AN ACT relating to psychologists.
HB 439 revises Kentucky law governing the Psychology Board and licensure of psychologists. It expands the board from nine to eleven members, increasing the number of licensed psychologist members and credentialed practitioner members while keeping one public member. The bill also changes how board nominees are selected, requires annual reporting of licensing and disciplinary timelines, and preserves the board’s authority over meetings, records, and member removal.
The bill also updates the licensure process for psychologists. It requires applicants to pass the national EPPP exam, a Kentucky mental health law exam, and a board-determined psychology practice exam, while maintaining doctoral degree, supervised experience, and fee requirements. It adds timing rules for scheduling examinations, creates a grace period for applicants transitioning into supervised employment, and clarifies temporary licensure and supervision rules. The bill also retains and limits the “health service provider” designation, which allows certain licensed psychologists to supervise others and provide direct health care services under specified caps.
HB 439 would amend KRS 319.020, 319.030, and 319.050, changing the composition and appointment process of the Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology, adding reporting obligations, and revising licensure and supervision requirements for psychologists. It would affect the board, licensed psychologists, certified psychologists, licensed psychological practitioners, licensed psychological associates, applicants for licensure, and employers that rely on supervised practice and temporary licensure. The bill also imposes new transparency requirements by requiring the board to report licensing and disciplinary processing times and publish those data online.
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the measure appears procedural and regulatory rather than controversial on its face. Its changes suggest a general policy interest in board representation, administrative transparency, and clearer licensure timelines. No formal vote history or transcript evidence indicates organized support or opposition in the materials provided.
The most likely points of contention are the expanded board size and the revised nomination process, which may be viewed as shifting professional representation and influence within the board. Another possible issue is the added examination and supervision structure, including the grace period, temporary licensure rules, and limits on how many trainees or associates a health service provider may supervise at once. Stakeholders most likely to care about these provisions include the Kentucky Psychological Association, licensed psychologists, early-career applicants, and employers or clinics that depend on supervised practice.