Governor signs bill ensuring professional mental health care
Out-of-state Behavioral Scientists to be licensed, one of four bills signed today

To ensure the accountability of visiting behavioral scientists practicing in Kansas, Governor Kathleen Sebelius today signed a bill allowing the Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board to issue temporary licenses.

“When a mental health expert comes to Kansas to provide testimony at a trial or help a community devastated by disaster, we want to make sure those professionals are held to the same standard as Kansas professionals,” Sebelius said. “This bill provides that accountability and protects the public’s health.”

The bill allows the Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board to issue temporary permits for out-of-state licensees.  The temporary permit will be valid for no more than 15 days per year and the board will be allowed to extend the practice time allotment for an additional 15 days upon written application and if good cause is shown.

The board will be allowed to charge a permit fee of up to $200 for applicants in each of the professional groups it regulates and a fee up to $200 for any extension of the permit. The bill also allows the board, in accordance with the Kansas Administrative Procedures Act, to issue cease and desist orders or assess a fine in an amount up to $1,000, or both, on professionals who engage in practice without complying with the requirements for obtaining a temporary permit.

The bill, HB 2182, will take effect after its publication in the statute book.

Today Sebelius also signed three other bills into law, bringing the total number of bills signed during the 2007 Legislative Session to 16.

Assistance for residents of Treece, Kansas

HB 2168 creates a state public trust to administer relocation assistance, and to acquire, hold, and dispose of property located within the boundaries of an EPA Superfund site located in Cherokee County, in and around the community of Treece.  This area has been seriously impacted by mine subsidence, requiring the relocation of area families and businesses.  The trust will have five trustees appointed by the Governor and subject to Senate confirmation with staggered terms of four years.  The bill allows the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to make grants to the trust to provide relocation assistance and purchase property.  Participation in the program will be voluntary.  The trust also will be allowed to provide grants to public school districts which are adversely impacted by the relocations.

Allowing the small-scale mixing of biodiesel

HB 2013 clarifies that no motor-vehicle fuels or special fuel manufacturer’s license is required if a consumer is blending motor-vehicle fuel or special fuel purchased for their own use, and not for resale.  The fuel must be purchased from a distributor or retailer who is the holder of a valid, unsuspended and unrevoked motor-vehicle fuels or special fuels distributor’s or retailer’s license.  This allows individuals to buy regular diesel and biodiesel and mix the two for their own use without being licensed and bonded as a manufacturer.

Reconciling statutory and regulatory requirements for social workers’ continuing ed

HB 2181 reduces the continuing education required for a social worker to obtain licensure renewal from 60 hours to 40 hours.  This change was requested by the Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board to reflect the fact that in 2003 the board had reduced, in rules and regulations, its continuing education requirement for licensure renewal for all of its licensees.   Since the adoption of the rules and regulations, the board discovered the continuing education requirement for social workers was established in statute. This bill reconciles state law with the 2003 regulations.

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