, Low, Lowenthal, Maienschein, McCarty, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Stephanie Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Jim Patterson, Joe Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Rendon, Reyes, Luz Rivas, Rodriguez, Blanca Rubio, Sanchez, Santiago, Schiavo, Soria, Ta, Ting, Valencia, Villapudua, Waldron, Wallis, Ward, Weber, Wicks, Wilson, Wood, Zbur, Robert Rivas
NO VOTE RECORDED: Gipson, Jones-Sawyer, Mathis, Papan
Prepared by: Elissa Silva / B., P. & E.D. /
6/28/24 10:45:08
**** END ****
Date of Hearing: June 19, 2024
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Buffy Wicks, Chair
SBPCA Bill Id:SB 1024
Author:(Ochoa Bogh) – As Amended Ver:May 20, 2024
Policy Committee: | Business and Professions | Vote: | 17 - 0 |
|
| ||
|
|
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: Yes Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill revises license display and client notice requirements for licensees of the Board of Behavioral Sciences (Board) and revises requirements for direct supervisor contact that a supervisee of a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), or licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC) is a person who is not fully licensed at the highest level for independent clinical practice.
FISCAL EFFECT:
Minor and absorbable costs to the Board to update forms, publications, and website content, and to conduct outreach regarding the change in license display requirements and provide clarification regarding supervisees.
COMMENTS:
- Purpose. This bill is sponsored by the Board. According to the author:
Telehealth expanded rapidly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for outpatient psychiatric services. Among individuals with employer-based insurance, there was a 20-fold increase in use of telehealth services for mental health needs…The benefits of telehealth include increased flexibility and convenience for patients as well as improved access to specialty care. This is why a majority of practitioners will continue to use telehealth services to provide mental health treatment. Modernizing the laws governing the practice is necessary for the benefit of patients and licensees.
- Background. The Board is responsible for licensing and regulating LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCCs, and licensed educational psychologists (LEPs), and registering associate clinical social workers, associate marriage and family therapists, and associate professional clinical counselors. Prior to licensure, an applicant is required to obtain a qualifying master’s degree, register with the Board as an associate, and complete 3,000 hours of post-degree supervised experience, among other requirements. An applicant may not accrue supervised experience without registering as an associate with the Board, except during the window of time between degree conferral and the issue date of the associate registration number.
Supervision. Supervisees must receive one hour of individual or triadic supervision or two hours of group supervision during any week in which experience is gained in each work setting. Only licensed professionals (LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, LEPs (up to 1,200 hours), licensed clinical psychologists, and licensed psychiatrists) who meet specified requirements may supervise associates and associate applicants. The term “supervisee” is generally thought to refer to Board-registered associates obtaining the required supervised experience for licensure; however, the Board reports existing law is unclear as to the definition of a supervisee.
This bill clarifies that a supervisee is a person receiving supervision for providing mental health care, and that in non-exempt settings – meaning a setting that is not a governmental entity, school, college, university, or institution that is both nonprofit and charitable – the limit is six individuals who are not fully licensed at the highest level for independent practice receiving individual or triadic supervision (face-to-face supervision with one supervisor and two supervisees).
Display of License. Existing law also requires a Board licensee to conspicuously display their license in their primary place of practice. However, this requirement is not helpful to consumers who receive mental health services exclusively via telehealth. This bill revises the requirement to apply only when a licensee meets with clients in person, and requires a licensee to provide their full name, as registered with the Board, as well as their license or registration number, type, and expiration date to the client. Such information would be required to be included in an existing notice informing clients that the Board receives and reviews complaints against licensees.
Analysis Prepared by: Allegra Kim / APPR. / (916) 319-2081
Date of Hearing: June 11, 2024
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS
Marc Berman, Chair
SBPCA Bill Id:SB 1024
Author:(Ochoa Bogh) – As Amended Ver:May 20, 2024
SENATE VOTE: 39-0
SUBJECT: Healing arts: Board of Behavioral Sciences: licensees and registrants
SUMMARY: Revises license display and client notice requirements for licensees of the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS or Board) and clarifies what is means to be a supervisee of a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), clinical social worker (LCSW), or professional clinical counselor (LPCC).
