2025 -- H 5556
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LC001688
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PSYCHOLOGISTS
Introduced By: Representatives DeSimone, Fellela, McNamara, Biah, Slater, Kazarian,
Hull, and O'Brien
Date Introduced: February 26, 2025
Referred To: House Corporations
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Legislative findings and purpose. 1
(a) The general assembly finds that: 2
(1) School psychologists are part of a comprehensive program to meet student needs, 3
consistent with 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 [the "Individuals with Disabilities Education Act"] and 20 4
U.S.C. Sec. 6301 [the "Every Student Succeeds Act"]. 5
(2) School psychologists are an integral part of the school team and support student 6
learning, mental health and behavior to help students achieve academically, socially, behaviorally, 7
and emotionally. 8
(3) The National Association of School Psychologists recommends a maximum ratio of 9
five hundred (500) students per school psychologists in order to provide a comprehensive range of 10
school psychological services. 11
(4) There is a shortage of school psychologists in Rhode Island, with an estimated ratio of 12
763:1. Ratios in the urban districts average 1:1000. 13
(5) A shortage of school psychologists across the State of Rhode Island jeopardizes the 14
state's ability to provide essential services and supports to students, schools, and communities. 15
(6) Data indicate that shortages of school psychologists will persist into the future. 16
(7) There is an insufficient number of credentialed school psychology graduates produced 17
by the state's higher education institutions to fill existing gaps. 18
(8) Initiatives designed to promote and support the education and preparation of school 19
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psychologists can help mitigate the problem of a shortage. 1
(9) Research and best practice show that after three (3) years of employment within a 2
school, school psychologists become imbedded in their community, resulting in lower turnover 3
within the profession. 4
(b) The purpose of this legislation is: 5
(1) To address the shortage of school psychologists in the State of Rhode Island. 6
(2) To address the shortage of school psychologists in the higher education pipeline. 7
(3) To create a pipeline for licensure through the department of health that would allow for 8
independent contracting, educational evaluations, consultation, and other services related to the 9
academic learning process. 10
(4) To improve the academic, behavioral, and social–emotional well-being of children and 11
youth by increasing access to high quality school-employed mental and behavioral health 12
professionals. 13
(5) To improve the academic, behavioral, and social-emotional well-being of children and 14
youth by increasing community access to high quality mental and behavioral health professionals 15
who specialize in school psychology, and psychoeducational evaluations. 16
(6) To ensure the state fulfills its obligations to state and federal laws that address students 17
with disabilities, school safety, school climate and social and emotional learning. 18
SECTION 2. Sections 5-44-1, 5-44-12, 5-44-13 and 5-44-15 of the General Laws in 19
Chapter 5-44 entitled "Psychologists" are hereby amended to read as follows: 20
5-44-1. Definitions. 21
As used in this chapter: 22
(1) “Academic psychologist” means a person employed by or associated with a recognized 23
college or university or other recognized institution who is engaged in teaching, studying, or 24
conducting research in the science of psychology. 25
(2) “Board” means the board of psychology established by § 5-44-3. 26
(3) “Department” means the Rhode Island department of health. 27
(4) “Director” means the director of the Rhode Island department of health. 28
(5) “Education” means the academic program pursued by a person in obtaining a doctoral 29
degree, that program to include formal course work, seminars, and practica. 30
(6) "Graduate program" means a program accredited by the state that is dedicated to 31
providing an organized program of graduate preparation in school psychology and provides no less 32
than sixty (60) graduate semester hours (or the equivalent) and includes coursework and experience 33
relevant to both education and psychology. Coursework shall advance knowledge in: 34
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(i) Data collection and analysis, and data-based decision making; 1
(ii) Student assessment and evaluation; 2
(iii) Academic programs and instructional support; 3
(iv) Multi-tiered systems of support to address students' academic, social--emotional, and 4
mental and behavioral health needs including: 5
(A) Universal screening and early identification; 6
(B) Prevention and intervention services; 7
(C) Progress monitoring; 8
(D) Providing a range of increasingly intensive services based on student need; 9
(v) School-wide practices to promote student learning, resilience and risk factors, and crisis 10
preparedness, response, and recovery; 11
(vi) Mental health interventions; 12
(vii) Consultation and collaboration; 13
(viii) Family--school--community collaboration; 14
(ix) Diversity in development and learning; 15
(x) Program evaluation and research; 16
(xi) Professional ethics; 17
(xii) Systems; and 18
(xiii) All relevant local, state and federal laws, including the Individuals with Disabilities 19
Education Act and the requirements specific to the role of the school psychologist. 20
(6)(7) “Licensed psychologist” means a person who has been licensed for the practice of 21
psychology under this chapter. “Psychologist” as used in this chapter means a licensed psychologist 22
as defined in this section. 23
(8) "Licensed school psychologist" means a school psychologist who meets the 24
qualifications set forth in § 5-44-9.1. 25
