January 24, 2019
Now that most of the 2019 state legislative sessions have convened, the AATA is excited to announce that art therapy licensure bills have already been introduced in four states! These include: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Tennessee. Additionally, language making technical corrections to the existing art therapy license in Oregon has been included in an omnibus bill (SB 29).
Congratulations to the dedicated art therapists who made this happen! The AATA National Office looks forward to continuing to support you through every step of the legislative process.
Find the art therapy licensure bill numbers below:
- New Hampshire HB 546, introduced on Jan. 3rd by Representative Peter Schmidt (D-19), referred to the Executive Departments and Administration.
- Massachusetts SD 682, introduced on Jan. 15th by Senator Diana DiZoglio (D-14).
- Connecticut HB 5444, introduced on Jan. 16th by Representative Mitch Bolinsky (R-106). The bill has been referred to the Joint Committee on Public Health. The Connecticut Art Therapy Association (CATA) is also undergoing scope of practice review through the Connecticut Department of Public Health.
- Tennessee SB 0055, introduced on Jan. 22nd by Senator Becky Duncan Massey (R-6).
If you are an art therapist residing in one of these states, we encourage you to contact your representatives and urge their support! For specific talking points or if you are interested in getting more involved in the advocacy process, contact your state or regional chapter.