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

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

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Nine

_______________

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.