§ 3031. Establishment of the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact Commission
(a) The Compact states hereby create and establish a joint public agency known as the
Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact Commission.
(1) The Commission is a body politic and an instrumentality of the Compact states.
(2) Venue is proper and judicial proceedings by or against the Commission shall be brought
solely and exclusively in a court of competent jurisdiction where the principal office
of the Commission is located. The Commission may waive venue and jurisdictional defenses
to the extent it adopts or consents to participate in alternative dispute resolution
proceedings.
(3) Nothing in this Compact shall be construed to be a waiver of sovereign immunity.
(b) Membership, voting, and meetings.
(1) The Commission shall consist of one voting representative appointed by each Compact
state who shall serve as that state’s Commissioner. The state psychology regulatory
authority shall appoint its delegate. This delegate shall be empowered to act on behalf
of the Compact state. This delegate shall be limited to:
(A) the Executive Director, Executive Secretary, or similar executive;
(B) a current member of the state psychology regulatory authority of a Compact state;
or
(C) a designee empowered with the appropriate delegate authority to act on behalf of the
Compact state.
(2) Any Commissioner may be removed or suspended from office as provided by the law of
the state from which the Commissioner is appointed. Any vacancy occurring in the Commission
shall be filled in accordance with the laws of the Compact state in which the vacancy
exists.
(3) Each Commissioner shall be entitled to one vote with regard to the promulgation of
rules and creation of bylaws and shall otherwise have an opportunity to participate
in the business and affairs of the Commission. A Commissioner shall vote in person
or by such other means as provided in the bylaws. The bylaws may provide for Commissioners’
participation in meetings by telephone or other means of communication.
(4) The Commission shall meet at least once during each calendar year. Additional meetings
shall be held as set forth in the bylaws.
(5) All meetings shall be open to the public, and public notice of meetings shall be given
in the same manner as required under the rulemaking provisions in section 3032 of this title.
(6) The Commission may convene in a closed, nonpublic meeting if the Commission must discuss:
(A) noncompliance of a Compact state with its obligations under the Compact;
(B) employment, compensation, discipline, or other personnel matters, practices, or procedures
related to specific employees; or other matters related to the Commission’s internal
personnel practices and procedures;
(C) current, threatened, or reasonably anticipated litigation against the Commission;
(D) negotiation of contracts for the purchase or sale of goods, services, or real estate;
(E) accusation against any person of a crime or formally censuring any person;
(F) disclosure of trade secrets or commercial or financial information that is privileged
or confidential;
(G) disclosure of information of a personal nature where disclosure would constitute a
clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy;
(H) disclosure of investigatory records compiled for law enforcement purposes;
(I) disclosure of information related to any investigatory reports prepared by or on behalf
of or for use of the Commission or other committee charged with responsibility for
investigation or determination of compliance issues pursuant to the Compact; or
(J) matters specifically exempted from disclosure by federal and state statute.
(7) If a meeting, or portion of a meeting, is closed pursuant to this provision, the Commission’s
legal counsel or designee shall certify that the meeting may be closed and shall reference
each relevant exempting provision. The Commission shall keep minutes that fully and
clearly describe all matters discussed in a meeting and shall provide a full and accurate
summary of actions taken, of any person participating in the meeting, and the reasons
therefor, including a description of the views expressed. All documents considered
in connection with an action shall be identified in such minutes. All minutes and
documents of a closed meeting shall remain under seal, subject to release only by
a majority vote of the Commission or order of a court of competent jurisdiction.
(c) The Commission shall, by a majority vote of the Commissioners, prescribe bylaws or
rules, or both, to govern its conduct as may be necessary or appropriate to carry
out the purposes and exercise the powers of the Compact, including but not limited
to:
(1) Establishing the fiscal year of the Commission;
(2) Providing reasonable standards and procedures:
(A) for the establishment and meetings of other committees; and
(B) governing any general or specific delegation of any authority or function of the Commission;
(3) Providing reasonable procedures for calling and conducting meetings of the Commission,
ensuring reasonable advance notice of all meetings, and providing an opportunity for
attendance of such meetings by interested parties, with enumerated exceptions designed
to protect the public’s interest, the privacy of individuals of such proceedings,
and proprietary information, including trade secrets. The Commission may meet in closed
session only after a majority of the Commissioners vote to close a meeting to the
public in whole or in part. As soon as practicable, the Commission must make public
a copy of the vote to close the meeting revealing the vote of each Commissioner with
no proxy votes allowed;
(4) Establishing the titles, duties and authority and reasonable procedures for the election
of the officers of the Commission;
(5) Providing reasonable standards and procedures for the establishment of the personnel
policies and programs of the Commission. Notwithstanding any civil service or other
similar law of any Compact state, the bylaws shall exclusively govern the personnel
policies and programs of the Commission;
(6) Promulgating a code of ethics to address permissible and prohibited activities of
Commission members and employees;
(7) Providing a mechanism for concluding the operations of the Commission and the equitable
disposition of any surplus funds that may exist after the termination of the Compact
after the payment or reserving, or both, of all of its debts and obligations;
(8) The Commission shall publish its bylaws in a convenient form and file a copy thereof
and a copy of any amendment thereto, with the appropriate agency or officer in each
of the Compact states;
(9) The Commission shall maintain its financial records in accordance with the bylaws;
and
(10) The Commission shall meet and take such actions as are consistent with the provisions
of this Compact and the bylaws.
