AB 537

This bill ratifies and enters Wisconsin into the Psychology Interjurisdictional

Compact (compact), which provides for the ability of a psychologist to practice more

easily in other compact states. Significant provisions of the compact include:

1. The creation of a Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact Commission

(commission), which includes one member or representative of the licensure boards

of each member state. The commission has various powers and duties granted in the

compact, including overseeing the administration of the compact, enforcing the

compact, adopting bylaws, promulgating binding rules for the compact, employing

officers and employees, and establishing and electing an executive board. The

commission may levy on and collect an annual assessment from each member state

or impose fees on other parties to cover the cost of the operations and activities of the

commission and its staff.

2. The ability for a psychologist to obtain an E.Passport, which allows a

psychologist to practice interjurisdictional telepsychology in another compact state

if the psychologist satisfies certain criteria. “Telepsychology” is defined as the

provision of psychological services using telecommunication technologies. The

compact specifies that a home state, defined as the state where the psychologist is

physically located, maintains authority over the license of any psychologist

practicing into a receiving state, defined as the compact state where the client or

patient is physically located, under the authority to practice interjurisdictional

telepsychology. A psychologist practicing into a receiving state under an E.Passport

is subject to the receiving state's scope of practice. The compact further provides that

a psychologist may practice in a receiving state under the authority to practice

interjurisdictional telepsychology only in the performance of the scope of practice for

psychology as assigned by an appropriate state psychology regulatory authority and

under circumstances specified in the compact. A receiving state may limit or revoke

a psychologist's authority to practice interjurisdictional telepsychology in the

receiving state and may take any other necessary actions to protect the health and

safety of the receiving state's citizens. If a psychologist's license or authority to

practice interjurisdictional telepsychology is restricted, suspended, or otherwise

limited, the psychologist's E.Passport is revoked and the psychologist may not

practice telepsychology in a compact state under the authority to practice

interjurisdictional telepsychology.

3. The ability for a psychologist to obtain an interjurisdictional practice

certificate (IPC), which grants temporary authorization for the psychologist to

provide temporary in-person, face-to-face psychological services in another

compact state for up to 30 days within a calendar year if the psychologist satisfies

certain criteria. A psychologist practicing into a distant state, defined as the state

where the psychologist is physically present to provide temporary in-person,

face-to-face psychological services, under the temporary authorization to practice