EXISTING LAW:
- Establishes the BBS with the Department of Consumer Affairs to license and regulate LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and educational psychologists (LEP). (Business and Professions Code (BPC) §§ 4990 et seq.)
- Defines “professional clinical counseling” as the application of counseling interventions and psychotherapeutic techniques to identify and remediate cognitive, mental, and emotional issues, including personal growth, adjustment to disability, crisis intervention, and psychosocial and environmental problems, and the use, application, and integration of the coursework and training, as required by law. Further specifies that “professional clinical counseling” includes conducting assessments for the purpose of establishing counseling goals and objectives to empower individuals to deal adequately with life situations, reduce stress, experience growth, change behavior, and make well-informed, rational decisions. (BPC § 4999.20)
- Prohibits any person from practicing or advertising professional clinical counseling services without a license issued by the BBS and payment of a license fee. (BPC § 4999.30)
- Requires a licensee to display their license in a conspicuous place in the licensee’s primary place of practice. (BPC §§ 4980.31, 4989.48, 4996.7, and 4999.70)
- Requires a LCSW to display their current renewal receipt near their license. (BPC § 4996.8)
- Requires a licensee or registrant to provide a client with a notice prior to initiating psychotherapy services, or as soon as practically possible thereafter, informing them that the BBS received and reviews complaints. The notice must be written in at least 12-point type and delivery of the notice to the client must be documented. (BPC §§ 4980.32, 4989.17, 4996.75, and 4999.71)
- Requires all trainees, associates, and applicants for licensure to be under the supervision of a supervisor at all times. (BPC § 4980.43.1(a)(b))
- Requires applicants for licensure as an LMFT, LCSW, or LPCC to complete 3,000 of supervised experience, as specified. (BPC §§ 4980.43(c), 4996.23(a), and 4999.46(c))
- Defines “one hour of direct supervisor contact” to mean any of the following:
- Individual supervision: one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and one supervisee.
- Triadic supervision: one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and two supervisees.
- Group supervision: two hours of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and no more than eight supervisees.
(BPC §§ 4980.43.2(b)(1)(A-C), 4996.23.1(b)(1)(A-C), and 4999.46.2(b)(1)(A-C))
- Specifies that supervisors of supervisees in a nonexempt setting shall not have more than six individual or triadic supervisees at any time. Supervisees may be registered as associate marriage and family therapists, associate professional clinical counselors, associate clinical social workers, or any combination of those registrations. (BPC §§ 4980.43.4(c), 4996.23.3(c), and 4999.46.4(c))
- Defines “supervision” to mean responsibility for, and control of, the quality of mental health and related services provided by the supervisee. (BPC §§ 4980.43.1(b), 4996.20(b), and 4999.12(m))
THIS BILL:
- Specifies that a licensee must only display their license in a conspicuous place in their primary place of practice when rendering professional clinical services in person.
- Requires licensees and registrants, on and after July 1, 2025, upon initiation of psychotherapy services with a client, to include in the mandatory notice to clients, their full name as filed with the BBS, the license or registration number, the type of license or registration, and the license or registration expiration date.
- Clarifies that “supervisee” means a person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services for purposes of individual, triadic, and group supervision and makes conforming changes.
- Clarifies that at any one time, supervisors in nonexempt settings shall not serve as individual or triadic supervisors for more than a total of six persons who are not fully licensed at the highest level for independent clinical practice and who are receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services in a nonexempt setting.
- Deletes the requirement for a LCSW to display their current renewal receipt near their license.
- Deletes obsolete implementation dates and makes other minor and non-substantive changes.
FISCAL EFFECT: Pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, no significant state costs anticipated.
COMMENTS:
Purpose. This bill is sponsored by the Board of Behavioral Sciences. According to the author:
Telehealth expanded rapidly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for outpatient psychiatric services. Among individuals with employer-based insurance, there was a 20-fold increase in use of telehealth services for mental health needs. In a recent national survey administered by the American Medical Association, more than two-thirds (69%) of medical practices indicated they intend to sustain telehealth as a permanent fixture of their service portfolio. The benefits of telehealth include increased flexibility and convenience for patients as well as improved access to specialty care. This is why a majority of practitioners will continue to use telehealth services to provide mental health treatment. Modernizing the laws governing the practice is necessary for the benefit of patients and licensees.
