SB251 Summary

• Clarifies Alabama Board of Examiners in Psychology membership as eight persons: one university faculty member (licensed psychologist), five licensed psychologists, one licensed psychological technician, and one public member, with board member diversity requirements.

• Authorizes the board to charge an inactive license fee not exceeding $500 for initial inactive status and annual continuation, with procedures for license reactivation established by board rule.

• Requires criminal background checks for all applicants for licensure as psychologists or psychological technicians, including fingerprinting and submission to Alabama Bureau of Investigation for state and federal criminal history record checks.

• Designates criminal history background check information as confidential, except when relied upon by the board to deny licensure or when subpoenaed by court.

• Increases penalties for unlicensed practice and violation of psychological technician licensing requirements from Class C to Class B misdemeanor; repeals obsolete language; effective upon Governor approval or third month following passage.