2023 California Code › Business and Professions Code - BPC › DIVISION 2 - HEALING ARTS › CHAPTER 6.6 - Psychologists › ARTICLE 4 - Denial, Suspension and Revocation › Section 2966.

2966. (a) A psychologist’s license shall be suspended automatically during any time that the holder of the license is incarcerated after conviction of a felony, regardless of whether the conviction has been appealed. The board shall, immediately upon receipt of the certified copy of the record of conviction, determine whether the license of the psychologist has been automatically suspended by virtue of the psychologist’s incarceration, and if so, the duration of that suspension. The board shall notify the psychologist of the license suspension and of the right to elect to have the issue of penalty heard as provided in this section.
(b) Upon receipt of the certified copy of the record of conviction, if after a hearing it is determined therefrom that the felony of which the licensee was convicted was substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of a psychologist, the board shall suspend the license until the time for appeal has elapsed, if an appeal has not been taken, or until the judgment of conviction has been affirmed on appeal or has otherwise become final, and until further order of the board. The issue of substantial relationship shall be heard by an administrative law judge sitting alone or with a panel of the board, in the discretion of the board.
(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), a conviction of any crime referred to in Section 187, 261, 288, or former Section 262, of the Penal Code shall be conclusively presumed to be substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of a psychologist and a hearing shall not be held on this issue. Upon its own motion or for good cause shown, the board may decline to impose or may set aside the suspension when it appears to be in the interest of justice to do so, with due regard to maintaining the integrity of and confidence in the psychology profession.
(d) (1) Discipline or the denial of the license may be ordered in accordance with Section 2961, or the board may order the denial of the license when the time for appeal has elapsed, the judgment of conviction has been affirmed on appeal, or an order granting probation is made suspending the imposition of sentence, irrespective of a subsequent order under Section 1203.4 of the Penal Code allowing the person to withdraw a plea of guilty and to enter a plea of not guilty, setting aside the verdict of guilty, or dismissing the accusation, complaint, information, or indictment.
(2) The issue of penalty shall be heard by an administrative law judge sitting alone or with a panel of the board, in the discretion of the board. The hearing shall not be commenced until the judgment of conviction has become final or, irrespective of a subsequent order under Section 1203.4 of the Penal Code, an order granting probation has been made suspending the imposition of sentence; except that a licensee may, at the licensee’s option, elect to have the issue of penalty decided before those time periods have elapsed. Where the licensee so elects, the issue of penalty shall be heard in the manner described in this section at the hearing to determine whether the conviction was substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of a psychologist. If the conviction of a licensee who has made this election is overturned on appeal, any discipline ordered pursuant to this section shall automatically cease. This subdivision does not prohibit the board from pursuing disciplinary action based on any cause other than the overturned conviction.
(e) The record of the proceedings resulting in the conviction, including a transcript of the testimony therein, may be received in evidence.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 626, Sec. 2. (AB 1171) Effective January 1, 2022.)