If you are interested in contacting your Senator or Representative regarding the issue of Prescribing Clinical Psychologists, please click the icon below and then scroll down to “State Advocacy” and select “IL” for Illinois.

Illinois Psychological Association members have the option to join up to 10 special interest sections. Each section has a chairperson elected by members of the section. Below see a list of current IPA sections and follow the link for more information:

Section on Ethnic Minority Affairs (SEMA)

IPA’s Section on Ethnic Minority Affairs (SEMA) will be a space where the unique needs, lived experiences and expertise of ethnic minorities of color are honored, valued and respected. SEMA is an open and inclusive space. Our membership will include psychologists and graduate students who are active, well-informed and passionate about improving the overall health and wellness of people of color in Illinois, nationally and globally.

IPA Graduate Student Section (IPAGS)

The Illinois Psychological Association for Graduate Students (IPAGS) is a special interest subsection of the IPA organization. IPAGS is dedicated to the promotion of graduate students’ clinical and academic training experience, the advocacy of graduate students’ professional development during their formative training years, informing the professional community of graduate student events and activities, and connecting graduate students in Illinois with other graduate students and resources. We at IPAGS aim to educate ethically-minded future psychologists through discussion of clinical issues and legal concerns through programming. IPAGS develops psychologically-relevant programming aimed at educating on current clinical topics, targeting social inequalities, and generating dialogue on best practices and competency development. IPAGS also encourages the building of professional relationships by networking psychologists working in the field with graduate students. IPAGS hopes to foster competent future psychologists by cultivating an environment of learning, connectedness, and professionalism.

IPA Early Career Section

The Early Career Section is open to all IPA members who are within ten years of obtaining their doctorate degree. Activities include mentoring, networking, and workshops geared to assist the entry level professional.

Behavioral Medicine and Neuropsychology Section

Welcome to the Behavioral Medicine & Neuropsychology Section!

The purposes of this Section shall be:

1. 1. 1. To promote the education of psychologists in the areas of behavioral medicine, neuropsychology, geriatric psychology, rehabilitation psychology, and health psychology;
      2. To inform the professional community about activities related to these five areas of psychology;
      3. To inform psychologists about areas of pertinent and related research;
      4. To advocate for the appropriate, ethical, and informed psychological services to those dealing with issues concerning these 5 areas of psychology.

This Section shall exist for psychologists and students of psychology who may be interested in applying psychological knowledge to the fields of psychology that the Behavioral Medicine and Neuropsychology Section represents, including the provision of psychological services to consumers who may need these services.

Academic Section

About the Section:

Programmatic goals include the following:

1. Support of more collaborative programs and discourse within IPA regarding the interface of academic and practicing psychologists.

2. Furtherance of dialogue and dissemination of information about changes in training and licensure requirements for psychologists at the state and national levels. This includes movement to change the number of practicum hours required to qualify for predoctoral internships, proposals at the national level to eliminate the post-doctoral training year requirement for licensure in all states, proposals to offer a transitional/temporary license in IL to post-docs which would allow for billing and reimbursement of services (a movement I will actively support) and APA’s prioritization of a shift of licensure title from Clinical Psychologist to Health Service Psychologist within the broader focus on Integrative Health Care.

3. Promotion of best practices in facilitating difficult but constructive dialogues regarding multicultural diversity in the classroom and on campuses.

4. Advocacy for enhanced funding for IL colleges and universities, specifically with regard to scientific research.

5. Collaboration with IPAGS (IPA Graduate Students) and ECPs (Early Career Psychologists) to facilitate entry into the profession.

6. Promotion of excellence and innovation in teaching methods

Clinical Practice Section

Mission & Purpose

The purpose of this Section shall be to advocate for the interests of applied clinical psychology through:

• Advancing the science and profession of clinical psychology to solve practical problems of human behavior and experience.

• Providing support for the section’s Health Care Reimbursement Committee (HCRC), whose goal is to help the IPA membership keep abreast of health care reimbursement-related issues by responding to member questions and concerns and providing educational opportunities to IPA members.

• Educating insurance companies and third-party payer organizations about psychological services via the HCRC.

• Supporting the education and training of clinical psychologists and psychology trainees.

