HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3024        FILED ON: 1/14/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1946

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act to improve access to the services of educational psychologists..

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

 SECTION 1. Section 22 of Chapter 32A of the General Laws is

 hereby amended by striking out the last paragraph, inserted by

 section 1 of chapter 80 of the acts of 2000, and inserting in place

 thereof the following paragraph:—

 For the purposes of this section, “licensed mental health professional”

 shall mean a licensed physician who specializes in the practice

 of psychiatry, a licensed psychologist, a licensed independent

 clinical social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, a licensed

 nurse mental health clinical specialist, or a licensed educational psychologist

 within the lawful scope of practice for such educational

 psychologist.

 SECTION 2. Section 47B of Chapter 175 of the General Laws is

 hereby amended by striking out the next to the last paragraph,

 inserted by section 2 of chapter 80 of the acts of 2000, and inserting

 in place thereof the following paragraph:—

 For the purposes of this section, “licensed mental health professional”

 shall mean a licensed physician who specializes in the practice

 of psychiatry, a licensed psychologist, a licensed independent

 clinical social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, a licensed

 nurse mental health clinical specialist, or a licensed educational psychologist

 within the lawful scope of practice for such educational

 psychologist.

 SECTION 3. Section A of Chapter 176A of the General Laws is

 hereby amended by striking out the next to the last paragraph,

 inserted by section 4 of chapter 80 of the acts of 2000, and inserting

 in place thereof the following paragraph:—

 For the purposes of this section, “licensed mental health professional”

 shall mean a licensed physician who specializes in the practice

 of psychiatry, a licensed psychologist, a licensed independent

 clinical social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, a licensed

 nurse mental health clinical specialist, or a licensed educational psychologist

 within the lawful scope of practice for such educational

 psychologist.

 SECTION 4. Section 4A of Chapter 176B of the General Laws is

 hereby amended by striking out the next to the last paragraph,

 inserted by section 6 of chapter 80 of the acts of 2000, and inserting

 in place thereof the following paragraph:—

 For the purposes of this section, “licensed mental health professional”

 shall mean a licensed physician who specializes in the practice

 of psychiatry, a licensed psychologist, a licensed independent

 clinical social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, a licensed

 nurse mental health clinical specialist, or a licensed educational psychologist

 within the lawful scope of practice for such educational

 psychologist.

 SECTION 5. Section 4M of Chapter 176G of the General Laws is

 hereby amended by striking out the next to the last paragraph,

 inserted by section 10 of chapter 80 to the acts of 2000, and inserting

 in place thereof the following paragraph:—

 For the purposes of this section, “licensed mental health professional”

 shall mean a licensed physician who specializes in the practice

 of psychiatry, a licensed psychologist, a licensed independent

 clinical social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, a licensed

 nurse mental health clinical specialist, or a licensed educational psychologist

 within the lawful scope of practice for such educational

 psychologist.

 SECTION 6. This act shall apply to all policies, contracts, agreements,

 plans and certificates of insurance issued or delivered within

 or without the commonwealth on or after March 1, 2006, and to all

 policies, contracts, agreements, plans and certificates of insurance in

 effect before that date upon renewal or after March 1, 2006.