CA AB2968

Board of Behavioral Sciences, Board of Psychology, Medical Board of California, and Osteopathic Medical Board of California shall jointly prepare and disseminate an informational brochure for victims of psychotherapist-client sexual behavior and sexual contact.

Brochure must include legal and informal definitions of sexual behavior and contact, client bill of rights, reporting instructions, administrative complaint procedures, information on civil and criminal remedies, and descriptions of victim support services.

Brochure shall be provided to individuals contacting the four boards regarding complaints involving psychotherapist-client sexual behavior and sexual contact, and made available on each board's website.

Psychotherapists and their employers must provide the Section 337 brochure to clients who report alleged sexual intercourse, sexual behavior, or sexual contact with a previous psychotherapist, and failure to do so constitutes unprofessional conduct.

Expands the definition of "psychotherapist" to include additional mental health practitioners and adds "sexual behavior" (inappropriate sexual contact or communication) alongside "sexual contact" (touching of intimate body parts) as triggering events for brochure distribution.