• Furthering collegial relationships within the field of applied clinical psychology and with allied health professions.

• Submission of three annual, measurable section objectives yielding a tangible return for membership dues invested in the section, while simultaneously recognizing members’ generational differences and needs.

• Understanding that the clinical section’s visibility becomes a vehicle to promote IPA’s relevance to psychology practice, yielding maximum annual retention of existing members and expansion of the section.

• Inviting each new IPA member to join the clinical practice section via personal outreach phone call from the chair.

• Using social media tools (e.g. Constant Contact) tools in order to ensure that psychologists are able to engage, connect and communicate with clinical practitioners. It is essential that psychologists be able to identify tangible benefits from belonging to the section.

All activities of the Clinical Practice Section shall conform to the bylaws and policies and procedures of the IPA.

Organizational & Business Consulting Psychology Section

Organizational & Business Consulting Psychology involves providing services to individuals, work teams, and entire organizations regarding improving performance effectiveness, developing skills and talent, reducing conflict between people and systems, and strengthening team cohesion. Specialties of our members include management consulting and executive coaching, leadership selection, succession planning, organizational stress audits, 360 degree evaluations of leaders, and assessing organizational culture. The section is committed to continuing education programs, networking for professional opportunities, and promoting the benefits of the specialty to the public through activities such as the Illinois Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award.

Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity Section

The Section on Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity shall seek to advance the contribution of psychology in understanding sexual orientation and gender diversity, to educate psychologists and the general public in matters of sexual orientation and gender diversity, and to advocate for the provision of ethical and informed psychological services to those dealing with sexual orientation and gender diversity.

Social Responsibility Section

Section goals include the promotion of social responsibility for civil and human rights and the values of justice, peace and the public interest within the science, profession, education and training of psychology; the recognition of exemplary achievements of social responsibility in the field; and the maintenance within IPA of a focus and forum in which the relevance of social responsibility for all areas of psychological endeavor can be advanced.

Women’s Issues Section

The mission of the Women’s Issues Section is to promote: (1) the professional interests of women psychologists in IPA, (2) the psychological happiness and well-being of female patients/clients through psychological services, and (3) the psychological happiness and well-being of women in the broader community. We support and empower women to own their own reflective minds, experience stable self-worth, and use their voices. We uphold the broad ranging inclusive ideals related to gender equality in the first, second, third, and fourth waves of feminism, and the lens of multicultural diversity of womanism.

IPAGS MISSION STATEMENT
We at IPAGS strive to enhance the professional development of Illinois Graduate Students in Applied Psychology by developing and implementing programs to educate our members about legal and ethical concerns, clinical issues, and emerging roles. IPAGS believes that by educating future clinicians we help individuals make informed decisions, which will increase the practice of a competent psychologist. By developing professional relationships with psychologists and students, IPAGS strengthens the field of applied psychology and creates an environment for students to grow, learn, and develop.

One of the main resources IPAGS provides is the Graduate Quarterly. Please take a few moments to read our recent newsletters and if you like them, please consider becoming a member of IPAGS.

IPA holds many workshops each year. Each year our workshops span a wide range of topics that are relevant to Illinois psychologists.Select from the list below to learn more about upcoming and recent workshops.

If you are interested in contacting your Senator or Representative regarding the issue of Medical Psychologists, please click the icon below and then scroll down to “Issues and Legislation” and click “Go”.

State: ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Comprised of 59 Legislative Districts
59 Senators (31 Republicans, 28 Democrats)
118 Representatives (58 Republicans, 60 Democrats)

The Legislative Process: Bill Drafting
Only legislators may introduce bills and amendments to bills. Bills often result from the
concerns of constituents (Illinois citizens).

There are three types of bills:

1. Revisory Bills – Makes technical changes in the form or in the wording.

2. Appropriation Bills – A bill which provides money for the operating expenses of a state agency including their staff and programs, or start a law that provides money for new programs such as Family Support.

3. Substantive Bills – Makes major changes in existing laws or creates new laws.

1st READING — Every bill that is introduced by a legislator must first be read by its title in the house it began in. A bill is then given a number and is then assigned to a standing Committee. Generally, Committees are specialized by subject or topic area. For example, elementary and secondary education, insurance, human services, and mental health.

