Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council

The meeting commenced with a roll call confirming a quorum, followed by the presiding member appointing Dr. Jod Elder as the presiding member for the session. A significant discussion centered on feedback regarding the transition from detailed minutes to a new, concise brief format utilizing timestamps, which received positive reception from board members. Announcements included updates on the next full board meeting date being shifted from April 10th to May 29th due to a conflict with the TAMFT conference. Board members also shared plans for upcoming presentations on ethics and rules updates at various association meetings. A moment of silence was held to honor the passing of Dr. Weayman Henson, a former presiding officer. Public comment addressed written submissions concerning the counting of supervised hours acquired during a master's program, prompting a clarification that this practice will eventually cease as it is inconsistent with current statute, specifically for those beginning their programs after September 1st, 2025. The board delegates to the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council reported on several items, including the approval of a guide for new and emerging practices and technology, the upcoming TRIO rule review, the decision not to post guidelines for practice monitoring publicly, and the insights gained from a listening session on ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, noting medical safety concerns. The Board Administrator highlighted the closing date for the 2025 customer service and strategic planning survey and provided directions on where to find the BHECK guidelines for new and emerging practice or technology on the agency website.

The agenda for this meeting, conducted via videoconference call, includes several informational items such as Q1 FY2023 performance measures, year-to-date financial reports, updates on licensing and enforcement efficiencies, psychology interjurisdictional compact (PSYPACT) status, legislative bill tracking updates, and discussions regarding EPPP examination requirements and an EEOC discrimination charge against ASWB. Action items involve reviewing licensing and disciplinary recommendations from member boards, considering a switch from quarterly to triannual meetings, requesting research from AHRQ on licensing criteria, and approving survey questions for the Executive Director's job performance review and a revised personnel manual. The meeting also includes significant rulemaking consideration for the Executive Council, the Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists, the Board of Examiners of Psychologists, the Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors, and the Board of Social Worker Examiners.

The meeting commenced with administrative announcements regarding staff changes, including the welcoming of a new board administrator, congratulations for internal promotions, reappointments to the board, and the welcoming of a new public member. A significant portion of the discussion involved committee reassignments, where the JP exam writing task force was merged into the Jurisprudence Committee, the Applications Committee was updated, and the Compliance Committee was eliminated in favor of rotational Individual Substance Case (ISC) hearings involving the entire board to spread the load and ensure broader engagement from professional and public members. The board chair provided an update on the joint exam development process with BHK, noting roadshows conducted with several other states (Oregon, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Virginia) to present the exam template. Additionally, delegates reported on significant rule adoptions concerning the expiration of incomplete applications (180 days), clarification on the start date for supervised experience calculation (license issuance date), flexibility for transferring delinquent licenses to inactive status, and new requirements for client consent before contacting another provider for coordinated care. Discussions also centered on technology's effect on practice, including the plan to develop rules for participation in the state's forthcoming AI regulatory sandbox, pending framework establishment by the Texas Department of Information. Furthermore, the council adopted a guideline document on emerging practices, especially concerning ketamine-assisted therapy, emphasizing that existing ethical standards should guide licensees. A major topic was the mandatory CE tracking via CE Broker, effective January 1, 2026, which is required for license renewal. The board also addressed public and professional misperceptions regarding a proposed rule change intended to streamline ISC handling by allowing staff to manage clerical-only complaints without escalating to a full ISC involving board members, while affirming that professional board member involvement remains critical for issues involving the standard of care or scope of practice.

The meeting agenda for the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists includes several informational reports on general matters from the Board Chair, Delegates to the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council, and the Board Administrator. Matters for potential Board action include the nomination and election of a public board member to the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council and the election of a new Vice Chair. The Board will also discuss and potentially take action on reviewing and approving a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Abilene Christian University and Education Service Center, Region 20 for a School Psychology Re-Training Program. Licensing matters involve reviewing appeals for license applications, and examination matters cover updates on the jurisprudence exam development and potential changes. Enforcement items include review and possible action on contested cases from SOAH and agreed orders. Finally, the Board will discuss and potentially act on the adoption of several rules pertaining to various sections of Title 22 of the Texas Administrative Code, and recommendations for the next meeting's agenda.

The meeting agenda included several key discussion points. Informational items covered reports from the Board Chair, Delegates to the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council, the Board Administrator, and various committee chairs (Ethics, Licensing Standards, Outreach, Professional Development, and Rules). Matters for potential board action included the re-election or replacement of the professional member delegate to the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council whose term expires in February 2026. Other action items involved licensing matters, examination matters (including jurisprudence exam changes), enforcement matters (including a case from SOAH and agreed orders), and rulemaking, which involved recommendations for adoption and proposal of new rules or amendments in Title 22 of the Texas Administrative Code. The board also planned to discuss supervisee survey results and recommendations for the next meeting's agenda.