(d) The Commission shall have the following powers:
(1) The authority to promulgate uniform rules to facilitate and coordinate implementation
and administration of this Compact. The rule shall have the force and effect of law
and shall be binding in all Compact states;
(2) To bring and prosecute legal proceedings or actions in the name of the Commission,
provided that the standing of any state psychology regulatory authority or other regulatory
body responsible for psychology licensure to sue or be sued under applicable law shall
not be affected;
(3) To purchase and maintain insurance and bonds;
(4) To borrow, accept, or contract for services of personnel, including, but not limited
to, employees of a Compact state;
(5) To hire employees, elect or appoint officers, fix compensation, define duties, grant
such individuals appropriate authority to carry out the purposes of the Compact, and
to establish the Commission’s personnel policies and programs relating to conflicts
of interest, qualifications of personnel, and other related personnel matters;
(6) To accept any and all appropriate donations and grants of money, equipment, supplies,
materials, and services, and to receive, utilize, and dispose of the same; provided
that at all times the Commission shall strive to avoid any appearance of impropriety
or of conflict of interest;
(7) To lease, purchase, accept appropriate gifts or donations of, or otherwise to own,
hold, improve, or use any property, real, personal, or mixed; provided that at all
times the Commission shall strive to avoid any appearance of impropriety;
(8) To sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange, abandon, or otherwise dispose
of any property, real, personal, or mixed;
(9) To establish a budget and make expenditures;
(10) To borrow money;
(11) To appoint committees, including advisory committees composed of members, state regulators,
state legislators or their representatives, and consumer representatives, and such
other interested persons as may be designated in this Compact and the bylaws;
(12) To provide and receive information from, and to cooperate with, law enforcement agencies;
(13) To adopt and use an official seal; and
(14) To perform such other functions as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the
purposes of this Compact consistent with the state regulation of psychology licensure,
temporary in-person, face-to-face practice, and telepsychology practice.
(e) The Executive Board. The elected officers shall serve as the Executive Board, which
shall have the power to act on behalf of the Commission according to the terms of
this Compact.
(1) The Executive Board shall be composed of six members:
(A) five voting members who are elected from the current membership of the Commission
by the Commission; and
(B) one ex-officio, nonvoting member from the recognized membership organization composed
of state and provincial psychology regulatory authorities.
(2) The ex-officio member must have served as staff or member on a state psychology regulatory
authority and will be selected by its respective organization.
(3) The Commission may remove any member of the Executive Board as provided in bylaws.
(4) The Executive Board shall meet at least annually.
(5) The Executive Board shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
(A) recommend to the entire Commission changes to the rules or bylaws, changes to this
Compact legislation, fees paid by Compact states such as annual dues, and any other
applicable fees;
(B) ensure Compact administration services are appropriately provided, contractual or
otherwise;
(C) prepare and recommend the budget;
(D) maintain financial records on behalf of the Commission;
(E) monitor Compact compliance of member states and provide compliance reports to the
Commission;
(F) establish additional committees as necessary; and
(G) other duties as provided in rules or bylaws.
(f) Financing of the Commission.
(1) The Commission shall pay, or provide for the payment of, the reasonable expenses of
its establishment, organization, and ongoing activities.
(2) The Commission may accept any and all appropriate revenue sources, donations, and
grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials, and services.
(3) The Commission may levy on and collect an annual assessment from each Compact state
or impose fees on other parties to cover the cost of the operations and activities
of the Commission and its staff, which must be in a total amount sufficient to cover
its annual budget as approved each year for which revenue is not provided by other
sources. The aggregate annual assessment amount shall be allocated based upon a formula
to be determined by the Commission, which shall promulgate a rule binding upon all
Compact states.
(4) The Commission shall not incur obligations of any kind prior to securing the funds
adequate to meet the same; nor shall the Commission pledge the credit of any of the
Compact states, except by and with the authority of the Compact state.
(5) The Commission shall keep accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements. The
receipts and disbursements of the Commission shall be subject to the audit and accounting
procedures established under its bylaws. However, all receipts and disbursements of
funds handled by the Commission shall be audited yearly by a certified or licensed
public accountant and the report of the audit shall be included in and become part
of the annual report of the Commission.
(g) Qualified immunity, defense, and indemnification.
(1) The members, officers, Executive Director, employees, and representatives of the Commission
shall be immune from suit and liability, either personally or in their official capacity,
for any claim for damage to or loss of property or personal injury or other civil
liability caused by or arising out of any actual or alleged act, error, or omission
that occurred, or that the person against whom the claim is made had a reasonable
basis for believing occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties, or
responsibilities, provided that nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to protect
any such person from suit or liability for any damage, loss, injury, or liability
caused by the intentional or willful or wanton misconduct of that person.
(2) The Commission shall defend any member, officer, Executive Director, employee, or
representative of the Commission in any civil action seeking to impose liability arising
out of any actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred within the scope
of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, or that the person against
whom the claim is made had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope
of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, provided that nothing herein
shall be construed to prohibit that person from retaining the person’s own counsel;
and provided further, that the actual or alleged act, error, or omission did not result
from that person’s intentional or willful or wanton misconduct.
(3) The Commission shall indemnify and hold harmless any member, officer, Executive Director,
employee, or representative of the Commission for the amount of any settlement or
judgment obtained against that person arising out of any actual or alleged act, error,
or omission that occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities,
or that such person had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope
of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, provided that the actual or
alleged act, error, or omission did not result from the intentional or willful or
wanton misconduct of that person. (Added 2023, No. 37, § 1, eff. July 1, 2024.)