Current through 2024 Legislative Session Act Chapter 531
Section 3514 - Grounds for refusal, revocation or suspension of licenses and registrations(a) A practitioner licensed or registered under this chapter shall be subject to disciplinary actions set forth in § 3516 of this title, if, after a hearing, the Board finds that the psychologist or psychological assistant: (1) Has employed or knowingly cooperated in fraud or material deception in order to acquire a license as a psychologist or registration as a psychological assistant; has impersonated another person holding a license or registration, or allowed another person to use the psychologist or psychological assistant license or registration, or aided or abetted a person not licensed as a psychologist or registered as a psychological assistant to represent that person as a psychologist or psychological assistant;(2)a. Has been convicted of a crime that is substantially related to the practice of psychology; a copy of the record of conviction certified by the clerk of the court entering the conviction shall be conclusive evidence therefor; however, if after consideration of the factors set forth in § 8735(x)(3) of Title 29 through a hearing or review of documentation the Board determines that granting a waiver to an initial applicant would not create an unreasonable risk to public safety, the Board, by an affirmative vote of a majority of the quorum, shall waive this paragraph (a)(2). A waiver may not be granted for a conviction of a felony sexual offense. b. An applicant must submit, at the applicant's expense, fingerprints and other necessary information in order to obtain the following:1. A report of the applicant's entire criminal history record from the State Bureau of Identification or a statement from the State Bureau of Identification that the State Central Repository contains no such information relating to that person.2. A report of the applicant's entire federal criminal history record pursuant to the Federal Bureau of Investigation appropriation of Title II of Public Law 92-544 ( 28 U.S.C. § 534 ). The State Bureau of Identification shall be the intermediary for purposes of this section and the Board shall be the screening point for the receipt of said federal criminal history records. An applicant may not be licensed until the applicant's criminal history reports have been produced. An applicant whose record shows a prior criminal conviction that is substantially related to the practice of psychology may not be licensed by the Board unless a waiver is granted pursuant to this chapter. The State Bureau of Identification may release any subsequent criminal history to the Board.
(3) Has excessively used or abused drugs (including alcohol, narcotics or chemicals);(4) Has engaged in an act of consumer fraud or deception; engaged in the restraint of competition; or participated in price-fixing activities;(5) Has not conducted the practitioner's professional activities in conformity with the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct of the American Psychological Association (APA) (hereinafter referred to as the "Ethics Code"); and in conformity with the rules and regulations adopted by the Board to implement the Ethics Code;(6) Has violated a lawful provision of this chapter, or any lawful regulation established thereunder; (7) Has had a license, certification or registration as a psychologist suspended or revoked, or other disciplinary action taken by the appropriate licensing authority in another jurisdiction; provided, however, that the underlying grounds for such action in another jurisdiction have been presented to the Board by certified record; and the Board has determined that the facts found by the appropriate authority in the other jurisdiction constitute 1 or more of the acts defined in this chapter. Every person licensed as a psychologist or person registered as a psychological assistant in this State shall be deemed to have given consent to the release of this information by the Board of Examiners of Psychologists or other comparable agencies in another jurisdiction and to waive all objections to the admissibility of previously adjudicated evidence of such acts or offenses;(8) Has failed to notify the Board that the practitioner's license, certification or registration as a psychologist or a psychological assistant in another state has been subject to discipline, or has been surrendered, suspended or revoked. A certified copy of the record of disciplinary action, surrender, suspension or revocation shall be conclusive evidence thereof;(9) While acting as a supervising psychologist, has failed to supervise and take reasonable steps to see that psychological assistants perform services responsibly, competently and ethically, in accordance with rules and regulations established by the Board. Supervising psychologists shall be subject to disciplinary action for any acts or offenses which are grounds for such action when such acts or offenses are undertaken by the psychological assistant acting under the supervising psychologist's direction or control; (10) Notwithstanding the time limitation set forth in § 8735(x)(4) of Title 29, has been convicted of a felony sexual offense;(11) Failed to report child abuse or neglect as required by § 903 of Title 16, or any successor thereto; (12) Failed to report to the Division of Professional Regulation as required by § 3518A of this title;(13) Has engaged in conversion therapy with a child; or(14) Has referred a child to a provider in another jurisdiction to receive conversion therapy.(b) Where a practitioner fails to comply with the Board's request that the practitioner attend a hearing, the Board may petition the Superior Court to order such attendance, and the said Court or any judge assigned thereto shall have the jurisdiction to issue such order.(c) Subject to the provisions of this chapter and subchapter IV of Chapter 101 of Title 29, no license or registration shall be restricted, suspended or revoked by the Board, and no practitioner's right to practice psychology or to act as a psychological assistant shall be limited by the Board until such practitioner has been given notice, and an opportunity to be heard, in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act.Amended by Laws 2021, ch. 433,s 23, eff. 1/1/2023.Amended by Laws 2017, ch. 340,s 10, eff. 7/23/2018.Amended by Laws 2015, ch. 286,s 2, eff. 6/28/2016.Amended by Laws 2013, ch. 364,s 1, eff. 7/28/2014.24 Del. C. 1953, § 3513; 58 Del. Laws, c. 380; 62 Del. Laws, c. 314, §13; 70 Del. Laws, c. 57, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 262, § 74; 75 Del. Laws, c. 436, § 39; 77 Del. Laws, c. 199, § 29; 78 Del. Laws, c. 44, §§ 56, 57; 78 Del. Laws, c. 148, §§ 1, 3.;