Background.
The BBS is responsible for licensing and regulating LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCCs, and LEPs and registering Associate Clinical Social Workers, Associate Marriage and Family Therapists, and Associate Professional Clinical Counselors. Prior to licensure, applicants are required to obtain a qualifying master’s degree, register with the BBS as an Associate, and complete 3,000 hours of post-degree supervised experience, among other requirements. With the exception of the “90-day rule,” applicants cannot accrue supervised experience without registering as an Associate with the Board. Under the “90-day rule,” applicants for registration as an Associate may count supervised experience gained during the window of time between degree conferral and the issue date of the Associate registration number if certain conditions are met.[1]
Supervisees must receive one hour of individual or triadic supervision or two hours of group supervision during any week in which experience is gained in each work setting. If the supervisee provides more than 10 hours of direct clinical counseling in single week, the supervisee must receive an additional hour individual or triadic supervision or two hours of group supervision that week.
Only licenses mental health professionals (LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, LEPs (up to 1,200 hours), licensed clinical psychologists, and licensed psychiatrists) who meet specified requirements may supervise Associates and Associate applicants. Existing law limits the number of “supervisees” that a licensee may supervise to ensure quality supervision. Specifically, a supervisor may not supervise more than six supervisees for purposes of providing individual and triadic supervision in non-exempt settings and eight supervisees for purposes of providing group supervision in either exempt or non-exempt settings. There is no limit on the number of supervisees receiving individual and triadic supervision in exempt settings.
The term “supervisee” is generally thought to refer to BBS-registered Associates obtaining the required supervised experience for licensure. However the Board reports that it is currently unclear whether existing law accounts for non-Associates such as trainees, whom are currently enrolled in a master’s or doctoral degree program, recent graduates under the 90-day rule, or other licensees.
This bill would clarify whom is considered a supervisee for purposes of the number of people a supervisor may supervise. Specifically, this bill would amend the definitions of individual, triadic, and group supervision to specify that a supervisee is a person or people receiving supervision for providing mental health care. Additionally, this bill would specify that in non-exempt settings, the supervisor limit is six individuals receiving individual or triadic supervision who are not fully licensed at the highest level for independent practice.
Existing law also requires BBS licensees to conspicuously display their license in their primary place of practice. However, this requirement is not helpful to consumers whom receive mental health services exclusively via telehealth. As such, this bill would amend that requirement to apply only when a licensee meets with clients in person. To ensure that all clients are provided pertinent license information, this bill would require all licenses to provide their full name, as registered with the Board, as well as their license or registration number, type, and expiration date. Such information would be required to be included in an existing notice to clients informing them that the BBS receives and reviews complaints against licensees.
Prior Related Legislation.
AB 1758 (Aguiar-Curry), Chapter 204, Statutes 2022, permits, until January 1, 2026, required weekly supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing in all settings, if the supervisor makes an assessment that it is appropriate for purposes of meeting requirements for licensure as a LMFT, LCSW, or a LPCC.
AB 690 (Arambula), Chapter 747, Statutes of 2021, clarified the types of settings where BBS trainees and registrants may practice and gain required supervised experience hours toward licensure; defined private practices and professional corporations as nonexempt settings, as specified; and expanded the number of supervisees per supervisor in nonexempt settings from three to six individuals.
AB 2363 (Arambula) of 2020 would have required the work of an unlicensed or unregistered person working in an exempt setting to be under the oversight and direction of the entity, increased the number of supervisees a supervisor is allowed to supervise, and prohibited trainees from gaining supervised experience in specified employment settings. AB 2363 died without a hearing in this committee.
AB 630 (Arambula and Low), Chapter 229, Statutes of 2019, required psychotherapy providers who provide services under a BBS license, registration, or exemption to give clients a notice disclosing where complaints against the provider may be filed and made various technical, clarifying, and conforming changes.
AB 93 (Medina), Chapter 743, Statutes of 2018, revised and recasted supervised experience requirements for applicants as a LMFT, LCSW, and LPCC, as specified; updated the requirements for supervisors of trainees, associates, and applicants; updated the requirements for trainees, associates, and applicants who are under supervision, as specified, and made other technical and conforming changes.
