Florida Senate - 2016                                     SB 594
       
       
        
       By Senator Sobel
       
       
       
       
       
       33-00408-16                                            2016594__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to art therapy; creating part XVII of
    3         ch. 468, F.S., entitled “Art Therapy”; creating s.
    4         468.901, F.S.; providing legislative findings and
    5         intent; creating s. 468.902, F.S.; defining terms;
    6         creating s. 468.903, F.S.; creating the Advisory
    7         Council of Professional Art Therapists within the
    8         Division of Medical Quality Assurance in the
    9         Department of Health; providing for membership of the
   10         council; requiring the council to meet at least
   11         annually or by call of the director of the division;
   12         requiring the council to provide the director with
   13         certain expertise and assistance; requiring the
   14         director to consult with the council before issuing
   15         rules; creating s. 468.904, F.S.; prohibiting an
   16         individual from practicing professional or clinical
   17         art therapy unless he or she holds a certain license;
   18         providing exceptions; prohibiting use of the titles
   19         “professional art therapist” or “clinical art
   20         therapist” except by certain individuals; providing a
   21         penalty; providing for construction; creating s.
   22         468.905, F.S.; establishing requirements for licensure
   23         as a professional art therapist and a clinical art
   24         therapist; authorizing the director to determine that
   25         certain programs are substantially equivalent to
   26         accredited art therapy programs; providing for
   27         licensure by reciprocity; exempting certain applicants
   28         from licensure requirements; requiring certain fees to
   29         be deposited into the Medical Quality Assurance Trust
   30         Fund; creating s. 468.906, F.S.; requiring a license
   31         to be renewed biennially, subject to certain
   32         requirements; requiring the director to establish
   33         continuing education requirements; providing that
   34         failure to renew shall result in forfeiture of the
   35         license; creating s. 468.907, F.S.; specifying
   36         disciplinary grounds and actions; authorizing the
   37         division, in consultation with the advisory council,
   38         to conduct investigations into violations; requiring
   39         the division to adopt rules for the administration of
   40         disciplinary procedures and actions; creating s.
   41         468.908, F.S.; authorizing the division to adopt
   42         rules; amending s. 1002.66, F.S.; adding art therapy
   43         to the list of specialized instructional services that
   44         parents of children eligible for the prekindergarten
   45         program for children with disabilities may select;
   46         amending s. 1003.572, F.S.; including professional art
   47         therapists as private instructional personnel to
   48         provide specialized services in public schools;
   49         providing an effective date.
   50          
   51  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   52  
   53         Section 1. Part XVII of chapter 468, Florida Statutes,
   54  consisting of ss. 468.901-468.908, Florida Statutes, is created
   55  and entitled “Art Therapy.
   56         Section 2. Section 468.901, Florida Statutes, is created to
   57  read:
   58         468.901 Legislative findings and intent.—The Legislature
   59  finds that understanding the power of art and art-making to
   60  stimulate memories and reveal emotions, and the skill to safely
   61  manage and interpret the reactions different art processes may
   62  evoke, are competencies that are unique to professionally
   63  trained art therapists. The Legislature further finds that the
   64  practice of art therapy presents a danger to public health,
   65  safety, and welfare if applied beyond the competence of the
   66  practitioner or if applied by individuals without appropriate
   67  training. It is the intent of this act to secure the health,
   68  safety, and welfare of the public, and to assist the public in
   69  making informed choices regarding art therapy services, by
   70  establishing minimum qualifications for the practice of clinical
   71  and professional art therapy.
   72         Section 3. Section 468.902, Florida Statutes, is created to
   73  read:
   74         468.902 Definitions.—As used in this part, the term:
   75         (1) “Accredited art therapy program” means a master’s
   76  degree program in art therapy at a nationally accredited college
   77  or university which was approved by the American Art Therapy
   78  Association at the time an applicant’s degree was granted, or,
   79  beginning January 1, 2020, a master’s degree program in art
   80  therapy accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied
   81  Health Education Programs.
   82         (2) “Advisory council” means the Advisory Council of
   83  Professional Art Therapists established in s. 468.903.
   84         (3) “Art therapy” means the integrated use of
   85  psychotherapeutic principles, art media, and creative processes
   86  to assist individuals, families, or groups in increasing an
   87  awareness of self and others, coping with stress and the
   88  symptoms that arise from traumatic experiences, enhancing
   89  cognitive abilities, and identifying and implementing
   90  therapeutic interventions to meet developmental, behavioral,
   91  mental, and emotional needs.
