SB 895

This bill establishes a licensure program for professional art therapists

administered by the Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, and

Social Work Examining Board. The bill defines “professional art therapy” and

provides that, subject to certain exceptions, a person may practice professional art

therapy only if the person holds a professional art therapist license. The examining

board may grant a professional art therapist license to an applicant who, among

other things, receives a master's or doctorate degree in professional art therapy,

completes courses related to diagnosis, prevention, treatment, or resolution of

mental, emotional, behavioral, and addiction disorders, engages in a certain amount

of hours of supervised practice of professional art therapy, and passes an approved

examination. The bill authorizes the examining board to promulgate rules that

require professional art therapists to complete continuing education requirements

every two years to renew their licenses.

The bill adds two licensed professional art therapists and one public member

to the examining board. Under the bill, the examining board investigates, holds

hearings, and makes findings pertaining to violations of the bill. The examining

board may reprimand a professional art therapist or deny, limit, suspend, or revoke

a professional art therapist license if it finds that license holder has violated the bill.