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT:
According to the BBS, “The Board believes that the amendments proposed in this bill provide further clarity to two areas of the law where some ambiguity has arisen as the professions have evolved.”
REGISTERED SUPPORT:
Board of Behavioral Sciences (Sponsor)
California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
REGISTERED OPPOSITION:
None on file
Analysis Prepared by: Kaitlin Curry / B. & P. / (916) 319-3301
Board of Behavioral Sciences. (n.d) Are You a Recent Graduate? Make Your Hours Count! https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/90day_rule.pdf ↑
SENATE RULES COMMITTEE Office of Senate Floor Analyses (916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) 327-4478 | SB 1024 |
CONSENT
Bill No: SB 1024
Author: Ochoa Bogh (R)
Amended: 3/14/24
Vote: 21
SENATE BUS., PROF. & ECON. DEV. COMMITTEE: 12-0, 3/18/24
AYES: Ashby, Nguyen, Alvarado-Gil, Archuleta, Becker, Dodd, Eggman, Menjivar, Niello, Roth, Smallwood-Cuevas, Wilk
NO VOTE RECORDED: Glazer
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: Senate Rule 28.8
SUBJECT: Healing arts: Board of Behavioral Sciences: licensees and registrants
SOURCE: Board of Behavioral Sciences
DIGEST:
This bill revises licensure display and disclosure requirements for a Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) licensee and clarifies the number of persons that count as supervisees, as specified.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
- Establishes the BBS to license and regulate Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT), Educational Psychologists (LEP), Clinical Social Workers (LCSW), and Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCC). (Business and Professions Code (BPC) § 4980 et seq.)
- Requires a LMFT, LEP, LCSW, and LPCC to display their license in a conspicuous place in the licensee’s primary place of practice. (BPC §§ 4980.31, 4989.48, 4996.7, 4999.70)
- Requires a LMFT, LEP, LCSW, and LPCC to provide a written notice to clients prior to initiating psychotherapy services, that informs the client that the BBS receives and reviews complaints, as specified. (BPC §§ 4980.32, 4989.17, 4996.75, 4999.71)
- Requires all trainees, associates, and applicants for licensure as an LMFT to be under the supervision of a supervisor at all times and defines “supervision” to mean responsibility for, and control of, the quality of mental health and related services provided by the supervisee, as specified. (BPC § 4980.43.1(a)(b))
- Requires applicants for LCSW or LPCC to have an active registration with the BBS, unless they meet specified criteria, in order to gain hours of supervised experience as specified. (BPC §§ 4996.22(a)(1), 4999.46(a)(b))
- Defines “one hour of direct supervisor contact” to mean any of the following:
- Individual supervision, one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and one supervisee;
- Triadic supervision, one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisors two supervisees; and,
- Group supervision, two hours of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and no more than eight supervisees. Segments of group supervision may be split into no less than one continuous hour, and a supervisor must ensure that the amount and degree of supervision is appropriate for each supervisee. (BPC §§ 4980.43.2(b), 4996.23.1(b)(1), 4999.46.2(b))
This bill:
- Revises the current requirement for a LMFT, LEP, LCSW, and LEP to display their license in the licensee’s primary place of practice only when seeing clients in person.
- Adds additional written information that must be disclosed to a client prior to initiating psychotherapy services to include the licensee or registrant’s full name as filed with the BBS, the license or registrant number, the type of license or registration, and the license or registration expiration date beginning January 1, 2025.
- Replaces the term “supervisees” with “persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services” for the definition of “one hour of direct supervisor contact,” as specified.
Background
Board of Behavioral Sciences. The BBS is responsible for the licensure and regulation of LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs. Additionally, the BBS registers Associate Clinical Social Workers (ACSWs), Associate Marriage and Family Therapists (AMFTs), and Associate Professional Clinical Counselors (APCCs). Under current law, the pathway to licensure for LMFTs, LCSWs and LPCCs is complex. Applicants must obtain at a minimum, a master's degree in designated counseling fields, acquire two years of supervised work experience, which consists of at least 3,000-hours and pass two examinations.