   92         (4) “Art therapy certified supervisor” means a board
   93  certified art therapist holding the Art Therapy Certified
   94  Supervisor credential from the Art Therapy Credentials Board.
   95         (5) “Board-certified art therapist” means an individual who
   96  holds national board certification in good standing with the Art
   97  Therapy Credentials Board.
   98         (6) “Director” means the director of the Division of
   99  Medical Quality Assurance.
  100         (7) “Division” means the Division of Medical Quality
  101  Assurance within the Department of Health.
  102         (8) “Licensed clinical art therapist” means an individual
  103  who is licensed by the division to practice clinical art therapy
  104  pursuant to s. 468.905(3).
  105         (9) “Licensed professional art therapist” means an
  106  individual who is licensed by the division to practice
  107  professional art therapy pursuant to s. 468.905(1).
  108         (10) “Practice of clinical art therapy” means the practice
  109  of professional art therapy by an independent or adjunctive
  110  therapist who provides services to an individual, family, or
  111  group using the application of art therapy principles and
  112  methods in the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and
  113  amelioration of psychological problems and emotional or mental
  114  conditions.
  115         (11) “Practice of professional art therapy” means to engage
  116  professionally and for compensation in art therapy by providing
  117  services that involve application of art therapy principles and
  118  methods that include, but are not limited to:
  119         (a) Evaluation and treatment activities during individual,
  120  couples, family, or group sessions which provide opportunities
  121  for expression through the creative process;
  122         (b) Using the process and products of art creation to tap
  123  into clients’ inner fears, conflicts, and core issues with the
  124  goal of improving physical, mental, and emotional functioning
  125  and well-being;
  126         (c) Using diagnostic art therapy assessments to determine
  127  treatment goals and implement therapeutic art interventions that
  128  meet developmental, mental, behavioral, and emotional needs; and
  129         (d) Employing art media, the creative process, and the
  130  resulting artwork to assist clients to:
  131         1. Reduce psychiatric symptoms that include, but are not
  132  limited to, depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and
  133  attachment disorders;
  134         2. Enhance neurological, cognitive, and verbal abilities,
  135  develop social skills, aid sensory impairments, and improve
  136  developmental capabilities;
  137         3. Cope with symptoms of stress, anxiety, traumatic
  138  experiences, and grief;
  139         4. Explore feelings, gain insight into behaviors, and
  140  reconcile emotional conflicts;
  141         5. Improve or restore functioning and a sense of personal
  142  well-being;
  143         6. Increase coping skills, self-esteem, awareness of self,
  144  and empathy for others;
  145         7. Improve healthy channeling of anger and guilt; and
  146         8. Promote developmentally appropriate academic and social
  147  interaction and relationships.
  148         (12) “Supervised experience” means the regular oversight of
  149  the functions and activities of an art therapy student as part
  150  of an internship or practicum, or an art therapy graduate
  151  trainee engaged in the practice of professional art therapy to
  152  fulfill the requirements for licensure pursuant to s. 468.904,
  153  by an art therapy certified supervisor, board-certified art
  154  therapist, or other qualified mental health professional as
  155  determined by rule.
  156         Section 4. Section 468.903, Florida Statutes, is created to
  157  read:
  158         468.903 Advisory Council of Professional Art Therapists.—
  159         (1) There is created within the division an Advisory
  160  Council of Professional Art Therapists, composed of five members
  161  appointed by the director to serve 3-year terms. The advisory
  162  council shall consist of two members who are licensed
  163  professional art therapists, two members who are licensed
  164  clinical art therapists, and one member who is a licensed health
  165  care provider and who is not connected with the practice of
  166  professional art therapy.
  167         (a) Advisory council members shall serve staggered terms as
  168  determined by rule. Initial appointments to fill the
  169  professional art therapist positions on the advisory council
  170  shall be for a term of at least 1 year. Appointees shall be
  171  credentialed art therapists who meet the requirements for
  172  licensure under this part and who have engaged in the practice
  173  of professional art therapy in this state for at least 4 years
  174  immediately before appointment.
