House Study Bill 8 - Introduced HOUSE FILE _____ BY (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BILL BY CHAIRPERSON MEYER) A BILL FOR An Act prohibiting specified provisions in agreements between 1 employers and certain mental health professionals and 2 including effective date provisions. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 1105YC (3) 90 je/rn
H.F. _____ Section 1. NEW SECTION . 147.164 Mental health professionals 1 —— limitations on competition prohibited. 2 1. As used in this section: 3 a. “Employer” means a person, as defined in chapter 4, who 4 in this state employs for wages an employee. 5 b. “Mental health professional” means the same as defined in 6 section 228.1, but does not include a psychiatrist. 7 2. An employer shall not enter into an agreement with a 8 licensed mental health professional that limits the location 9 at which the licensee may practice, prohibits the licensee 10 from contacting for professional services a person previously 11 treated by the licensee, or imposes a time restriction on the 12 practice of the licensee. 13 3. A provision of an agreement entered into between an 14 employer and a licensed mental health professional prior to, 15 on, or after the effective date of this Act that is contrary to 16 this section shall be void and unenforceable. 17 Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act, being deemed of immediate 18 importance, takes effect upon enactment. 19 EXPLANATION 20 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 21 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 22 This bill prohibits an employer from entering into an 23 agreement with a licensed mental health professional that 24 limits the location at which the licensee may practice, 25 prohibits the licensee from contacting for professional 26 services a person previously treated by the licensee, or 27 imposes a time restriction on the practice of the licensee. 28 The bill defines “mental health professional” to mean the 29 same as defined in Code section 228.1, but not including a 30 psychiatrist. 31 A provision of an agreement entered into between an employer 32 and a licensed mental health professional prior to, on, or 33 after the effective date of the bill that is contrary to the 34 bill shall be void and unenforceable. 35 -1- LSB 1105YC (3) 90 je/rn 1/ 2
H.F. _____ The bill takes effect upon enactment. 1 -2- LSB 1105YC (3) 90 je/rn 2/ 2