FL S0304

Creates a certification pathway for licensed psychologists to obtain prescriptive authority to prescribe, administer, and distribute drugs and controlled substances for psychiatric, mental, cognitive, nervous, emotional, developmental, or behavioral disorders

Requires applicants to hold a current psychology license, doctoral degree in psychology, pass a nationally recognized psychopharmacology examination, and complete intensive didactic education in areas including pharmacology, neurosciences, clinical medicine, and psychopharmacology

Mandates prescribing psychologists consult and collaborate with a patient's primary care physician before prescribing, altering, or discontinuing drug treatment, and prohibits prescribing to patients without a primary care physician

Requires 20 hours of continuing education relevant to prescriptive authority every 2-year licensure period for certification renewal

Establishes an interim panel by October 1, 2019, composed of a psychiatrist, pediatrician, pharmacist with doctoral degree, and two psychologists with postdoctoral master's degrees in clinical psychopharmacology to recommend rules governing prescriptive authority by February 1, 2020