  175         (b) Advisory council members may serve consecutive terms at
  176  the will of the director.
  177         (c) Advisory council members shall serve without
  178  compensation, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for per
  179  diem and travel expenses pursuant to s. 112.061.
  180         (2) The advisory council shall meet at least annually or as
  181  called by the director.
  182         (3) The advisory council shall provide the director with
  183  expertise and assistance in carrying out his or her duties and
  184  responsibilities pursuant to this part, including:
  185         (a) Advising the director in developing rules relating to
  186  procedures and requirements for licensure and the biennial
  187  renewal of licenses, fees, licensure examinations, and approval
  188  of art therapy programs;
  189         (b) Evaluating the professional qualifications of
  190  applicants for licensure;
  191         (c) Developing materials that the division may use to
  192  educate the public about art therapy and the licensure of
  193  clinical and professional art therapists; and
  194         (d) Reviewing complaints of improper or unethical practice
  195  by licensed art therapists and providing advice regarding
  196  disciplinary actions.
  197         (4) The director shall consult with the advisory council
  198  before issuing rules pursuant to s. 468.908.
  199         Section 5. Section 468.904, Florida Statutes, is created to
  200  read:
  201         468.904 Licensure requirement; use of title.—
  202         (1) An individual may not, for or without compensation,
  203  engage in the practice of professional art therapy or clinical
  204  art therapy unless the individual holds a license issued by the
  205  division pursuant to s. 468.905. The requirement for licensure
  206  pursuant to this section does not apply to:
  207         (a) A student enrolled in a postgraduate program in art
  208  therapy approved by the director while engaged in supervised
  209  experiences that are part of an approved course of study; and
  210         (b) A person holding a master’s or doctoral degree from an
  211  approved program in art therapy who is engaged in the practice
  212  of clinical or professional art therapy while under supervision
  213  as part of clinical training, approved by the division, to
  214  satisfy the supervised experience requirement for licensure
  215  pursuant to s. 468.905.
  216         (2) An individual may not, for or without compensation, use
  217  in connection with his or her name the professional designations
  218  “professional art therapist” or “clinical art therapist,” or use
  219  any letters, words, or insignia, or otherwise represent himself
  220  or herself to the public as licensed or qualified to practice
  221  professional art therapy, either directly or through a
  222  governmental or private organization, entity, or agency, unless
  223  the individual holds a license issued by the division pursuant
  224  to s. 468.905.
  225         (3) An individual who violates this section commits a
  226  misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s.
  227  775.082 or s. 775.083.
  228         (4) This section may not be construed to restrict the
  229  activities or practice of an individual licensed or certified
  230  under any other law of this state from engaging in the
  231  profession or practice for which he or she is licensed or
  232  certified if he or she is providing services that are consistent
  233  with the individual’s professional training and he or she does
  234  not represent, imply, or claim that he or she is a professional
  235  art therapist or clinical art therapist licensed under this
  236  part.
  237         Section 6. Section 468.905, Florida Statutes, is created to
  238  read:
  239         468.905 Issuance of licenses.—
  240         (1) The division shall issue a professional art therapist
  241  license to each applicant who files an application using a form
  242  and in such manner as the division prescribes, accompanied by
  243  applicable fees, and who furnishes evidence satisfactory to the
  244  division that the applicant:
  245         (a) Holds a master’s degree or higher from an accredited
  246  art therapy program or a substantially equivalent program
  247  approved by the director;
  248         (b) Has completed not less than 3 years, with a minimum of
  249  3,000 hours, of supervised experience in art therapy under the
  250  supervision of an art therapy certified supervisor, board
  251  certified art therapist, or other qualified mental health
  252  professional, as determined by the director, of which:
  253         1. A minimum of 2 years, or 2,000 hours, was completed
  254  following completion of the graduate degree;
  255         2. A minimum of 1,500 hours of postgraduate supervised
  256  experience involved the practice of professional art therapy
  257  face-to-face with clients, some part of which may have included
  258  participation in a doctoral internship; and
  259         3. At least 1 hour of direct contact between a graduate
  260  trainee and an approved supervisor was provided per 15 hours of
  261  practice face-to-face with clients, with a minimum of 1 hour of
  262  direct supervision every 2 weeks;
  263         (c) Has passed the Art Therapy Credentials Board
  264  Examination.
  265         (2) The director may determine that a master’s degree
  266  program in art therapy or a related field at a nationally
  267  accredited college or university is substantially equivalent to
  268  an accredited art therapy program if the program includes at
  269  least 60 semester credit hours, or the equivalent, of graduate
  270  level courses that include courses and training in the following
  271  areas:
  272         (a) The art therapy profession.
