22 NYCRR 680.4

(a) Eligibility requirements. A member of the mental health professionals panel shall:

(1) be a social worker, psychologist, or psychiatrist licensed by the State of New York;

(2) complete six hours of introductory training approved by the Presiding Justices of the Appellate Division of the First and Second Judicial Departments;

(3) demonstrate that he or she has forensic experience, including having testified as an expert and/or having submitted a clinical report in connection with one or more of the following types of court proceedings: custody and visitation, delinquency, persons in need of supervision, child abuse and neglect, termination of parental rights, family offense, and adoption;

(4) maintain professional malpractice insurance; and

(5) meet such additional requirements as shall be established by the mental health professionals certification committee with the approval of the Presiding Justices of the Appellate Divisions of the First and Second Judicial Departments.

(b) Application. Licensed social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists may apply for membership on the mental health professionals panel for the First and Second Judicial Departments by completing a questionnaire in the form prescribed by the mental health professionals certification committee.

(c) Appointments to panel.

(1) The mental health professionals committee shall review applications and identify those mental health professionals who meet the eligibility requirements.

(2) The Presiding Justices of the Appellate Division in the First and Second Judicial Departments shall, by joint order, appoint the members of the mental health professionals panel from among those social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists recommended by the committee.

(3) Appointments to the panel shall be for a term of three years. Panel members may be reappointed to successive terms. Any panel member may be removed prior to the expiration of his or her term by the joint order of the Presiding Justices of the Appellate Divisions of the First and Second Judicial Departments upon the recommendation of the committee.