SB 534

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 authority 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. The compact

provides that a home state's license authorizes a psychologist to practice in a

receiving state under the authority to practice interjurisdictional telepsychology if

the compact state satisfies certain requirements, including requiring the

psychologist to hold an active E.Passport, defined as a certificate issued by the

Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) that promotes the

standardization in the criteria of interjurisdictional telepsychology practice and

facilitates the process for licensed psychologists to provide telepsychological services

across state lines. A psychologist practicing into a receiving state under the authority

to practice interjurisdictional telepsychology 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.