  273         (b) Theory and practice of art therapy.
  274         (c) Human growth and developmental dynamics in art.
  275         (d) Application of art therapy with people in different
  276  treatment settings.
  277         (e) Art therapy appraisal, diagnosis, and assessment.
  278         (f) Ethical and legal issues of art therapy practice.
  279         (g) Matters of cultural and social diversity bearing on the
  280  practice of art therapy.
  281         (h) Standards of good art therapy practice.
  282         (i) Group art therapy.
  283         (j) An art therapy internship of at least 600 hours which
  284  is performed under appropriate supervision and is part of an
  285  approved course of study.
  286         (3) The division shall issue a clinical art therapist
  287  license to each applicant who files an application using a form
  288  and in such manner as the division prescribes, accompanied by
  289  applicable fees, and who furnishes evidence satisfactory to the
  290  division that the applicant:
  291         (a) Has met all qualifications for licensure required by
  292  subsection (1).
  293         (b) Has completed at least 9 semester credit hours, or the
  294  equivalent, of graduate-level courses specifically related to
  295  diagnosis, treatment, appraisal, and assessment of mental,
  296  emotional, behavioral, and addiction disorders, either as part
  297  of an approved course of study for the master’s or doctoral
  298  degree or following completion of such degree.
  299         (c) Has completed postgraduate supervised experience in
  300  clinical art therapy in a clinical setting that provides
  301  substantial opportunities to diagnose, treat, appraise, and
  302  assess mental, emotional, behavioral, and addiction disorders in
  303  both individual and group settings.
  304         (4) The division shall issue a professional art therapist
  305  license to an applicant who completes and submits an application
  306  using a form and in such manner as the division prescribes,
  307  accompanied by applicable fees, and who furnishes evidence
  308  satisfactory to the division that the applicant holds a license
  309  in good standing as a professional art therapist issued by
  310  another state or jurisdiction where the qualifications required
  311  for licensure are equal to or greater than those required by
  312  subsection (1).
  313         (5) The division shall waive the requirements of subsection
  314  (1) and issue a professional art therapist license to an
  315  applicant who, before July 1, 2018, files an application using a
  316  form and in a manner as the division prescribes, accompanied by
  317  applicable fees, and who furnishes evidence satisfactory to the
  318  division that the applicant:
  319         (a) Is a board-certified art therapist in good standing
  320  with the Art Therapy Credentials Board; and
  321         (b) Has not less than 5 years of relevant experience in the
  322  practice of art therapy before July 1, 2016, which may include
  323  not more than 1 year of supervised experience as determined by
  324  the director.
  325         (6) Fees collected pursuant to this part shall be deposited
  326  into the Medical Quality Assurance Trust Fund as provided under
  327  s. 456.025.
  328         Section 7. Section 468.906, Florida Statutes, is created to
  329  read:
  330         468.906 License renewal.—
  331         (1) A license issued by the division under this part must
  332  be renewed biennially by submission of an application using a
  333  form and in a manner as the division prescribes, payment of a
  334  renewal fee, and submission by the licensee of evidence of
  335  satisfactory completion of required continuing education.
  336         (2) The director shall establish by rule the requirements
  337  for the number of credit hours and content of continuing
  338  education, approval of qualified providers of continuing
  339  education, and procedures for verifying and issuing credit for
  340  satisfactory completion of continuing education, which shall
  341  incorporate the requirements and standards for maintaining
  342  national board certification in good standing with the Art
  343  Therapy Credentials Board.
  344         (3) Failure to renew a license shall result in forfeiture
  345  of the license. Licenses that have been forfeited may be
  346  restored within 1 year of the expiration date upon the
  347  licensee’s payment of renewal and restoration fees. Failure to
  348  restore a forfeited license within 1 year of the date of its
  349  expiration results in the automatic termination of the license,
  350  and the division may require the individual to reapply for
  351  licensure as a new applicant.