(9) "Living wage" means the amount of money needed to provide for annual basic needs 26
for an individual to live above the poverty level and is determined by the state. 27
(7)(10) “Practice of psychology” means the rendering of professional psychological 28
services to individuals, groups, families, or any public or private organization for remuneration. 29
Professional psychological services means applying established psychological principles, methods, 30
or procedures for the purpose of preventing or eliminating symptomatic, maladaptive, or undesired 31
behavior and of enhancing interpersonal relationships, work and life adjustment, personal 32
effectiveness, and mental health. The practice of psychology includes, but is not limited to: 33
(i) Diagnoses and treatment of emotional, mental, or behavioral dysfunction, disorder, or 34
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disability, alcoholism and substance-abuse disorders of habit or conduct, as well as of the 1
psychological aspects of physical illness, accident, injury, or disability; 2
(ii) Psychological testing and evaluation of intelligence, personality, abilities, interests, 3
aptitudes, and neuropsychological functioning; 4
(iii) Psychoeducation evaluation, therapy, remediation, and consultation; and 5
(iv) Counseling, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, hypnotherapy, biofeedback, and behavior 6
analysis and therapy. 7
(8)(11) “Psychology student,” “psychology trainee,” “psychology intern,” or “psychology 8
resident” means a student, intern, or other person studying or preparing for the profession of 9
psychologist under the supervision of recognized educational or training institutions or facilities. 10
(12) "School psychology internship" means a culminating and immersive field-supervised 11
experience in which the primary focus is on providing high-quality experiences, attainment of 12
comprehensive school psychology competencies, and integration and application of the full range 13
of domains of school psychology. Minimum requirements for an internship shall include: 14
(i) At least one thousand two hundred (1,200) hours in duration over the course of an 15
academic year; 16
(ii) At least six hundred (600) hours of the internship shall occur in a school-based setting 17
as defined by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) standards; 18
(iii) Opportunities and supervision in a broad range of direct and indirect school 19
psychological services; and 20
(iv) Supervision shall be conducted by a credentialed school psychologist or a professional 21
appropriately credentialed for the internship setting. 22
(9)(13) “Training” means the pre-professional or professional-supervised experience 23
received by the person at the pre- or post-doctoral level, that experience to have been obtained in 24
an internship, clinic, or other similar professional setting. 25
5-44-12. Application fee. 26
The applicant applying for licensure as a psychologist or a licensed school psychologist 27
shall pay a fee as set forth in § 23-1-54 to the department. 28
5-44-13. Temporary license. 29
(a) Pursuant to §§ 5-44-6 and 5-44-23(f) and rules and regulations promulgated hereunder, 30
a temporary permit to practice psychology under supervision may be granted to a candidate for 31
licensure who has paid the required fee as set forth in § 23-1-54 and has satisfied the following 32
requirements: 33
(1) Filed an application for licensure with all required supporting materials; 34
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(2) Has received a doctoral degree in accordance with § 5-44-9, and successfully completed 1
one thousand five hundred (1,500) hours of supervision satisfactory to the board as specified in the 2
rules and regulations; 3
(3) Shall only practice under the appropriate supervision of a licensed psychologist as 4
delineated in the rules and regulations promulgated hereunder; 5
(4) Shall refrain from using the title “psychologist” or "licensed school psychologist" 6
representing himself or herself as a psychologist other than by using the title “psychology student,” 7
“psychology trainee,” “psychology intern,” "licensed school psychologist trainee," or “psychology 8
resident”; and 9
(5) The temporary permit shall be valid for a period of two (2) years from the date of 10
issuance. 11
(b) Temporary permit holders may request from the board a one-year extension. Such an 12
extension may be granted at the discretion of the board upon review of the applicant’s 13
circumstances. This extension shall only be granted once. 14
5-44-15. Expiration and renewal of licenses — Continuing education — Lapsed 15
license. 16
(a) The license of every person licensed under the provisions of this chapter shall expire 17
on the first day of July of the next even-numbered year following the issuance of his or her license. 18
(b) On or before the first day of May of each even-numbered year, the department shall 19
mail an application for renewal of license to every person to whom a license has been issued or 20
renewed during the cycle. 21
(c) Every licensed person who desires to renew his or her license shall file with the 22
department a renewal application, executed, together with a renewal fee as set forth in § 23-1-54, 23
on or before the first day of June in each even-numbered year. Upon receipt of a renewal application 24
and payment of the renewal fee, the accuracy of the application shall be verified and the department 25
may grant a renewal license effective July 1st and expiring the June 30th in each even-numbered 26
year. 27
(d) Every licensed psychologist or licensed school psychologist who desires to continue 28
licensure as a licensed psychologist or licensed school psychologist shall present satisfactory 29
evidence to the board and approved by rule or regulation of the board that the licensed psychologist 30
or licensed school psychologist has completed a prescribed course of continuing licensed 31
