Senate File 443 - Introduced SENATE FILE 443 BY COSTELLO A BILL FOR An Act relating to the inclusion of occupational therapists as 1 mental health professionals for the purposes of disclosure 2 of mental health and psychological information. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 2699XS (2) 88 pf/rh
S.F. 443 Section 1. Section 228.1, subsection 7, Code 2019, is 1 amended to read as follows: 2 7. “Mental health professional” means an individual who has 3 either any of the following qualifications: 4 a. The individual meets all of the following requirements: 5 (1) The individual holds at least a master’s degree in a 6 mental health field, including but not limited to psychology, 7 counseling and guidance, nursing, and social work, or is an 8 advanced registered nurse practitioner, a physician assistant, 9 or a physician and surgeon or an osteopathic physician and 10 surgeon. 11 (2) The individual holds a current Iowa license if 12 practicing in a field covered by an Iowa licensure law. 13 (3) The individual has at least two years of post-degree 14 clinical experience, supervised by another mental health 15 professional, in assessing mental health needs and problems and 16 in providing appropriate mental health services. 17 b. The individual holds a current Iowa license if 18 practicing in a field covered by an Iowa licensure law and is 19 a psychiatrist, an advanced registered nurse practitioner who 20 holds a national certification in psychiatric mental health 21 care and is licensed by the board of nursing, a physician 22 assistant practicing under the supervision of a psychiatrist, 23 or an individual who holds a doctorate degree in psychology and 24 is licensed by the board of psychology. 25 c. The individual is certified by the national board for 26 certification in occupational therapy, is licensed by the board 27 of occupational therapy, and has completed a practicum in a 28 psychiatric setting or has had one year of experience in a 29 psychiatric setting. 30 EXPLANATION 31 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 32 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 33 This bill defines “mental health professional” under Code 34 chapter 228 (disclosure of mental health and psychological 35 -1- LSB 2699XS (2) 88 pf/rh 1/ 2
S.F. 443 information) to include an individual who is nationally 1 certified, licensed by the board of occupational therapy, and 2 has completed a practicum in a psychiatric setting or has had 3 one year of experience in a psychiatric setting. 4 -2- LSB 2699XS (2) 88 pf/rh 2/ 2