June 6, 2019
We are so thrilled to share that the Connecticut art therapy licensure bill passed the Senate on June 4, 2019 – the night before the legislature adjourned – included as part of a broad state budget bill (HB 7424)! The legislation had passed the House 138 to 1 last week and now awaits Governor Ned Lamont’s signature, which would make the license effective October 1, 2019. Connecticut will soon join the growing number of states across the country with art therapy licensure. Congratulations to the Connecticut Art Therapy Association (CATA) and all the art therapy advocates in the state who made this happen! What a way to start the summer!
A recap of some milestones throughout the year:
- In the summer of 2018, the Connecticut Art Therapy Association (CATA) submitted their Scope of Practice Application.
- In October 2018 the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) agreed to convene a scope of practice review committee for art therapy, initiating a four-month sunrise review (study to determine the need and the appropriate level of regulation of a profession).
- The bill was introduced in January 2019 by Representative Mitch Bolinsky (R-Newtown), the Assembly’s Assistant Republican Leader, who had also introduced art therapist licensing bills in the previous two legislative sessions.
- Following the DPH’s report to the General Assembly, concluding that the review committee did not oppose licensure for art therapists, the Joint Committee on Public Health voted to introduce the legislation as a committee bill.
- Art therapists testified before the Joint Committee on Public Health on February 11, 2019.
- On May 29, 2019 the Connecticut House of Representatives voted in favor of the bill 138 to 1.