[§465-3.5]  Public service employment.  (a)  Notwithstanding other provisions in this chapter the director of health may certify that there is an absence or shortage of licensed psychologists for government employment in a particular locality.  Upon receiving certification of the absence or shortage, the board shall authorize the director to hire and retain persons currently in government employment to fill the absence or shortage; provided persons hired or retained have been duly licensed as a psychologist by written examination under the laws of another state or territory of the United States prior to 1977.

     (b)  Persons hired and retained under this section shall be exempt from the requirements of this chapter for no more than eighteen months while employed in a government position that the director continues to certify as subject to an absence or shortage.

     (c)  In no case shall persons hired and retained under the provisions of this section provide private patient care for a fee. [L 1992, c 265, §1]