HB 319 Summary

• Creates Section 490.017, Florida Statutes, establishing a certification process for psychologists to obtain prescriptive authority to prescribe drugs and controlled substances for psychiatric, mental, cognitive, nervous, emotional, developmental, or behavioral disorders.

• Requires applicants to demonstrate a current psychology license, doctoral degree in psychology, passing score on an approved psychopharmacology examination, and completion of specified didactic education and clinical experience in psychopharmacology consistent with American Psychological Association standards.

• Mandates 20 hours of continuing education relevant to prescriptive authority during each 2-year licensure renewal period and requires prescribing psychologists to maintain patient prescription records and consult with patients' primary care physicians before prescribing, altering, or discontinuing drugs.

• Prohibits prescribing psychologists from issuing prescriptions without valid current certification, delegating prescribing authority to others, or prescribing to patients without a primary care physician; requires those authorized for controlled substances to file their DEA registration number with the Board of Psychology within 10 days.

• Directs the Board of Psychology to establish an interim panel by October 1, 2022, consisting of a psychiatrist, pediatrician, pharmacist with doctoral degree, and two psychologists with postdoctoral degrees in clinical psychopharmacology to submit rule recommendations by February 1, 2023; act effective July 1, 2022.