The term “supervisees” in the context of BBS’s practice acts for LMFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs is typically understood to refer to those individuals (associates) required by the BBS to be under supervision of a licensed mental health professional while obtaining the required experience hours needed for licensure. However, current law does not define “supervisee” in these instances. To ensure quality supervision, there are certain restrictions placed on supervisors as to the number of “supervisees” that a supervisor may supervise at one time in non-exempt settings.
Current law requires that supervisors of supervisees in non-exempt settings have no more than six individual or triadic supervisees at any one time. (In exempt settings, there is no limit on the number of supervisees per individual or triadic supervisor.) The provisions further specify that supervisees may be AMFTs, ACSWs, or APCCs, or any combination thereof. The reason for the limitation on number of supervisees is to ensure that a supervisor can dedicate enough time to properly supervise individuals. However, current law might not account for other types of supervisees, such as trainees or those seeking a psychology license who are acquiring supervised experience. This bill attempts to clarify who may count as a supervisee for purposes of the number of persons a supervisor may supervise, to include all “persons” who may be receiving supervision from a supervisor.
Licensure and Disclosure Requirements. Under current law, the mental health professions licensed by the BBS are required to display their license in a conspicuous place in the licensee’s primary place of practice. This helps clients identify that the individual mental health practitioner has the required license to provide mental health services. In addition to displaying their license, licensees are also required to provide a written notice to clients informing them of the role of BBS in receiving and responding to consumer complaints about licensees. The written notice must be documented and provided to the client before beginning psychotherapy services, or as soon as possible thereafter, to allow for emergencies, when a notice might not be provided before initiating the therapy service.
Posting license information in the licensees primary place of practice has been required for LMFTs and LCSWs since the mid-1990s, and required for both LEPs and the LPCCs as part of the originating statutes creating these practice acts (2006 and 2009) respectively. The requirement to display the license in a place of practice was likely required before accessible licensure information was available on the BBS’s website, and therapy services were typically conducted in-person. According to the BBS, with the rise of telehealth therapy services, the need for a physically displayed license may need updating. This bill proposes to update current law to require that a license be physically displayed in a conspicuous place in a licensee’s primary place of practice when seeing the client in-person.
This bill also updates what information must be included in the written notice provided to patients prior to initiating therapy services to include the licensee or registrant’s full name (consistent with the name provided to the BBS for purposes of licensure), the license or registration number, type of license or registration and the expiration date. Adding this additional information will help provide pertinent licensing information to clients when they are not able to view license information as they receive services when they are not physically present in an office setting.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: Yes
SUPPORT: (Verified 4/8/24)
Board of Behavioral Sciences (source)
OPPOSITION: (Verified 4/8/24)
None received
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: The BBS writes in support and notes, “This bill makes two clarifications to the Board’s practice acts. It updates the requirement for a licensee or registrant to physically display a license or registration; to account for services delivered via telehealth…it clarifies who counts as a “supervisee” for purposes of group supervision and allowable supervisees per supervisor in non-exempt settings.”
Prepared by: Elissa Silva / B., P. & E.D. / 916-651-4104
4/10/24 12:24:21
**** END ****
SENATE COMMITTEE ON
BUSINESS, PROFESSIONS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Senator Angelique Ashby, Chair
2023 - 2024 Regular
Bill No: SB 1024 Hearing Date: March 18, 2024
Author: | Ochoa Bogh | ||
Version: | March 14, 2024 | ||
Urgency: | Fiscal: | ||
Consultant: | |||
Subject: Healing arts: Board of Behavioral Sciences: licensees and registrants
SUMMARY:
Revises licensure display and disclosure requirements for a Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) licensee and clarifies the persons that count as supervisees, as specified.
Existing law:
- Establishes the BBS to license and regulate Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT), Educational Psychologists (LEP), Clinical Social Workers (LCSW), and Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCC). (Business and Professions Code (BPC) § 4980 et seq.)
