Bill > A1604

Introduced Session

This bill provides for the licensure of recreational therapists. As defined under the bill, "recreational therapy" means a systematic process utilizing recreation, leisure, and play interventions for the treatment and maintenance of functional abilities and the promotion of health and wellness for individuals with disabilities or those affected by an illness in order to accomplish certain physical, social cognitive, and emotional goals. This bill also establishes the Recreational Therapy Advisory Committee in the Division of Consumer Affairs under the State Board of Medical Examiners in the Department of Law and Public Safety. The committee is to consist of five members, appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate, who are residents of the State and who have been actively engaged in the practice of recreational therapy for at least five years immediately preceding their appointment. Except for the members first appointed, all members must be licensed recreational therapists. However, the members first appointed to the committee must be qualified for licensure pursuant to the provisions of the bill and must become licensed recreational therapists as soon as practical. To be eligible for licensure as a recreational therapist, an applicant must be at least 18 years of age and be of good moral character. In addition, the applicant must submit to the committee evidence of: 1) having successfully completed a bachelor level program or higher in recreational therapy or therapeutic recreation, or a bachelor level program or higher in a related field which includes courses pertaining to recreational therapy or therapeutic recreation as required for certification by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification; and 2) having successfully completed all certification requirements for, and maintained certification as, a certified therapeutic recreational specialist by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification. Under the bill, recreational therapist licenses are issued for a two-year period upon the payment of the prescribed licensure fee and the submission of a written application. The license may be renewed upon filing a renewal application, payment of a renewal fee, and presentation of satisfactory evidence to the committee of certification as a certified therapeutic recreational specialist by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification. The committee is permitted to grant a license to any person who at the time of application submission and payment of a licensure fee is licensed by a governmental agency located in another state if the requirements of that licensure are substantially equivalent to the requirements of the bill, as determined by the committee. The bill provides that no person is permitted to practice or indicate an ability to practice recreational therapy, whether or not compensation is received or expected; make any representation as a recreational therapist; use the term "recreational therapist," "licensed recreational therapist," the initials "CTRS," "CTRS/L," or other similar terms or abbreviations; or provide recreational therapy services unless the person holds a valid license to practice in this State. Furthermore, the bill provides that only an individual may be licensed to practice recreational therapy within the State. This bill does not apply to: the activities and services of qualified members of other professions licensed by the State, when acting within the scope of their profession and doing work of a nature consistent with their training; any student enrolled in a course of study leading to a degree or certificate in therapeutic recreation, when supervised by a licensed professional, who is performing recreational therapy services incidental to the student's course work; any therapeutic recreation assistant providing therapeutic recreation services under the direct supervision of a licensed therapeutic recreation specialist; or any individual providing recreational or activity programs to a person with disabilities as a normal part of the leisure lifestyle of the person with disabilities.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Herbert Conaway (D)*,  Angelica Jimenez (D)*,  Carol Murphy (D)*,  Troy Singleton (D)*,  Sandra Cunningham (D),  Jim Kennedy (D), 

Approved P.L.2019, c.467. (on 01/21/2020)