(a) Except as provided in this section, persons employed or under contract to provide mental health services pursuant to this part, or pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section 14680) of Chapter 8.8 of, or Chapter 8.9 (commencing with Section 14700) of, Part 3 of Division 9, shall be subject to all applicable requirements of law regarding professional licensure, and no person shall be employed in local mental health programs pursuant to this part to provide services for which a license is required, unless the person possesses a valid license.

(b) Persons employed as psychologists and clinical social workers, while continuing in their employment in the same class as of January 1, 1979, in the same program or facility, including those persons on authorized leave, but not including intermittent personnel, shall be exempt from the requirements of subdivision (a).

(c) While registered with the licensing board of jurisdiction for the purpose of acquiring the experience required for licensure, persons employed or under contract to provide mental health services pursuant to this part, or pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section 14680) of Chapter 8.8 of, or Chapter 8.9 (Commencing with Section 14700) of, Part 3 of Division 9, as clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, or professional clinical counselors shall be exempt from subdivision (a). Registration shall be subject to regulations adopted by the appropriate licensing board.

(d) The requirements of subdivision (a) shall be waived by the State Department of Health Care Services for persons employed or under contract to provide mental health services as psychologists pursuant to this part, or pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section 14680) of Chapter 8.8 of, or Chapter 8.9 (commencing with Section 14700) of, Part 3 of Division 9, who are gaining the experience required for licensure. A waiver granted under this subdivision shall not exceed five years from the date of employment by, or contract with, a local mental health program for persons in the profession of psychology.

(e) The requirements of subdivision (a) shall be waived by the State Department of Health Care Services for persons employed or under contract to provide mental health services as psychologists, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, or professional clinical counselors pursuant to this part, or pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section 14680) of Chapter 8.8 of, or Chapter 8.9 (commencing with Section 14700) of, Part 3 of Division 9, who have been recruited for employment from outside this state and whose experience is sufficient to gain admission to a licensing examination. A waiver granted under this subdivision shall not exceed five years from the date of employment by, or contract with, a local mental health program for persons in these four professions who are recruited from outside this state.

(f) (1) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department, without taking any further regulatory action, shall implement, interpret, or make specific this section by means of information notices, plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions until the time that regulations are adopted.

(2) The department shall adopt regulations on or before December 31, 2020, in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 151, Sec. 3. (AB 1456) Effective July 31, 2017.)