Source: https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=R&app=9&p_dir=&p_rloc=&p_tloc=&p_ploc=&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=22&pt=21&ch=465&rl=18
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 17:57:56+00:00

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(1) A licensee who provides services concerning a matter which the licensee knows or should know will be utilized in a legal proceeding, such as a divorce, child custody determination, fitness for duty evaluation for high risk personnel, disability claim, or risk assessment evaluations of employees, must comply with all applicable Board rules concerning forensic services regardless of whether the licensee is acting as a factual witness or an expert.
(2) Licensees who engage in forensic services must have demonstrated appropriate knowledge of and competence in all underlying areas of psychology about which they provide such services.
(3) All forensic opinions, reports, assessments, and recommendations rendered by a licensee must be based on information and techniques sufficient to provide appropriate substantiation for each finding.
(4) A licensee who provides forensic services must comply with all other applicable Board rules and state and federal law relating to the underlying areas of psychology relating to those services.
(5) When appointed or designated in writing by a court to provide psychological services, a licensee shall obtain and keep a copy of the court order.
(6) When providing forensic psychological services to a minor who is the subject of a court order or the ward of guardianship, a licensee shall obtain and keep a copy of the relevant portions of any court order, divorce decree, or letters of guardianship authorizing the individual to provide substitute consent on behalf of the minor or ward.
<?Pub Caret -2> (b) Limitation on Services.
(1) A licensee who is asked to provide an opinion concerning an area or matter about which the licensee does not have the appropriate knowledge and competency to render a professional opinion shall decline to render that opinion.
(2) A licensee who is asked to provide an opinion concerning a specific matter for which the licensee lacks sufficient information to render a professional opinion shall decline to render that opinion unless the required information is provided.
(3) A licensee shall not render a written or oral opinion about the psychological characteristics of an individual without conducting an examination of the individual unless the opinion contains a statement that the licensee did not conduct an examination of the individual.
(4) A written or oral opinion about the psychological characteristics of an individual rendered by a licensee who did not conduct an examination of that individual must contain clarification of the extent to which this limits the reliability and validity of the opinion and the conclusions and recommendations of the licensee.
(5) When seeking or receiving court appointment or designation as an expert for a forensic evaluation a licensee specifically avoids accepting appointment or engagement for both evaluation and therapeutic intervention for the same case. A licensee provides services in one but not both capacities in the same case.
(10) The licensee's name as it appears in their professional file with the Board prior to initiating services.
(1) A licensee may not offer an expert opinion or recommendation relating to the conservatorship of or possession of or access to a child unless the licensee has conducted a child custody evaluation.
(2) In a contested suit, a licensee may provide other relevant information and opinions, other than those prohibited by paragraph (1) of this subsection, relating to any party that the licensee has personally evaluated or treated.
(3) This subsection does not apply to a suit in which the Department of Family and Protective Services is a party.
(1) The role of the child custody evaluator is one of professional expert. A licensee serving as a child custody evaluator shall not function as an advocate, but must remain impartial and objective. Licensees conducting child custody evaluations, including those licensees appointed by a court, are subject to the Board's jurisdiction and must follow all applicable Board rules.
(2) The term "supervision" as used in this subsection shall have the meaning assigned by Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §107.101. However, the term shall not encompass the restrictions and requirements set forth in Board rule §465.2 of this title (relating to Supervision) nor shall a licensee providing supervision under this subsection have supervisory responsibility under Board rule §465.2 of this title.
(3) Minimum Qualifications of Child Custody Evaluator.
(A) A licensee must be qualified to conduct a child custody evaluation pursuant to Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §107.104 before the licensee may conduct an evaluation. Licensees qualified to conduct evaluations under Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §107.104(b)(2) must conduct evaluations under supervision in accordance with that section.
(ii) has obtained a minimum of 40 professional development hours directly related to the performance of child custody evaluations since becoming a licensed psychologist, and has conducted at least three child custody evaluations under the supervision of a qualified licensee.
(iii) the licensee was qualified to conduct a social study evaluation under former Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §107.0511(g). This subpart shall expire on August 31, 2017, at which time it shall have no further force and effect.
(D) If requested by a court, a licensee selected to conduct or who is conducting a child custody evaluation must demonstrate appropriate knowledge and competence in child custody evaluation services consistent with professional models, standards, and guidelines.
(E) In addition to the minimum qualifications set forth by this rule, an individual must complete at least eight hours of family violence dynamics training provided by a family violence service provider to be qualified to conduct child custody evaluations.
(4) Disclosure of Conflicts and Bias.
(A) Licensees shall comply with all disclosure requirements set forth in Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §107.107.
(ii) the parties and any attorney for a child who is the subject of the suit agree in writing to the licensee's continued appointment as the child custody evaluator.
(C) Except as authorized by Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §107.107(f), licensees may not accept appointment as a child custody evaluator if they have worked in a professional capacity with a party, a child who is the subject of the suit, or a member of the party's or child's family. The term "family" as used in this subpart has the meaning assigned by Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §71.003.
(5) Elements of Child Custody Evaluation.
(A) Licensees shall comply with Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §§107.108, 107.109, and 107.1101 when conducting child custody evaluations.
(B) Licensees may conduct psychometric testing as part of a child custody evaluation in accordance with Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §107.110.
(6) Communications and Recordkeeping of Child Custody Evaluator.
(iii) access to evaluation records.
(B) Licensees conducting child custody evaluations shall maintain the confidentiality of records obtained from the Department of Family and Protective Services pursuant to Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §107.111, as well as any records obtained pursuant to Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §107.1111. Licensees may not disclose any information obtained from the records except as required or allowed by law. Failure to maintain confidentiality as required by law will result in disciplinary action against a licensee.
(A) A licensee who conducts a child custody evaluation shall prepare and file a report in accordance with Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §107.113.
(B) A licensee shall provide a copy of any report filed with the Court in accordance with Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §107.114.
(1) The role of the adoption evaluator is one of professional expert. A licensee serving as an adoption evaluator shall not function as an advocate, but must remain impartial and objective. Licensees conducting adoption evaluations, including those licensees appointed by a court, are subject to the Board's jurisdiction and must follow all applicable Board rules.
(2) Minimum Qualifications of Adoption Evaluator.
(A) A licensee must be qualified to conduct an adoption evaluation pursuant to Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §107.154 before the licensee may conduct an evaluation.
(B) Licensees qualified to conduct a child custody evaluations are also qualified to conduct adoption evaluations.
(ii) the individual is licensed as a psychologist, and has completed at least ten social studies or other child custody evaluations ordered by a court in suits affecting the parent-child relationship prior to September 1, 2015.
(3) Disclosure of Conflicts and Bias.
(A) Licensees shall comply with all disclosure requirements set forth in Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §107.156.
(ii) the parties and any attorney for a child who is the subject of the suit agree in writing to the licensee's continued appointment as the adoption evaluator.

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