  352         Section 8. Section 468.907, Florida Statutes, is created to
  353  read:
  354         468.907 Disciplinary grounds and actions.—
  355         (1) The following acts constitute violations of this part
  356  and grounds for denial of a license or disciplinary action, as
  357  specified in s. 456.072(2):
  358         (a) Attempting to obtain, obtaining, or renewing a license
  359  issued by the division under this part by fraudulent
  360  misrepresentation, by bribery, or through an error of the
  361  division.
  362         (b) Being convicted or found guilty of, or entering a plea
  363  of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a
  364  crime in any jurisdiction which directly relates to the practice
  365  of professional art therapy or the ability to practice art
  366  therapy.
  367         (c) Engaging in false, deceptive, or misleading advertising
  368  or attempting to practice under a name other than one’s own.
  369         (d) Failing to meet the minimum standards of performance in
  370  professional activities when measured against generally
  371  prevailing peer performance, including performing any treatment
  372  or therapy for which the licensee is not qualified by training
  373  or experience or performing services that have not been duly
  374  authorized by the client or his or her legal representative.
  375         (e) Making or filing a report that the licensee knows to be
  376  false, intentionally or negligently failing to file a report or
  377  record required by state or federal law, willfully impeding or
  378  obstructing such filing, or inducing another person to do so.
  379         (f) Failing to keep a written record for each client, which
  380  includes client history, examination results, and the course of
  381  prescribed treatment.
  382         (g) Failing to make available, upon the written request of
  383  a client or client’s legal representative, copies of tests,
  384  reports, art products, or documents in the possession of the
  385  licensee which have been prepared for and paid for by the
  386  client.
  387         (h) Committing any act upon a client which would constitute
  388  sexual battery or which would constitute sexual misconduct as
  389  defined pursuant to s. 394.4593.
  390         (i) Failing to respond within 30 days to a written
  391  communication from the division or the Department of Health
  392  concerning any investigation by the division or the department,
  393  or failing to make available any relevant records with respect
  394  to any investigation about the licensee’s conduct or background.
  395         (j) Failing or being unable to practice art therapy with
  396  reasonable skill or competence as a result of any mental or
  397  physical condition, or by reason of illness, drunkenness, or
  398  excessive use of drugs, narcotics, or chemical substances.
  399         (k) Violating a rule relating to the regulation of the art
  400  therapy profession or a lawful order of the department
  401  previously entered in a disciplinary hearing involving the
  402  licensee.
  403         (2) The division, in consultation with the advisory
  404  council, may conduct investigations into alleged violations of
  405  this section.
  406         (3) The division shall adopt rules for the administration
  407  of this section, including determinations of the actions that
  408  constitute a substantial violation of this section; the
  409  sanctions necessary to protect the public or to compensate
  410  clients; circumstances that allow for probation or corrective
  411  actions rather than sanctions; and the conditions under which a
  412  license may be reinstated after a licensee has undergone
  413  disciplinary action.
  414         Section 9. Section 468.908, Florida Statutes, is created to
  415  read:
  416         468.908 Rules.—The division is authorized to adopt rules to
  417  implement this part.
  418         Section 10. Paragraph (f) is added to subsection (2) of
  419  section 1002.66, Florida Statutes, to read:
  420         1002.66 Specialized instructional services for children
  421  with disabilities.—
  422         (2) The parent of a child who is eligible for the
  423  prekindergarten program for children with disabilities may
  424  select one or more specialized instructional services that are
  425  consistent with the child’s individual educational plan. These
  426  specialized instructional services may include, but are not
  427  limited to:
  428         (f) Art therapy as defined in s. 468.902.
  429         Section 11. Paragraph (g) is added to subsection (1) of
  430  section 1003.572, Florida Statutes, to read:
  431         1003.572 Collaboration of public and private instructional
  432  personnel.—
  433         (1) As used in this section, the term “private
  434  instructional personnel” means:
  435         (g) Professional art therapists licensed under part XVII of
  436  chapter 468.
  437         Section 12. This act shall take effect July 1, 2016.