SECTION 575:1-1-2. Organization and proceedings of the Board; petitions for rule making; declaratory rulings

(a)   Meetings. In accordance with the 1977 Open Meeting Law [Title 25, Sections 301 thru 314, of state statutes], all meetings of the Board are open to the public and votes of each member are to be publicly cast and recorded.

(1)   Regularly scheduled meetings. The Secretary of State shall be given notice of all regularly scheduled meetings by December 15 of each calendar year, showing the date, time and place of such meetings for the following calendar year. If any change is to be made in the date, time, or place of regularly scheduled meetings, then notice in writing shall be given to the Secretary of State not less than 10 days prior to the implementation of such change. At least 24 hours prior to regularly scheduled meetings, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays legally declared by the State of Oklahoma, public notice will be given setting forth thereon the date, time, place, and agenda for said meeting. Such notice shall not preclude the consideration of new business providing such was not known about or could not have been reasonably foreseen prior to the time of posting. If a meeting is to be continued or reconvened, public notice of the date, time, and place shall be given by announcement at the original meeting, and only matters appearing on the agenda of the meeting which is continued may be discussed at the continued or reconvened meeting.

(2)   Special meetings. Special meetings shall not be held without public notice, indicating the date, time, and place, being given to the Secretary of State at least 48 hours prior to said meeting. In addition, at least 24 hours prior to such a meeting, public notice giving the time, place, and agenda shall be posted in prominent public view in the building containing the office of the Board. In exceptional circumstances, emergency meetings without public notice may be called.

(3)   Minutes. The proceedings of all meetings shall be kept in the form of written minutes and shall be open to public inspection.

(b)   Official office; Board records. The official office of the Board shall be designated by the Board and all records of the Board shall be kept at the official office.

(c)   Submissions to the Board to be in writing. All communications with the Board must be in writing before official consideration will be given to issues, requests, or submissions brought before the Board.

(d)   Board monies. The monies received by the Board shall be kept in the Psychologists Licensing Fund, No. 200. Expenditures from said fund shall be subject to the approval of the Board.

(e)   Reimbursement for travel expenses. Each Board member, staff member, or other persons who are performing substantial and necessary services for the Board may be reimbursed for expenses incurred under authorized official travel [Pursuant to 74 O.S., Section 500.2 et seq].

(f)   Formal and informal procedures. The Board shall have both formal and informal procedures for use, as appropriate, in conducting the business of the Board. Such procedures may involve, but are not limited to, hearings for individuals, questions of legal policy, inquiries concerning Board policies or decisions, or other Board business.

(g)   Forms. The Board shall have such forms as are required for the conduct of Board business. Such forms shall include, but are not limited to, application for licensure, application for private practice under supervision, and applications for a psychologist to hire a psychological technician in his/her private practice.

(h)   Petitions regarding rules; declaratory rulings. Any interested person may petition the Board requesting the promulgation, amendment, or repeal of a rule. Petitions requesting declaratory rulings as to the applicability of any rule or order of the Board may also be submitted. The Board shall make prompt disposition of all such petitions.

(i)   Distribution of rules and regulations; annual directory. The Board shall maintain and publish all regulations and procedures established by the Board on the website for the Oklahoma State Board of Examiners of Psychologists. The website shall contain, in addition to those items required by law [59 O.S., Section 1369], a verbatim copy of the licensing law as well as all rules and regulations duly established by the Board.

(j)   Board secretary. The secretary of the Board, as described in 59 O.S., Sections 1358 and 1360, shall be employed by the Board.

(k)   Psychological consultant. A qualified individual may be employed by the Board to perform certain activities to further the purposes of the Board. Such activities may include, but are not limited to: issues concerning training, credentialing, professional practice, regulation, ethical matters, and receiving and/or reviewing requests for inquiries; advising the chair in the informal conduct of the Board's procedures and providing consultation to the Board during its regular and special meetings.

[Source: Amended at 13 Ok Reg 1715, eff 5-28-96; Amended at 16 Ok Reg 1238, eff 5-13-99; Amended at 20 Ok Reg 1012, eff 5-12-03; Amended at 29 Ok Reg 1813, eff 9-14-12; Amended at 32 Ok Reg 2164, eff 9-11-15; Amended at 34 Ok Reg 1890, eff 9-11-17]