- Defines an MFT and PCC “associate” as an unlicensed person who has earned a master’s or doctoral degree qualifying the individual for licensure, as specified. (BPC § 4980.03(b) 4999.12(f))
- Defines a MFT and PCC “trainee” as an unlicensed person who is currently enrolled in a master’s or doctoral degree program that is designed to qualify the person for licensure and who has completed no less than 12 semester or 187 quarter units in any qualifying degree program. (BPC § 4980.03 (c) (4999.12(g))
- Requires a LMFT, LEP, LCSW, and LPCC to display their license in a conspicuous place in the licensee’s primary place of practice. (BPC §§ 4980.31, 4989.48, 4996.7, 4999.70)
- Requires a LMFT, LEP, LCSW, and LPCC to provide a written notice to clients prior to initiating psychotherapy services, that informs the client that the BBS receives and reviews complaints, as specified. (BPC §§ 4980.32, 4989.17, 4996.75, 4999.71.
- Unless specifically exempted, requires a person to obtain a valid license or registration with the Board before engaging in the practice of marriage and family therapy, clinical social work, or professional clinical counseling (BPC §§ 4980(b), 4996(b), 4999.30))
- Requires all trainees, associates, and applicants for licensure as an LMFT to be under the supervision of a supervisor at all times and defines “supervision” to mean responsibility for, and control of, the quality of mental health and related services provided by the supervisee, as specified. (BPC § 4980.43.1(a)(b))
- Requires applicants for LCSW or LPCC to have an active registration with the BBS, unless they meet specified criteria, in order to gain hours of supervised experience as specified. (BPC §§ 4996.22(a)(1), 4999.46(a)(b))
- Defines “one hour of direct supervisor contact” to mean any of the following:
- Individual supervision, one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and one supervisee;
- Triadic supervision, one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisors two supervisees; and,
- Group supervision, two hours of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and no more than eight supervisees. Segments of group supervision may be split into no less than one continuous hour, and a supervisor must ensure that the amount and degree of supervision is appropriate for each supervisee. (BPC §§ 4980.43.2(b), 4996.23.1(b)(1), 4999.46.2(b))
This bill:
- Revises the current requirement for a LMFT, LEP, LCSW, and LEP to display their license in the licensee’s primary place of practice only when seeing clients in person.
- Adds additional written information that must be disclosed to a client prior to initiating psychotherapy services to include the licensee or registrant’s full name as filed with the BBS, the license or registrant number, the type of license or registration, and the license or registration expiration date beginning January 1, 2025.
- Replaces the term “supervisees” with “persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services” for the definition of “one hour of direct supervisor contact,” as specified.
FISCAL EFFECT:
Unknown. This bill is keyed fiscal by Legislative Counsel.
COMMENTS:
- Purpose. The Board of Behavioral Sciences is the sponsor of this bill. According to the author, “Given the increase in telehealth appointments, it has become apparent that the law needs to be updated to reflect that some psychotherapists now conduct appointments online or by phone making it difficult or impossible for the physical paper copy of the license or registration to be on display. Since practitioners are already required to provide every client with a written notice regarding regulation of their services, [this bill] simply requires the written notice to include their license and registration information.”
- Background.
Board of Behavioral Sciences. The BBS is responsible for the licensure and regulation of LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs. Additionally, the BBS registers Associate Clinical Social Workers (ASWs), Associate Marriage and Family Therapists (AMFTs), and Associate Professional Clinical Counselors (APCCs). Each of the four licensing professions under the jurisdiction of the BBS has its own scope of practice, entry-level requirements, and professional settings with some overlap in areas. All four of the BBS’s licensee and registrant categories provide some form of mental health services to clients in a variety of settings. Under current law, the pathway to licensure for LMFTs, LCSWs and LPCCs is complex. Applicants must obtain at a minimum, a master's degree in designated counseling fields, acquire two years of supervised work experience, which consists of at least 3,000-hours and pass two examinations. Within the 3,000-hour requirement for supervised experience, there are limitations on the types of hours counted towards the supervision requirement, the locations in which those hours may be obtained, and places requirements for those current license holders who wish to act in a supervisor capacity.
The term “supervisees” in the context of BBS’s practice acts for LMFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs is typically understood to refer to those individuals (associates) required by the BBS to be under supervision of a licensed mental health professional while obtaining the required experience hours needed for licensure. However, current law does not define “supervisee” in these instances. To ensure quality supervision, there are certain restrictions placed on supervisors as to the number of “supervisees” that a supervisor may supervise at one time in non-exempt settings.