psychological education. 32
(e) Any person who allows his or her license to lapse, by failing to renew it on or before 33
June 1st in each even-numbered year, as provided in this section, may be reinstated by the 34
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department on payment of the current renewal fee, plus an additional fee as set forth in § 23-1-54. 1
Any person using the title “psychologist” or offering services defined as the practice of psychology 2
under this chapter during the time his or her license has lapsed is subject to the penalties provided 3
for violation of this chapter. 4
SECTION 3. Section 23-1-54 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-1 entitled "Department 5
of Health" is hereby amended to read as follows: 6
23-1-54. Fees payable to the department of health. 7
Fees payable to the department shall be as follows: 8
PROFESSION RIGL Section Description of Fee FEE 9
Barbers/hairdressers 5-10-10(a) Renewal application $25.00 10
Barbers/hairdressers 5-10-10(a) Renewal application: 11
Manicuring Instructors and manicurists $25.00 12
Barbers/hairdressers 5-10-10(b) Minimum late renewal fee $25.00 13
Barbers/hairdressers 5-10-10(b) Maximum late renewal fee $100.00 14
Barbers/hairdressers 5-10-11[c] Application fee $25.00 15
Barbers/hairdressers 5-10-11[c] Application fee: manicuring 16
Instructors and manicurists $25.00 17
Barbers/hairdressers 5-10-13 Demonstrator’s permit $90.00 18
Barbers/hairdressers 5-10-15 Shop license: initial $170.00 19
Barbers/hairdressers 5-10-15 Shop license: renewal $170.00 20
Veterinarians 5-25-10 Application fee $40.00 21
Veterinarians 5-25-11 Examination fee $540.00 22
Veterinarians 5-25-12(a) Renewal fee $580.00 23
Veterinarians 5-25-12[c] Late renewal fee $120.00 24
Podiatrists 5-29-7 Application fee $240.00 25
Podiatrists 5-29-11 Renewal fee: minimum $240.00 26
Podiatrists 5-29-11 Renewal fee: maximum $540.00 27
Podiatrists 5-29-13 Limited registration $65.00 28
Podiatrists 5-29-14 Limited registration: 29
Academic faculty $240.00 30
Podiatrists 5-29-14 Application fee: 31
Renewal minimum $240.00 32
Podiatrists 5-29-14 Application fee: 33
Renewal maximum $440.00 34
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Chiropractors 5-30-6 Examination fee: $210.00 1
Chiropractors 5-30-7 Examination exemption fee $210.00 2
Chiropractors 5-30-8(b) Exam Physiotherapy $210.00 3
Chiropractors 5-30-8(b) Exam chiro and $210.00 4
physiotherapy 5
Chiropractors 5-30-12 Renewal fee $210.00 6
Dentists/dental hygienists 5-31.1-6(d) Dentist: application fee $965.00 7
Dentists/dental hygienists 5-31.1-6(d) Dental hygienist: 8
application fee $65.00 9
Dentists/dental hygienists 5-31.1-6(d) Reexamination: dentist $965.00 10
Dentists/dental hygienist 5-31.1-6(d) Reexamination: hygienist $65.00 11
Dentists/dental hygienists 5-31.1-21(b) Reinstatement fee dentist $90.00 12
Dentists/dental hygienists 5-31.1-21(b) Reinstatement fee hygienist $90.00 13
Dentists/dental hygienists 5-31.1-21(c) Inactive status: dentist $220.00 14
Dentists/dental hygienists 5-31.1-21(c) Inactive status: hygienist $40.00 15
Dentists/dental hygienists 5-31.1-22 Limited registration $65.00 16
Dentists/dental hygienists 5-31.1-23[c] Limited reg: Academic faculty $965.00 17
Dentists/dental hygienists 5-31.1-23[c] Limited reg: 18
Academic faculty renewal $500.00 19
Electrolysis 5-32-3 Application fee $25.00 20
Electrolysis 5-32-6(b) Renewal fee $25.00 21
Electrolysis 5-32-7 Reciprocal license fee $25.00 22
Electrolysis 5-32-17 Teaching license $25.00 23
Funeral directors/embalmers 5-33.2-12 Funeral establishment license $120.00 24
Funeral services establishments 25
Funeral directors/embalmers 5-33.2-15 Renewal: funeral/director - $90.00 26
Funeral services establishments embalmer $30.00 27
Funeral directors/embalmers 5-33.2-12 Funeral branch ofc license $90.00 28
Funeral directors/embalmers 5-33.2-13.1 Crematories: application fee $120.00 29
Funeral services establishments 30
Funeral directors/embalmers 5-33.2-15 Renewal: funeral/director 31
Funeral Svcs establishments establishment $120.00 32
Funeral directors/embalmers 5-33.2-15 Additional branch office 33
Funeral services Establishments licenses $120.00 34
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Funeral directors/embalmers 5-33.2-15 Crematory renewal fee 1
Funeral svcs establishments $120.00 2
Funeral directors/embalmers 5-33.2-15 Late renewal fee 3
Funeral svcs establishments (All license types) $25.00 4
Funeral directors/embalmers 5-33.2-16(a) Intern registration fee 5
Funeral Services establishments- $25.00 6
Nurses 5-34-12 RN Application fee $135.00 7
Nurses 5-34-16 LPN Application fee $45.00 8
Nurses 5-34-19 Renewal fee: RN $135.00 9
Nurses 5-34-19 Renewal fee: LPN $45.00 10
Nurses 5-34-37 RNP application fee $80.00 11
Nurses 5-34-37 RNP renewal fee $80.00 12
Nurses 5-34-37 RNP prescriptive privileges $65.00 13
Nurses 5-34-40.3 Clin nurse spec application $80.00 14
Nurses 5-34-40.3 Clin nurse spec renewal $80.00 15
Nurses 5-34-40.3 Clin nurse spec Rx privilege $65.00 16
Nurse anesthetists 5-34.2-4(a) CRNA application fee $80.00 17
Nurse anesthetists 5-34.2-4(b) CRNA renewal fee $80.00 18
Optometrists 5-35.1-4 Application fee $280.00 19
Optometrists 5-35.1-7 Renewal fee $280.00 20
Optometrists 5-35.1-7 Late fee $90.00 21
Optometrists 5-35.1-7 Reactivation of license fee $65.00 22
Optometrists 5-35.1-19(b) Violations of section $650.00 23
Optometrists 5-35.1-20 Violations of chapter $260.00 24
Opticians 5-35.2-3 Application fee $30.00 25
Physicians 5-37-2 Application fee $1,090.00 26
Physicians 5-37-2 Re-examination fee $1,090.00 27
Physicians 5-37-10(b) Late renewal fee $170.00 28
Physicians 5-37-16 Limited registration fee $65.00 29
Physicians 5-37-16.1 Ltd reg: academic faculty $600.00 30
Physicians 5-37-16.1 Ltd reg: academic 31
Faculty renewal $170.00 32
Acupuncture 5-37.2-10 Application fee $310.00 33
