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TITLE 22EXAMINING BOARDS
PART 21TEXAS STATE BOARD OF EXAMINERS OF PSYCHOLOGISTS
CHAPTER 465RULES OF PRACTICE
RULE §465.1Definitions
Historical Texas Register

The following terms have the following meanings:

  (1) "Adoption evaluation" has the same meaning as assigned by §107.151 of the Family Code.

  (2) "Child custody evaluation" has the same meaning as assigned by §107.101 of the Family Code.

  (3) "Client" means a party other than a patient seeking or obtaining psychological services, as defined in §501.003 of the Occupations Code, for a third-party with the goal of assisting or caring for that third-party or answering a referral question through the use of forensic psychological services.

  (4) "Dual Relationship" means a situation where a licensee and another individual have both a professional relationship and a non-professional relationship. Dual relationships include, but are not limited to, personal friendships, business or financial interactions, mutual club or social group activities, family or marital ties, or sexual relationships.

  (5) "Forensic evaluation" is an evaluation conducted, not for the purpose of providing mental health treatment, but rather at the request of a court, a federal, state, or local governmental entity, an attorney, or an administrative body including federal and private disability benefits providers to assist in addressing a forensic referral question.

  (6) "Forensic psychological services" are services involving courts, legal claims, or the legal system. The provision of forensic psychological services includes any and all preliminary and exploratory services, testing, assessments, evaluations, interviews, examinations, depositions, oral or written reports, live or recorded testimony, or any psychological service provided by a licensee concerning a current or potential legal case at the request of a party or potential party, an attorney for a party, or a court, or any other individual or entity, regardless of whether the licensee ultimately provides a report or testimony that is utilized in a legal proceeding. However, forensic psychological services do not include evaluations, proceedings, or hearings under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA).

  (7) "Informed Consent" means the written documented consent of the patient, client and other recipients of psychological services only after the patient, client or other recipient has been made aware of the purpose and nature of the services to be provided, including but not limited to: the specific goals of the services; the procedures to be utilized to deliver the services; possible side effects of the services, if applicable; alternate choices to the services, if applicable; the possible duration of the services; the confidentiality of and relevant limits thereto; all financial policies, including the cost and methods of payment; and any provisions for cancellation of and payments for missed appointments; and right of access of the patient, client or other recipient to the records of the services.

  (8) "Licensee" means a licensed psychologist, provisionally licensed psychologist, licensed psychological associate, licensed specialist in school psychology, applicants, and any other individual subject to the regulatory authority of the Council.

  (9) "Patient" means a person who receives psychological services, as defined in §501.003 of the Occupations Code, regardless of whether the patient or a third-party pays for the services. The term "patient" shall include a client if the client is a person listed in §611.004(a)(4) or (5) of the Health and Safety Code who is acting on a patient's behalf. A person who is the subject of a forensic evaluation is not considered to be a patient under these rules.

  (10) "Private school" has the same meaning as assigned by §5.001 of the Texas Education Code, but does not include a parent or legal guardian who chooses to homeschool a child.

  (11) "Professional relationship" means a fiduciary relationship between a licensee and a patient or client involving communications and records deemed confidential under §611.002 of the Health and Safety Code. A professional relationship also exists where licensees are appointed by a court or other governmental body to answer a referral question through the use of forensic psychological services.

  (12) "Provision of psychological services" means any use by a licensee of education or training in psychology in the context of a professional relationship. Psychological services include, but are not limited to, therapy, diagnosis, testing, assessments, evaluation, treatment, counseling, supervision, consultation, providing forensic opinions, rendering a professional opinion, or performing research, or teaching to an individual, group, or organization.

  (13) "Public school" means any state agency, regional education service center, diploma program, school district, or charter school established or authorized under Title 2 of the Texas Education Code and supported in whole or in part by state tax funds.

  (14) "Recognized member of the clergy," as used in §501.004(a)(4) of the Occupations Code, means a member in good standing of and accountable to a denomination, church, sect or religious organization recognized under the Internal Revenue Code, §501(c)(3).

  (15) "Records" are any information, regardless of the format in which it is maintained, that can be used to document the delivery, progress or results of any psychological services including, but not limited to, data identifying a recipient of services, dates of services, types of services, informed consents, fees and fee schedules, assessments, treatment plans, consultations, session notes, reports, release forms obtained from a client or patient or any other individual or entity, and records concerning a patient or client obtained by the licensee from other sources.

  (16) "Report" includes any written or oral assessment, recommendation, psychological diagnostic or evaluative statement containing the professional judgment or opinion of a licensee.

  (17) "Supervision" refers to direct, systematic professional oversight of individuals who provide psychological services under the authority of a supervising licensee, whereby the supervisor has the responsibility and ability to monitor and control the psychological services provided to ensure the patient's or client's best interests are met and that the public is protected. In the context of psychological training and education, "supervision" also refers to the formal provision of systematic education and training for purposes of licensure or competency that serves to assist individuals with gaining experience and developing the skills necessary for licensure or competent practice in a particular practice area. However, the term "supervision" does not apply to the supervision of purely administrative or employment matters.

  (18) "Test data" refers to a patient's specific answers to test materials, whether spoken or written, generated in drawings, or recorded by computers or other lab devices.

  (19) "Test materials" refers to test booklets, forms, manuals, instruments, protocols, software, as well as test questions, and stimuli protected by federal copyright law and used in psychological testing to generate test results and test reports.


Source Note: The provisions of this §465.1 adopted to be effective October 7, 2020, 45 TexReg 7013; amended to be effective June 1, 2021, 46 TexReg 3398

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