Letter from FACT to Indiana Governor, Frank O'Bannon

March 7, 2001

Governor Frank O'Bannon
State of Indiana
Office of the Governor
State House/Room 206
Indianapolis, IN  46204

Dear Governor O'Bannon:

The Fair Access Coalition on Testing (FACT) was formed in 1996 by 237 professional bodies representing over 500,000 human service professionals.  We support professionals' contention that proper training and not occupational license is the appropriate way to have access to use of psychological, educational, and other instruments which measure human behavior for the purpose of assessment, diagnosis and treatment.

We write to protest the existence of IC 25-33-1-3(i) requiring the Indiana State Psychology Board which you appoint to promulgate a rule which excludes Indiana State resident professionals from using tests which only the Indiana State Psychology Board can name as appropriate to only Indiana licensed psychologists (with exemptions).

The Indiana State Psychology Board recently approved a hearing for March 16, 2001, to air views on 199 tests which they have questionably selected to be on their "psychologists only" list.  There are several flaws to this rule, in addition to any list being necessary.

1. Indiana government supports multiple degree programs which educate students in professions which regularly use the 199 tests listed.  In short, Indiana is spending taxpayer money to train people and promulgating rules to make it illegal to use that training.
2. In years of research, there has been no body of literature showing abuse or noting cases.  The Indiana State Psychology Board needs to show how any test will harm the public if it is used properly.  No such claim has been addressed by the Indiana State Psychology Board.
3. The State's granting one profession the rights to a body of professional materials that was developed almost entirely by those other than Indiana licensed psychologists fringes upon work rights of many professionals.
4. Such an exhaustive list limits the public's right to be tested. Simply put--there are not enough licensed psychologists in Indiana to test all necessary cases.  Public outcry should follow such rule enactment.

Governor O'Bannon, we understand the intricacies of you and your staff understanding the impact of the volumes of legislation you read.  We also understand that the volume of legislation is monumental.  We would like to ask for a reasoned solution to this issue.  We support the concept of licensure, if it protects the public and not professional income.  Please ask your Attorney General to intercede on behalf of your citizens in favor of professional mental health boards working for the people--not protecting their practice.  We urge you to have your staff pay special attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Lorin Letendre                    Thomas W. Clawson                Wendi Schweiger
Co-Chair, FACT                Co-Chair, FACT                      Coordinator, FACT

cc:    Indiana Attorney General, Steven Carter
        Indiana State Psychology Board
        Social Worker, Marriage & Family Therapist, and Mental 
        Health Counselor Licensure Board