Acupuncture 5-37.2-13(4) Acupuncture assistant $310.00 34
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Licensure fee $170.00 1
Social workers 5-39.1-9 Application fee $70.00 2
Social workers 5-39.1-9 Renewal fee $70.00 3
Physical therapists 5-40-8 Application fee $155.00 4
Physical therapists 5-40-8.1 Application: physical $50.00 5
therapy assistants 6
Physical therapists 5-40-10(a) Renewal fee: 7
Physical therapists $155.00 8
Physical therapists 5-40-10(a) Renewal fee: Physical 9
therapy assistants $50.00 10
Physical therapists 5-40-10[c] Late renewals $50.00 11
Occupational therapists 5-40.1-12(2) Renewal fee $140.00 12
Occupational therapists 5-40.1-12(5) Late renewal fee $50.00 13
Occupational therapists 5-40.1-12(b) Reactivation fee $140.00 14
Occupational therapists 5-40.1-13 Application fee $140.00 15
Psychologists/licensed school 5-44-12 Application fee $230.00 16
psychologist 17
Psychologists/licensed school 5-44-13 Temporary permit $120.00 18
psychologist 19
Psychologists/licensed school 5-44-15[c] Renewal fee $230.00 20
psychologist 21
Psychologists/licensed school 5-44-15(e) Late renewal fee $50.00 22
psychologist 23
Nursing home administrators 5-45-10 Renewal fee $160.00 24
Speech pathologist/audiologists 5-48-1(14) Speech lang support 25
personnel: late filing $90.00 26
Speech pathologist/audiologists 5-48-9(a) Application fee: Audiologist $65.00 27
Speech pathologist/audiologists 5-48-9(a) Application fee: 28
Speech Pathologist $145.00 29
Speech pathologist/audiologists 5-48-9(a) Renewal fee: Audiologist $65.00 30
Speech pathologist/audiologists 5-48-9(a) Renewal fee: Speech $145.00 31
Pathologist 32
Speech pathologist/ audiologists 5-48-9(a) Provisional license: 33
renewal fee $65.00 34
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Speech pathologist/au- 5-48-9(b) Late renewal fee $50.00 1
diologists 2
Speech pathologist/audiologists 5-48-9(d)(1) Reinstatement fee: 3
audiologist $65.00 4
Speech pathologist/audiologists 5-48-9(d)(1) Reinstatement fee: 5
audiologist $65.00 6
speech pathologists $145.00 7
personnel: late filing $65.00 8
Hearing aid dealers/fitters 5-49-6(a) License endorsement 9
Examination fee $25.00 10
Hearing aid dealers/fitters 5-49-8(b) Temporary permit fee $25.00 11
Hearing aid dealers/fitters 5-49-8(d) Temporary permit $35.00 12
renewal fee 13
Hearing aid dealers/fitters 5-49-11(a)(1) License fee $25.00 14
Hearing aid dealers/fitters 5-49-11(b) License renewal fee $25.00 15
Hearing aid dealers/fitters 5-49-11[c] License renewal late fee $25.00 16
Physician assistants 5-54-9(4) Application fee $110.00 17
Physician assistants 5-54-11(b) Renewal fee $110.00 18
Orthotics/prosthetic practice 5-59.1-5 Application fee $120.00 19
Orthotics/prosthetic practice 5-59.1-12 Renewal fee $120.00 20
Athletic trainers 5-60-11 Application fee $60.00 21
Athletic trainers 5-60-11 Renewal fee $60.00 22
Athletic trainers 5-60-11 Late renewal fee $25.00 23
Mental health counselors/ 5-63.2-16 Application fee: Marriage/ 24
Marriage and family Family therapist $130.00 25
therapists 26
Mental health counselors/ 5-63.2-16 Application fee: Mental 27
Marriage and family therapists Health counselors $70.00 28
Mental health counselors/ 5-63.2-16 Reexamination fee: 29
Marriage and family therapists Marriage/family therapist $130.00 30
Mental health counselors/ 5-63.2-16 Reexamination fee: 31
Marriage and family therapists Mental health counselors $70.00 32
Mental health counselors/ 5-63.2-17(a) Renewal fee: Marriage/ 33
Marriage and Family therapists Family therapist $130.00 34
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Mental health counselors/ 5-63.2-17(a) Renewal fee: 1
Marriage and Family therapist Mental health counselor $50.00 2
Mental health counselors/ 5-63.2-17(b) Late renewal fee: 3
Marriage and Family therapist Marriage and family $90.00 4
therapist 5
Dieticians/nutritionists 5-64-6(b) Application fee $75.00 6
Dieticians/nutritionists 5-64-7 Graduate status: 7
Application fee: $75.00 8
Dieticians/nutritionists 5-64-8 Renewal fee $75.00 9
Dieticians/nutritionists 5-64-8 Reinstatement fee $75.00 10
Radiologic technologists 5-68.1-10 Application fee maximum $190.00 11
Licensed chemical de- 5-69-9 Application fee $75.00 12
pendency professionals 13
Licensed chemical de- 5-69-9 Renewal fee $75.00 14
pendency professionals 15
Licensed chemical 5-69-9 Application fee $75.00 16
Licensed chemical 5-69-9 Application fee $75.00 17
dependency clinical supervisor 18
Licensed chemical 5-69-9 Renewal fee $75.00 19
dependency clinical supervisor 20
Deaf interpreters 5-71-8(a)(3) License fee maximum $25.00 21
Deaf interpreters 5-71-8(a)(3) License renewal fee $25.00 22
Milk producers 21-2-7(g)(1) In-state milk processor $160.00 23
Milk producers 21-2-7(g)(2) Out-of-state milk processor - $160.00 24
Milk producers 21-2-7(g)(3) Milk distributors $160.00 25
Frozen desserts 21-9-3(1) In-state wholesale $550.00 26
Frozen desserts 21-9-3(2) Out-of-state wholesale $160.00 27
Frozen desserts 21-9-3(3) Retail frozen dess pro- $160.00 28
cessors 29
Meats 21-11-4 Wholesale $160.00 30
Meats 21-11-4 Retail $40.00 31
Shellfish packing houses 21-14-2 License fee: 32
Shipper/reshipper $320.00 33
Shellfish packing houses 21-14-2 License fee: 34
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Shucker packer/repacker $390.00 1
Non-alcoholic bottled 21-23-2 Bottler permit 2
beverages, drinks & juices $550.00 3
Non-alcoholic bottled 21-23-2 Bottle apple cider fee 4
beverages, drinks and juices $60.00 5
Farm home food manu- 21-27-6.1(4) Registration fee $65.00 6
facturers 7
Cottage Food Manu- 21-27-6.2(4) Registration fee $65.00 8
facturers 9
Food businesses 21-27-10(e)(1) Food processors wholesale $300.00 10
Food businesses 21-27-10(e)(2) Food processors retail $120.00 11
Food businesses 21-27-10(e)(3) Food service establishments 12
50 seats or less $160.00 13
Food businesses 21-27-10(e)(3) Food service establishments 14
more than 50 seats $240.00 15
