David B. Fye

The Advisory Committee meeting included an agenda approval and covered several key business items. Old Business involved continued discussions on the draft report from the licensee survey, specifically focusing on survey responses regarding practice-related negative issues (such as co-occurring disorders and scope of practice for diagnosing/medication-assisted treatment) and negative issues observed concerning telehealth. The committee also reviewed resource documents related to state regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) and tabled recommendations on AI regulation until the next meeting. New Business concentrated on reviewing existing regulations for proposed edits, with consensus reached to recommend changes for several K.A.R. sections concerning application for licensure, licensure without examination ("Grandparenting"), licensure by reciprocity, renewal, and designation of referral source (updating DSM-5 reference to DSM-5-TR). The committee also discussed a potential pathway for making up practicum hours using a temporary license, which will be brought back with proposed regulatory language.

The primary discussion focused on legislation, specifically 2026 House Bill (HB) 2506, which proposes establishing a new license type: an apprentice addiction counselor license. This license would permit practice in specific facilities under defined supervision requirements for a maximum duration of 60 months without renewal. Key concerns raised by the Board included the lack of a minimum age requirement, ambiguity regarding ethical standards compared to existing unprofessional conduct language, absence of education requirements, and the non-renewable 60-month term. Following discussions with advocates regarding potential amendments (reducing the term to 24 months, adding a minimum age of 20, and aligning conduct language), the Board reached a consensus to direct the Executive Director to provide testimony in opposition to the bill as currently written, while expressing a willingness to collaborate on future revisions.

The meeting included an Executive Director's Report covering agency operations, legislative updates, and recent Board meetings. Old business focused heavily on the continued review and discussion of a Draft Survey of Licensees, addressing topics such as additional ways the BSRB could protect consumers, feedback on insurance coverage for adults with developmental disabilities, and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in practice, including privacy concerns and usage examples like emails and scheduling. A presentation was made regarding practice parameters for AI use in Applied Behavior Analysis. The committee also planned to discuss recent AI-related laws from Illinois, Nevada, and Utah at the next meeting. Due to time constraints, the review of regulation K.A.R. 102-8-6 and the discussion on alternative pathways to licensure were tabled. New business involved a tabled discussion on Title Protection for Licensed Behavior Analysts and planning potential discussion topics for 2026, such as AI, supervision, and CEU opportunities.

The Advisory Committee welcomed a new member and discussed the agency's activities, board actions, and legislative updates via the Executive Director's report. Key discussions focused on the PSYPACT Multi-State Compact, including updates on state participation, authorization holders, and proposed rules concerning in-person requirements for graduate programs and a $6,000 yearly cap on state assessments, for which the committee recommended supporting the proposed rule change. Updates were also provided regarding the redesign of the EPPP licensing examination, expected for rollout by late 2027. Old business included reviewing draft survey reports for licensees, covering topics like consumer protection and advocacy efforts. The committee then reviewed and proposed numerous specific changes to several Kansas Administrative Regulations (K.A.R.), including K.A.R. 102-1-3a (Application for license by examination), K.A.R. 102-1-8 (Renewal and reinstatement), K.A.R. 102-1-8a (Renewal Audit), K.A.R. 102-1-11 (Supervision and unlicensed assistants), K.A.R. 102-1-14 (Psychological group services), K.A.R. 102-1-17 (License consult with physician), and K.A.R. 102-1-18 (Designation of referral source). Discussions on the regulation of Artificial Intelligence and post-doc year requirements were tabled until the next meeting due to time constraints.

The Marriage and Family Therapy Advisory Committee meeting covered several significant items. The Executive Director provided updates on agency operations, legislative developments, and recent Board actions, including a review of major changes over the past five years. Discussions focused on licensee survey reports, specifically exploring additional ways the BSRB could protect consumers, which included feedback on disciplinary processes and reporting. Other topics included licensee interest in multi-state compacts for practice across state lines, telehealth, and the BSRB's advocacy role. Regarding regulation review, the committee recommended three proposed edits to K.A.R. 102-5-9 (Renewal and Reinstatement) be forwarded to the BSRB Board. The committee also reviewed resources concerning the regulation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) use by mental health practitioners. New business included a discussion on safety training for practitioners, considering whether this could be a continuing education requirement or a spotlighted resource. Future discussion topics were set, including safety training, AI, multi-state compacts, and moving survey items to action.