сотът. of Columbia. Subcommittee on Public Health, Eduentio CARD DIVISION REGULATE PRACTICE OF PSYCHOLOGY PUBLIC HEALTH, EDUCATION, WELFARE, AND SAFETY SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA UNITED STATES SENATE NINETY-FIRST CONGRESS FIRST SESSION ON S. 1626 TO REGULATE THE PRACTICE OF PSYCHOLOGY IN THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH, EDUCATION, WELFARE, AND SAFETY WILLIAM B. SPONG, JR., Virginia, Chairman THOMAS F. EAGLETON, Missouri WINSTON L. PROUTY, Vermont (II) Bacon, Dr. Frank S., president, Medical Society of the District of Columbia. Cummings, Dr. Jonathon W., president-elect, District of Columbia Hildreth, Mrs. June, legislative officer, American Psychological Association. Legault, Dr. Oscar, Washington Psychiatric Society and Washington Levy, Dr. Bernard I., president, District of Columbia Psychological Little, Dr. Kenneth B., executive officer, American Psychological Meltzer, Dr. Malcolm L., associate professor and director of the graduate training program in clinical psychology, George Washington University-- Mendelson, Dr. Martin, District of Columbia Department of Public Health Moyer, Thomas F., assistant corporation counsel, District of Columbia Nardini, Dr. John E., president, Washington Psychiatric Society- REPORTS Opinion of attorney general, State of California_ 50 REGULATE PRACTICE OF PSYCHOLOGY THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 1969 U.S. SENATE, PUBLIC HEALTH, EDUCATION, WELFARE, AND SAFETY SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:05 a.m., in room 6226, New Senate Office Building, Senator William B. Spong, Jr. (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Present: Senator Spong. Also present: John T. McEvoy, staff director; Jack W. Lewis, counsel; James S. Medill, minority counsel; and Edith B. Moore, assistant chief clerk. Senator SPONG. The subcommittee is meeting today to consider S. 1626, to regulate the practice of psychology in the District of Columbia. The bill would require persons who practice psychology or represent themselves as psychologists to be licensed and to have a doctoral degree plus 2 years of postgraduate experience. Unlicensed practice, except as provided in the bill, would be a misdemeanor subject to a $500 fine and/or 6 months in jail. While I will reserve judgment on the merits of this particular bill until the testmony is in, I think it is clear that some regulation of this profession is necessary to protect the public from unqualified practitioners and from outright quacks. Forty States, including Virginia and Maryland, have such laws, but in the District of Columbia, any person, regardless of training, may hang out his shingle and begin selling his services to the public. We are concerned here with the treatment of highly complex and delicate human problems which require great training and skill to deal with. The public needs the assurance that those offering this professional service are qualified to do so. Before we hear from our first witness, I will place in the record a copy of S. 1626 and the staff memorandum outlining its provisions. I submit also a letter from Mayor Walter Washington and a resolution of the Federation of Citizens Associations of the District of Columbia. (S. 1626, the staff memorandum, letter from Mayor Washington, a resolution of the Federation of Citizens Associations of the District of Columbia and attachments referred to follow :) (1) |