Food businesses 21-27-10(e)(3) Mobile food service units $100.00 16
Food businesses 21-27-10(e)(3) Industrial caterer or 17
food vending 18
Machine commissary $280.00 19
Food businesses 21-27-10(e)(3) Cultural heritage 20
educational Facility $80.00 21
Food businesses 21-27-10(e)(4) Vending Machine 22
Location3 units or less $50.00 23
Food businesses 21-27-10(e)(4) Vending Machine 24
Location 4-10 units $100.00 25
Food businesses 21-27-10(e)(4) Vending Machine 26
Location = 11 units $120.00 27
Food businesses 21-27-10(e)(5) Retail Mkt 28
1-2 cash registers $120.00 29
Food businesses 21-27-10(e)(5) Retail Market 30
3-5 cash registers $240.00 31
Food businesses 21-27-10(e)(5) Retail Market = 6 32
Cash registers $510.00 33
Food businesses 21-27-10(e)(6) Retail food peddler $100.00 34
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Food businesses 21-27-10(e)(7) Food warehouses $190.00 1
Food businesses 21-27-11.2 Certified food safety mgr $50.00 2
License verification fee 23-1-16.1 All license types $50.00 3
Tattoo and body piercing 23-1-39 Annual registration 4
fee: Person $90.00 5
Tattoo and body piercing 23-1-39 Annual registration fee: 6
establishment $90.00 7
Vital records 23-3-25(a)(1) Certificate of birth, fetal 8
death, death, marriage, birth, 9
or Certification that such 10
record Cannot be found $20.00 11
Vital records 23-3-25(a)(1) Each duplicate of 12
certificate of birth, 13
fetal death, death, marriage, 14
birth, or certification that 15
such record cannot be found $15.00 16
Vital records 23-3-25(a)(2) Each additional calendar 17
year Search, if within 3 18
months of original 19
search and if receipt of 20
original search presented $2.00 21
Vital records 23-3-25(a)(3) Expedited service $7.00 22
Vital records 23-3-25(a)(4) Adoptions, legitimations, 23
or Paternity determinations $15.00 24
Vital records 23-3-25(a)(5) Authorized corrections, 25
Alterations, and additions $10.00 26
Vital records 23-3-25(a)(6) Filing of delayed record 27
and Examination of docu- 28
mentary Proof $20.00 29
Vital records 23-3-25(a)(6) Issuance of certified copy 30
of a delayed record $20.00 31
Medical Examiner 23-4-13 Autopsy reports $40.00 32
Medical Examiner 23-4-13 Cremation 33
certificates and statistics $30.00 34
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Medical Examiner 23-4-13 Testimony in civil suits: 1
Minimum/day $650.00 2
Medical Examiner 23-4-13 Testimony in civil suits: 3
Maximum/day $3,250.00 4
Emergency medical 23-4.1-10[c] Annual fee: ambulance 5
technicians service maximum $540.00 6
Emergency medical 23-4.1-10[c] Annual fee: vehicle 7
technicians license maximum $275.00 8
Emergency medical 23-4.1-10[c] Triennial fee: EMT 9
technicians license maximum $120.00 10
Emergency medical 23-4.1-10(c)(2) Exam fee maximum: $120.00 11
technicians EMT 12
Emergency medical 23-4.1-10(c)(2) Vehicle inspection 13
technicians Maximum $190.00 14
Clinical laboratories 23-16.2-4(a) Clinical laboratory 15
license 16
per specialty $650.00 17
Clinical laboratories 23-16.2-4(a) Laboratory station $650.00 18
license 19
Clinical laboratories 23-16.2-4(b) Permit fee $70.00 20
Health care facilities 23-17-38 Hospital: base fee $16,900.00 21
annual 22
Health care facilities 23-17-38 Hospital: annual per $120.00 23
bed fee 24
Health care facilities 23-17-38 ESRD: annual fee $3,900.00 25
Health care facilities 23-17-38 Home nursing-care/ 26
home- 27
care providers $650.00 28
Health care facilities 23-17-38 OACF: annual fee $650.00 29
Assisted living residences/ 23-17.4-15.2(d) License application fee: $220.00 30
administrators 31
Assisted living residences/ 23-17.4-15.2(d) License renewal fee: $220.00 32
administrators 33
Assisted living residences 23-17.4-31 Annual facility fee: base $330.00 34
LC001688 - Page 15 of 23
Assisted living residences 23-17.4-31 Annual facility per bed $70.00 1
Nursing assistant registration 23-17.9-3 Application: competency 2
evaluation training 3
program maximum $325.00 4
Nursing assistant registration 23-17.9-5 Application fee $35.00 5
Nursing assistant registration 23-17.9-5 Exam fee: skills proficiency $170.00 6
Nursing assistant registration 23-17.9-6 Registration fee $35.00 7
Nursing assistant registration 23-17.9-7 Renewal fee $35.00 8
Sanitarians 23-19.3-5(a) Registration fee $25.00 9
Sanitarians 23-19.3-5(b) Registration renewal $25.00 10
Massage therapy 23-20.8-3(e) Massage therapist appl fee $65.00 11
Massage therapy 23-20.8-3(e) Massage therapist $65.00 12
renewal fee 13
Recreational facilities 23-21-2 Application fee $160.00 14
Swimming pools 23-22-6 Application license: 15
first pool $250.00 16
Swimming pools 23-22-6 Additional pool 17
fee at same location $75.00 18
Swimming pools 23-22-6 Seasonal application 19
license: first pool $150.00 20
Swimming pools 23-22-6 Seasonal additional pool 21
fee at same location $75.00 22
Swimming pools 23-22-6 Year-round license 23
for non-profit $25.00 24
Swimming pools 23-22-10 Duplicate license $2.00 25
Swimming pools 23-22-12 Penalty for violations $50.00 26
Respiratory care practitioners - 23-39-11 Application fee $60.00 27
Respiratory care practitioners 23-39-11 Renewal fee $60.00 28
SECTION 4. Chapter 5-44 of the General Laws entitled "Psychologists" is hereby amended 29
by adding thereto the following sections: 30
5-44-9.1. Qualifications for licensed school psychologist. 31
An applicant for licensure shall submit to the board written evidence satisfying the criteria 32
set forth herein, on forms furnished by the professional regulation unit of the department of labor 33
and training, verified under oath, that said applicant: 34
LC001688 - Page 16 of 23
(1) Is of good moral character; 1
(2) Has obtained an advanced graduate degree in school psychology from a regionally 2
accredited college or university whose school psychology program is accredited by the American 3
Psychological Association and/or the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and 4