Current law requires that supervisors of supervisees in non-exempt settings have no more than six individual or triadic supervisees at any one time. (In exempt settings, there is no limit on the number of supervisees per individual or triadic supervisor.) The provisions further specify that supervisees may be AMFTs, ACSWs, or APCCs, or any combination thereof. The reason for the limitation on number of supervisees is to ensure that a supervisor can dedicate enough time to properly supervise. However, current law might not account for other types of supervisees, such as trainees or those seeking a psychology license and are gaining their supervised experience. This bill attempts to clarify who may count as a supervisee for purposes of the number of persons a supervisor may supervise, to include all “persons” who may be obtaining supervision from a supervisor.
Licensure and Disclosure Requirements. Under current law, the mental health professions licensed by the BBS are required to display their license in a conspicuous place in the licensee’s primary place of practice, which helps clients identify that the individual mental health practitioner they are seeing has the required license to provide mental health services. In addition to displaying their license, licensees are also required to provide a written notice to clients informing them of the role of BBS in receiving and responding to consumer complaints about licensees. The written notice must be documented and provided to the client prior to initiating psychotherapy services, or as soon as possible after, to allow for those emergencies when a notice might not be provided before initiating the therapy services.
Posting licenses in a conspicuous place in the licensees primary place of practice has been requires for LMFTs and LCSWs since the mid-1990s, and required for both LEPs and the LPCCs as part of the originating statutes creating these practice acts (2006 and 2009) respectively. The requirement to physically display a license in the place of practice was likely put in place before easily accessible licensure availability on the BBS’s website, and when therapy services were more likely conducted in-person. According to the BBS, with the rise of telehealth therapy services, the need for a physically displayed license may need updating. This bill proposes to update current law to require that a license be physically displayed in a conspicuous place in a licensee’s primary place of practice when seeing the client in-person.
This bill would also update what must be included in the written notice provided to patients prior to initiating therapy services to include the licensee or registrant’s full name (consistent with the name provided to the BBS for purposes of licensure) the license or registration number, type of license or registration and the expiration date. Adding this additional information will help provide pertinent licensing information to clients when they are not able to view license information as they receive services when they are not physically present in an office setting.
- Prior Related Legislation. AB 1758 (Aguiar-Curry, Chapter 204, Statutes 2022) Permits, until January 1, 2026, required weekly supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing in all settings, if the supervisor makes an assessment that it is appropriate for purposes of meeting requirements for licensure as a LMFT, LCSW, or a LPCC.
AB 690 (Arambula, Chapter 747, Statutes of 2021) clarified the types of settings where registrants and trainees may practice and gain required supervised experience hours toward licensure. Defined private practices and professional corporations as nonexempt settings, as specified. Expands the number of supervisees per supervisor in nonexempt settings from three to six individuals.
AB 462 (Carrillo, Chapter 440, Statutes of 2021) deletes the requirement for a LPCC to obtain 150 hours of clinical experience in a hospital or community setting to meet licensure requirements and deletes the requirement that an LPCC obtain additional education and clinical experience related to marriage and family therapy in order to treat couples or families, and makes other technical and conforming changes.
AB 2363 (Arambula of 2020) sought to clarify the definition of “non-exempt settings” raise the ceiling on the number of trainees a supervisor is allowed to supervise, and prohibit trainees from gaining supervised experience in specified employment settings. (Status: This bill was not heard by a Policy Committee).
AB 630 (Arambula and Low, Chapter 229, Statutes of 2019), required psychotherapy providers who provide services under a BBS license, registration, or exemption to give clients a notice disclosing where complaints against the provider may be filed and makes various technical, clarifying, and conforming changes.
- Arguments in Support. The BBS writes in support and notes, “This bill makes two clarifications to the Board’s practice acts. It updates the requirement for a licensee or registrant to physically display a license or registration; to account for services delivered via telehealth…it clarifies who counts as a “supervisee” for purposes of group supervision and allowable supervisees per supervisor in non-exempt settings.”
SUPPORT AND OPPOSITION:
Support:
Board of Behavioral Sciences
Opposition:
None received
-- END --
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):