TPA’S VIEWS ON THE
CURRENT STATE OF PSYCHOLOGY
AND
SUNSET LEGISLATION
2017 SUNSET COMMISSION
WHAT IS THE TEXAS SUNSET ADVISORY COMMISSION?
• The Texas Sunset Advisory Commission is a 12-member legislative commission tasked
with identifying and eliminating waste, duplication, and inefficiency for more than 130
Texas state agencies.
• The Commission questions the need for each agency, looks for potential duplication of
other public services or programs, and considers new and innovative changes to
improve each agency's operations and activities.
• The Commission seeks public input on every agency under Sunset review and
recommends actions on each agency to the full Legislature. In most cases, agencies
under Sunset review are automatically abolished unless legislation is enacted to
continue them.
SUNSET COMMISSION MEMBERS
• The Commission has five Senators, five Representatives, and two members
of the public, appointed by the Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of
the House. The position of chair rotates between the House and the
Senate every two years, and is assigned to a House member for the 2016–
2017 review cycle.
SENATE MEMBERS
HOUSE MEMBERS
• Van Taylor, Vice Chair -- Plano
• Larry Gonzalez, Chair – Round Rock (Austin)
• Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa – McAllen
• Cindy Burkett – Sunnyvale (Dallas)
• Robert Nichols – Jacksonville (Tyler)
• Dan Flynn – Van (Tyler)
• Charles Schwertner– Georgetown (Austin)
• Richard Peña Raymond – Laredo
• Kirk Watson – Austin
• Senfronia Thompson – Houston
• LTC (Ret.) Allen B. West – Public Member
• William Meadows – Public Member
How Sunset Works
Sunset’s Impact Since 1977
Streamlining State
Government
Saving Taxpayer Money
Providing Effective Oversight
• 37 agencies/programs
abolished outright
• $980 million in savings and
increased revenues
• Conducted nearly 500
reviews of state
agencies/programs
• 46 agencies/programs
consolidated
• Returned about $23 for
every $1 spent on Sunset
• About 80 percent of the
Sunset Commission’s
recommendations typically
become law
WHAT IS THE TEXAS SUNSET ADVISORY COMMISSION?
• The Texas Sunset Advisory Commission is a 12-member legislative commission tasked
with identifying and eliminating waste, duplication, and inefficiency for more than 130
Texas state agencies.
• The Commission questions the need for each agency, looks for potential
duplication of other public services or programs, and considers new and
innovative changes to improve each agency's operations and activities.
• The Commission seeks public input on every agency under Sunset review and
recommends actions on each agency to the full Legislature. In most cases, agencies
under Sunset review are automatically abolished unless legislation is enacted to
continue them.
AT THE CLOSE OF FY2015, THE BOARD WAS REGULATING 9,512 LICENSES.
 4,826 Licensed Psychologists
 231 Provisionally Licensed Psychologists
 1,105 Licensed Psychological Associates
 3,350 Licensed Specialist in School Psychology
Total Licenses
35%
51%
12%
2%
Psychologists
Provisionally Licensed Psychologists
Licensed Psychological Associates
Licensed Specialists in School Psychology
Describe Mental Health Professionals
MFT
LPC
LPA
OT
SOTP
Music
Therapy
BCBA
Mental
Health
LSSP
SW
LCDC
Psychologist
Dyslexia
Certification
CONSOLIDATION OF MENTAL
HEALTH PROFESSIONAL BOARDS
TPA’S 2017
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
TPA’S RESPONSE TO THE
SUNSET LEGISLATION
IMPACT ON PSYCHOLOGY
• Serafine vs. TSBEP
• NC Dental Board vs. FTC
www.texaspsyc.org
ACTION REQUIRED BY
LOCAL AREA SOCIETIES
A psychologist is a GENERALIST. Health care is
moving towards specialist…….
Police
Evaluators
Hypnosis
Forensic
Neuro
School
Psychology
Child
Custody
I/O
Administration