requires at least sixty (60) graduate credits with one thousand two hundred (1,200) hours of 5
supervised school psychology experience; 6
(3) Has three (3) years or three thousand six hundred (3,600) hours of postgraduate 7
supervised experience as a school psychologist; 8
(4) Has passed the Educational Testing Service's School Psychology Examination as 9
determined by the National School Psychology Certification Board; and 10
(5) Has obtained credentials as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist by the National 11
Association of School Psychologists. 12
5-44-9.2. Scope of practice of a licensed school psychologist. 13
(a) A licensed school psychologist may engage in the practice of school psychology in 14
public schools kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12), early childhood and pre-K settings, and 15
private and charter schools as an employee or consultant to the local education agency or school. 16
Licensed school psychologists may practice outside of these settings or independent of an 17
employment or consulting relationship. The practice of educational psychology is the performance 18
of any of the following professional functions pertaining to academic learning processes or the 19
education system or both: 20
(1) Educational evaluation. 21
(2) Diagnosis of psychological disorders related to academic learning processes. 22
(3) Administration of diagnostic tests related to academic learning processes including tests 23
of academic ability, learning patterns, achievement, motivation, and personality factors. 24
(4) Interpretation of diagnostic tests related to academic learning processes including tests 25
of academic ability, learning patterns, achievement, motivation, and personality factors. 26
(5) Providing psychological counseling for individuals, groups, and families. 27
(6) Consultation with other educators and parents on issues of social development and 28
behavioral and academic difficulties. 29
(7) Conducting psychoeducational assessments for the purposes of identifying special 30
needs. 31
(8) Developing treatment programs and strategies to address problems of adjustment. 32
(9) Coordinating intervention strategies for management of individual crises. 33
(b) The board of psychology shall further define the practice of school psychology in rules 34
LC001688 - Page 17 of 23
and regulations. 1
SECTION 5. Chapter 16-11 of the General Laws entitled "Certification of Teachers [See 2
Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended by adding 3
thereto the following sections: 4
16-11-11. School psychologist graduate preparation grant program. 5
(a) There is hereby established a grant program to incentivize and support the 6
implementation and operation of school psychologist graduate preparation programs within state-7
funded institutions of higher education. This program shall be a culminating and immersive field-8
supervised experience in which the primary focus is on providing high-quality experiences, 9
attainment of comprehensive school psychology competencies, and integration and application of 10
the full range of domains of school psychology. Minimum requirements for an internship shall 11
include: 12
(1) At least one thousand two hundred (1,200) hours in duration over the course of an 13
academic year; 14
(2) At least six hundred (600) hours of the internship shall occur in a school-based setting 15
as defined by national standards; 16
(3) Opportunities and supervision in a broad range of direct and indirect school 17
psychological services; and 18
(4) Supervision shall be conducted by a credentialed school psychologist or a professional 19
appropriately credentialed for the internship setting. 20
(b) The department of education shall provide annual funding to institutions of higher 21
education to fill faculty vacancies in existing graduate programs in school psychology. 22
(1) For institutions of higher education with existing graduate programs in school 23
psychology that do not have unfilled vacancies, the department shall provide funding to recruit and 24
supplement the costs of additional faculty to train and prepare more qualified school psychology 25
candidates. 26
(2) The department shall work with institutions of higher education to place school 27
psychology interns in high needs districts, while ensuring the availability of effective and 28
appropriate internship supervision, and provide an annual living internship stipend that meets the 29
state requirements for a living wage. 30
(3) The department shall forgive the school loans accrued by school psychologists in 31
pursuit of their degree, upon completion of five (5) years of employment in a high needs district. 32
16-11-12. Reporting requirements. 33
(a) The department of education ("department") shall conduct an annual collection of data 34
LC001688 - Page 18 of 23
on the number of school psychologists who are employed: 1
(1) Full-time by a school or district; 2
(2) Part-time by a school or district; 3
(3) By an outside organization and provides school psychological services as a school 4
psychologist in a school or district; and 5
(4) As a full- or part-time contract employee providing services as a school psychologist 6
in a school or district. 7
(b) Data shall be: 8
(1) Used to inform the department regarding high needs districts; 9
(2) Used to inform the department's decision making regarding the effective use of state 10
funds to recruit, train, and retain school psychologists; 11
(3) Used to help identify and target funding needs; 12
(4) Made publicly available on the state department of education website; and 13
(5) Reported annually to the general assembly and the governor. 14
SECTION 6. The title of Chapter 5-63.2 of the General Laws entitled "Mental Health 15
Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists" is hereby amended to read as follows: 16
CHAPTER 5-63.2 17
Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists 18
