HB81: HB81 Interstate Compact for School Psychologists; enter into

Georgia currently requires school psychologists to be certified through the Professional Standards Commission, with little formal process for recognizing licenses from other states. This bill adds a new article to Georgia's education compacts law (O.C.G.A. Title 20, Chapter 6) adopting the Interstate Compact for School Psychologists, a multistate agreement designed to let licensed school psychologists practice across member states more easily. Under the compact, a school psychologist who holds an unencumbered home state license and meets baseline requirements (passing a qualifying national exam, completing at least 1,200 supervised internship hours with 600 in a school, and graduating from an approved program) can obtain an equivalent license in Georgia or any other member state. The compact also creates a joint commission of member states to write rules, handle disputes, share licensing and discipline information, and enforce compliance. It takes effect once seven states have enacted it, and Georgia's Professional Standards Commission is authorized to write rules to carry it out.

• Enacts the Interstate Compact for School Psychologists into Georgia law by adding a new article to Georgia's education compacts statute (O.C.G.A. § 20-6-25 through § 20-6-28).
• Allows a school psychologist licensed in another compact member state to obtain an equivalent license to practice in Georgia without repeating all of Georgia's normal licensing steps.
• Sets minimum qualification standards for the compact, including passing a national exam, completing 1,200 supervised internship hours (600 in a school setting), and graduating from an approved school psychology program.
• Creates a multistate governing commission with rulemaking, dispute resolution, and enforcement powers over the compact, funded by fees and assessments on member states and licensees.
• Grants active-duty military members and their spouses the option to treat multiple states as their home state license location.
• Authorizes the Professional Standards Commission to adopt rules and regulations to implement the compact in Georgia.

School psychologists seeking to practice across state lines, Georgia's Professional Standards Commission, which will administer the new licensing pathway and join the multistate commission, school districts that hire school psychologists, and military families relocating between compact member states.

If enough states join, Georgia school psychologists could more easily practice in other member states and vice versa, potentially easing workforce shortages in schools. Families moving to Georgia, including military families, could see school psychology license transfers processed faster than under current one-state-at-a-time rules.

• Section 1 adds new Code sections 20-6-25 through 20-6-28, naming the law the 'Interstate Compact for School Psychologists' and defining 'license' and 'state licensing authority' for Georgia purposes.
• The compact's Section 3 sets state participation requirements, including maintaining a list of equivalent licenses, investigating complaints, and requiring applicants to pass a national exam and complete 1,200 internship hours (600 in a school).
• The compact's Section 4 lets a licensee obtain and renew an equivalent license in another member state by maintaining their home license, meeting state-specific requirements, and passing a criminal background check.
• The compact's Section 7 establishes the School Psychologist Interstate Licensure Compact Commission, a joint agency of member states with rulemaking, budget, and enforcement powers, including an executive committee.
• The compact's Section 10 sets out default, termination, and dispute resolution procedures if a member state fails to comply with compact obligations.
• The compact's Section 11 states the compact takes effect once seven states enact it and describes withdrawal procedures, requiring 180 days' notice and continued license recognition for six months.
• New Code Section 20-6-28 authorizes the Professional Standards Commission to write rules implementing the compact in Georgia.
• Section 2 of the bill repeals any conflicting Georgia laws.

1. 2025-04-28Effective Date 2025-07-01
2. 2025-04-28Act 12
3. 2025-04-28House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-07House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-03-13Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2025-03-13Senate Third Read (Senate)
7. 2025-03-10Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
8. 2025-03-06Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)

• Bethany Ballard (R, HD-147)Primary sponsor
• Chris Erwin (R, HD-032)
• Rick Townsend (R, HD-179)
• Holt Persinger (R, HD-119)
• Matt Dubnik (R, HD-029)
• Matthew Gambill (R, HD-015)
• Larry Walker (R, SD-020)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 13, 2025

   165 yea, 2 nay (3 not voting, 10 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #35

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 13, 2025

   48 yea, 2 nay (1 not voting, 5 absent)

   Passage: Senate Vote #232

• school psychologists
• occupational licensing
• interstate compacts
• education workforce
• professional certification