Once a bill is assigned to a committee, it is on the committee’s calendar. The committee sets deadlines which they must follow. If a legislator wants to help a bill it is up to them when the bill will be read. The committee’s have certain times which they meet each day.

If a legislator wants a bill read at a specific meeting, he/she needs to tell the chairman, so that the bill can be put on the schedule.

The chairman will call the bill and the legislator can bring in information and witnesses to help get the bill passed. People who oppose the bill also have a chance to speak now. If you wish to speak you must fill out a "witness slip" indicating if you are for or against the bill. During the reading of a bill is when each of you as a constituent has a chance to affect legislation. This is also the first time that a bill can be amended.

Amendments are ways in which to change a bill. Often the sponsor of the bill will suggest an amendment. Working on bills and amendments is a major part of the legislative process.

After everyone has had a change to speak for or against the bill, and any amendments are accepted into the bill, then the Committee has to take action on the bill.

They have three choices: Do Pass, Do Pass as Amended, or Do Not Pass

A bill may be killed in a couple of ways: one is if the sponsor doesn’t ask for the bill to be read, then it dies at the deadline for reporting of bills from committee. If the bill is just "held" it never goes anywhere, or it may be put aside to be studied later. The bill has now gone through committee and passed on a "Do Pass" or "Do Pass as Amended" motion. Now it goes on….

Second Reading which is considered on both the floor of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Each chamber or house gives a bill three readings. The first comes right after the introduction. The second comes after a "do-pass" recommendation from a committee. The bill is then put on a second-reading calendar of the House or Senate.
Second reading is the amendment stage, where changes can be made, and this is the only time when changes can occur. On a typical day, the legislators have many bills on their second reading calendar.

The presiding officer reads through the bills and if the legislator who sponsored the bill is there, then the other legislators discuss sit and may make changes to it. However, if the sponsor is not there, the bill is not discussed but still stays on the calendar for second reading.

In the House the clerk has to record the amendments, get them printed and each member must have a copy of the bill before they can discuss the amendments.

In the Senate, the amendments don’t have to be printed unless five or more Senators ask for them to be printed. Committee amendments added in the Senate must be adopted on the floor.

In the House, an amendment adopted in Committee, can be changed or taken off the bill during second reading.

Often the original sponsor of the bill will want to make small changes in it, and in this case the other legislators agree to do so by voicing their opinions. If the sponsor wants to make a big change in the bill, then he explains it to the others, and asks for their support. Often the others won’t be in favor of the change and will ask questions about it.

In order to adopt an amendment, a majority of the legislators must be present and votes "yes". If they aren’t sure if the amendment passed or not, then they will take a vote on an electronic voting machine. Each time they do this it is recorded in the journals of each house.

After they have gone through all of the amendments, the bill is considered to have been read for the second time. Now the bill goes on to what is called the "Third Reading".
Third Reading is only for voting on whether or not to pass a bill; amendments cannot be added at this time. The third reading must take place at least one legislative day after the second reading.

The sponsor of the bill explains why the bill should be passed and then the other legislators discuss it. Sometimes they debate over it for a very long time, and other times they discuss it very quickly or not at all. It takes 60 yes votes in the House and 30 yes votes in the Senate to pass a bill.

If a bill passes, then it must go through the entire process again in the Second House. If no changes or amendments are made in the Second House, then it goes to the Governor for approval. If he has no problems with it, then he signs it and it becomes a law.

The Governor
The Governor has 60 days to consider every bill passed. If he wants the bill to become a law he then signs it or he vetoes it. If he does nothing with the bill, it automatically becomes law after 60 days. A vetoed bill is returned to the house where it was originally started — it has 15 days to be passed and it must do so by 3/5ths margin (71 House; 36 Senate).

There are four kinds of vetoes:
1. Item Veto — When the Governor wants to eliminate part of a bill, but might not want to eliminate all of it, he/she will only veto the parts which they do not want it a particular bill.

2. Reduction Veto – This is an section which the Governor may take to reduce a specific budget item.

3. Amendatory Veto — If the Governor wishes, he/she can change a part of a bill, and still pass the rest of it.

4. Total Veto – If the Governor wishes, she/he can reject a bill completely, and by doing this no part of the bill is passed.