CHAPTER 5-63.2 19
MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS, MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS AND 20
LICENSED SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS 21
SECTION 7. Sections 5-63.2-2 and 5-63.2-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-63.2 entitled 22
"Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists" are hereby amended to read as 23
follows: 24
5-63.2-2. Definitions. 25
As used in this chapter: 26
(1) “Advertise” means, but is not limited to, the issuing or causing to be distributed any 27
card, sign, or device to any person; or the causing, permitting, or allowing any sign or marking on 28
or in any building, radio, or television; or by advertising by any other means designed to secure 29
public attention. 30
(2) "Allied field" means counselor education, psychology, marriage and family therapy, 31
counseling psychology, community mental health, education with a concentration in counseling or 32
psychology, or other field determined by the board to be an allied field. Said allied field shall 33
include all components of the core curriculum. 34
LC001688 - Page 19 of 23
(2)(3) “Board” means the board of mental health counselors and marriage and family 1
therapists and mental health counselors. 2
(3)(4) “Clinical mental health counselor” means a person who is licensed pursuant to § 5-3
63.2-9, which license is in force and not suspended or revoked as of the particular time in question. 4
(5) "Clinical instruction" means all supervised course work within which the student has 5
the opportunity to engage in a broad range of clinical activities similar to those performed by a 6
licensed counselor/therapist. This instruction includes all practice and internships completed within 7
a student's program. 8
(6) "Department" means the Rhode Island department of health. 9
(7) "Director" means the director of the Rhode Island department of health. 10
(4)(8) “Internship” means a part of an organized graduate program in counseling therapy 11
and constitutes a supervised experience within a mental health and/or marriage and family setting. 12
(9) "Licensed school psychologist" means a person who is duly licensed and which license 13
is in force and not suspended or revoked as of the particular time in question. 14
(5)(10) “Marriage and family therapist” means a person who is licensed pursuant to § 5-15
63.2-10, which license is in force and not suspended or revoked as of the particular time in question. 16
(6)(11) “Person” means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, organization, or 17
body politic. 18
(7)(12) “Practice of clinical mental health counseling” means the rendering of professional 19
services to individuals, families, or groups for monetary compensation. These professional services 20
include: 21
(i) Applying the principles, methods, and theories of counseling and/or psychotherapeutic 22
techniques to define goals and develop a treatment plan of action aimed toward the prevention, 23
treatment, and resolution of social, mental, and emotional dysfunction and intra or interpersonal 24
disorders in persons diagnosed at intake as non-psychotic and not presenting medical problems; 25
and. 26
(ii) Engaging in psychotherapy of a nonmedical nature, utilizing supervision when 27
appropriate, and making referrals to other psychiatric, psychological, or medical resources when 28
the person is diagnosed as psychotic or presenting a medical problem. 29
(iii) Promoting mental health and wellness, which includes the achievement of social, 30
education and career, and emotional development across the lifespan, as well as preventing and 31
treating mental disorders and providing crisis intervention. 32
(iv) Psychotherapy, diagnosis, evaluation, administration of assessments, tests, and 33
appraisals, referral, and treatment of behavioral, emotional, addiction and mental disorders, and 34
LC001688 - Page 20 of 23
establishment of counseling treatment plans for individuals, couples, groups, and families with 1
emotional, mental, addiction, cognitive, academic and physical disorders. 2
(v) Consultation and program evaluation, program administration within and to schools 3
and organizations, and training and supervision of interns, trainees, and pre-licensed professional 4
counselors through accepted and established principles, methods, procedures, and ethics of 5
counselor supervision. 6
(vi) The practice of clinical mental health counseling does not include functions or 7
practices that are not within the professional's training or education. 8
(8)(13) “Practice of marriage and family therapy” means the rendering of professional 9
services to individuals, family groups, couples, or organizations for monetary compensation. These 10
professional services include applying principles, methods, and therapeutic techniques for the 11
purpose of resolving emotional conflicts; modifying perceptions and behavior; enhancing 12
communications and understanding among all family members; and the prevention of family and 13
individual crisis. Individual marriage and family therapists shall also engage in psychotherapy of a 14
nonmedical and non-psychotic nature with appropriate referrals to psychiatric resources. 15
(14) "Practice of school psychology" or "licensed school psychologist (LSP)" means the 16
performance of any of the following professional functions pertaining to academic learning 17
processes or the education system or both: educational evaluation; diagnosis of psychological 18
disorders related to academic learning processes; administration of diagnostic tests related to 19
academic learning processes including tests of academic ability, learning patterns, achievement, 20
motivation, and personality factors; interpretation of diagnostic tests related to academic learning 21
processes including tests of academic ability, learning patterns, achievement, motivation, and 22
