Indiana Legislation Update

March 23, 2006 - In July 2005, the Indiana legislature passed legislation requiring three members of the Social Work Marriage & Family Therapist & Mental Health Counselor Board Health Professions Bureau and three members of the Indiana Psychology Board to meet and draft a joint report defining diagnosis, assessment, psychological testing, and appraisal and to establish criteria for the different definitions.  The representatives from the two boards met; however, they were unable to reach a consensus.  Each board submitted separate and differing reports.

As a designated ‘short’ session, the 2006 Indiana session opened on January 10 and ended at midnight on March 14.  Due to the session length, there was a restriction on the number of bills submitted for consideration.  While working on a possible resolution to the restricted test list issue, the tri-lateral board of social workers, marriage and family therapists, and counselors also worked to extend the one year moratorium created by the 2005 legislation.  Language extending the moratorium on the creation of a restricted test list by the Indiana Psychology Boards was inserted into SB 333; however, it was later removed due to opposition. 

Since the Indiana legislature did not pass legislation extending the moratorium, the Indiana Psychology Board is permitted by law to start the process of creating a restricted test list.