personality factors; providing psychological counseling for individuals, groups, and families; 23
consultation with other educators and parents on issues of social development and behavioral and 24
academic difficulties; conducting psychoeducational assessments for the purposes of identifying 25
special needs; developing treatment programs and strategies to address problems of adjustment, 26
and coordinating intervention strategies for management of individual crises. 27
(9)(15) “Practicum” means a part of an organized graduate program in counseling therapy 28
and constitutes a supervised experience within the graduate counseling program. 29
(10)(16) “Qualified supervision” means the supervision of clinical services in accordance 30
with standards established by the board under the supervision of an individual who has been 31
recognized by the board as an approved supervisor. 32
(11)(17) “Recognized educational institution” means any educational institution that grants 33
a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree and is recognized by the board of mental health 34
LC001688 - Page 21 of 23
counselors and marriage and family therapists or a recognized postgraduate clinical training 1
program as specified in §§ 5-63.2-9 and 5-63.2-10. 2
(12)(18) “Use a title or description of” means to hold oneself out to the public as having a 3
particular status by means of stating on signs, mailboxes, address plates, stationery, 4
announcements, calling cards, or other instruments of professional identification. 5
5-63.2-9. Qualifications of licensed clinical mental health counselor associates and 6
licensed clinical mental health counselors. Qualifications of licensed clinical mental health 7
counselor associates, licensed clinical mental health counselors and school psychologists. 8
(a) The department shall issue the appropriate license to applicants who meet the 9
qualifications in this section. 10
(1) Prerequisites for licensure of a clinical mental health counselor associate. A license as 11
a “clinical mental health counselor associate” shall be issued to an applicant who meets the 12
following qualifications: 13
(i) Is of good character; 14
(ii) Has received a graduate degree specializing in counseling/therapy from a college or 15
university accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, or an equivalent 16
regional accrediting agency, and that has the approval by a cognizable national or regional 17
certifying authority; 18
(iii) Has completed sixty (60) semester hours or ninety (90) quarter hours within his or her 19
graduate counseling/therapy program; and 20
(iv) Has completed a minimum of twelve (12) semester hours or eighteen (18) quarter hours 21
of supervised practicum and a minimum of one calendar year of supervised internship consisting 22
of twenty (20) hours per week, or its equivalent, with emphasis in mental health counseling 23
supervised by the department within the college or university granting the requisite degree or by an 24
accredited postgraduate clinical training program recognized by the United States Department of 25
Education, or education and/or experience that is deemed equivalent by the board. 26
(2) Prerequisites for licensure of a clinical mental health counselor. A license as a “clinical 27
mental health counselor” shall be issued to an applicant who meets the following qualifications: 28
(i) Has completed a minimum of two (2) years of relevant postgraduate experience, 29
including at least two thousand (2,000) hours of direct client contact offering clinical or counseling 30
or therapy services with emphasis in mental health counseling subsequent to being awarded a 31
master’s degree, certificate of advanced graduate study, or doctorate; 32
(ii) Has a minimum of one hundred (100) hours of post-degree supervised case work spread 33
over a two-year (2) period; provided, that the supervision was provided by a person who, at the 34
LC001688 - Page 22 of 23
time of rendering the supervision, was recognized by the board as an approved supervisor; and 1
(iii) Has passed, to the satisfaction of the board, an examination conducted by it to 2
determine the applicant’s qualification for licensure as a clinical mental health counselor or is 3
applying for licensure under the provisions of § 5-63.2-15. 4
(3) A license as a "licensed school psychologist" shall be issued to an applicant who meets 5
the following qualifications: 6
(i) Filed an application for licensure with all required supporting materials; 7
(ii) Has received an advanced level degree in school psychology from a program accredited 8
by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), or equivalent, and successfully 9
completed one thousand two hundred (1,200) hours of appropriately supervised practice; and 10
(iii) Shall only practice within the scope of competency, and adherence to the Code of 11
Ethics, set forth by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). 12
(b) Provisional permit holders may request from the board a one year extension. Such an 13
extension may be granted at the discretion of the board upon review of the applicant's 14
circumstances. This extension shall only be granted once. 15
(b)(c) A candidate shall be held to have qualified for licensure as a clinical mental health 16
counselor associate, or a clinical mental health counselor upon the affirmative vote of at least four 17
(4) members of the board, two (2) of whom must be mental health counselors on the board. 18
SECTION 8. This act shall take effect upon passage. 19
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PSYCHOLOGISTS
***
This act would include licensed school psychologists under the provisions of the general 1
laws governing the regulations of psychologists and would expand the licensing of school 2
psychologists for independent practice. 3
This act would take effect upon passage. 4
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