Legislative Info & Action Alerts
The Buckeye Art Therapy Association
Affiliate Chapter of the American Art Therapy Association

BATA Legislative Alerts

6/3/2010
Update on HB 208- Legislation for Art Therapy Licensure

Over the last couple of weeks, BATA President Gretchen Miller, Legislative Chair Michaele Barsnack, and First Vice President Michele Tarsitano-Amato have been communicating via conference call and talking with Rep. Skindell directly to obtain an update about the status of HB 208.

Legislators are expected to break for summer recess and will be returning in the fall.. We were hopeful that HB 208 would have moved out of committee by this time, but unfortunately the legislation is still awaiting to be heard for its final hearing by the Health Committee.

Rep. Skindell now reports that HB 208 can still be heard in the fall when legislators return.

4/24/2010
Amendments Back From LSC- Our changes and amendments to HB 208 about the definition of art therapy and including more information about art therapy educational standards have been finalized by the Legislative Service Commission (LSC).

We are still waiting for HB 208 to go to the Health Committee for their vote. If the legislation passes within the Health Committee the bill will have the opportunity to be heard by the House and then voted on before going to the Senate.

We have been told that this legislation needs to be in the Senate by June. Important steps within the House are still needed before this can take place.  Legislators will be breaking for summer recess in June and it is expected that they will not be returning until November, after election season has wrapped May primaries and thinking ahead to fall election campaigning and re-election efforts are the priority for many legislators, which makes it difficult for current legislation still in play to keep moving forward.  We hope that after the primaries are finished in the next two weeks that movement on HB 208 can take place, but are also realistic about the window closing on the amount of time we still have available.


3/11/2010
BATA PRESENTS TO COALITION FOR HEALTHY COMMUNITIES

Legislative Committee Member Don Cutcher presented HB 208 on behalf of BATA to the Coalition for Healthy Communities (CHC). BATA is a Coalition member and the CHC includes over 30 other groups and organizations important and influential to mental health advocacy and policy.  Coalition members were given a packet of information about HB 208, the profession of art therapy, examples of stand alone art therapy licensure in other states, art therapy educational standards, and the impact of services provided by art therapists in the state of Ohio.  Those Coalition groups who wish to support HB 208 were encouraged to provide us with a letter to extend their support.

Rep. Skindell continues to meet with stakeholders and interested parties in association with HB 208 and a Committee vote should take place soon.


2/18/2010
SENATE SPONSORSHIP OBTAINED

BATA is pleased to announce that Senator Timothy Grendell has agreed to sponsor our legislation for art therapy licensure if HB 208 passes through the House of Representatives and gets to the Ohio Senate.  BATA thanks Senator Grendell for his support, his interest in HB 208, and looks forward to working with him more in the Senate.


2/5/2010
MOVING FORWARD WITH HB 208
Since the Health Committee testimony on January 20, BATA was approached by the Executive Director of the CSWMFT Board to consider a proposal where art therapy would become aligned with counseling licensure.  This proposal idea was heavily influenced by the counseling's profession 20/20 initiative: http://www.counseling.org/20-20/index.aspx

This proposal would include accepting that art therapy is a sub specialty of counseling and that BATA and all art therapists in Ohio would have to identify first as counselors, meet counseling coursework and exam requirements, and that art therapy is a modality of the counseling profession. 

This proposal prompted several conference calls, BATA board discussions, and deliberations on what do next as we attempt to create a pathway for art therapy licensure in Ohio. BATA Board and Legislative Committee Members talked further with the CSWMFT Board's Executive Director about the proposal received. It also prompted the BATA Board approving the hiring of Cathy Malchiodi as a Legislative Consultant to assist with reviewing information and providing us feedback, direction, and strategy regarding our next steps.

After much discussion and consideration about the proposial and HB 208, the majority vote of the BATA Board of Directors decided to move forward with HB 208 as is and continue efforts for a stand alone art therapy license that would recognize art therapy in Ohio as a distinct mental health profession.  BATA will not be accepting the proposal for art therapy to become a sub specialty of counseling and as a result, having to give up our art therapist identity.

At this time, HB 208 still remains alive in the Health Committee awaiting final sponsor testimony from Rep. Michael Skindell and then a Committee vote.

1/15/10
ALERT!  FINAL PROPONENT TESTIMONY SCHEDULED FOR HB 208

Final proponent testimony with the House Health Committee is scheduled for
Wednesday, 1/20/10.  We are mobilizing supporters and advocates of our legislation to attend this open hearing in Columbus.  Please contact Michaele Barsnack for more information on how you can help!

12/5/09
ALERT!   PROPONENT TESTIMONY SCHEDULED FOR HB 208

We have been asked by our sponsor, Representative Skindell, to gather more letters of support and testimony, which will be given to the Health Committee when we provide proponent testimony on Wednesday 12/9/09.

These letters are meant to explain to the Health Committee the reason that HB 208 is needed in Ohio.

9/20/09
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE @ BATA MEMBERSHIP MEETING

During BATA's Annual Membership Meeting during this year's Symposium, Legislative Chair Michaele Barsnack presented this update and overview about our legislation. Download this presentation here.

7/13/09
SUPPORT LETTERS

As buzz about HB 208 continues to grow, our legislation for the licensure of art therapists in Ohio continues to be in wait to go before the Ohio House of Representatives. We are hopeful that hearings and testimony will begin this fall.  We now have more time to extend the deadline for the call of support letters. 

Please consider contributing to this important effort by helping to gather letters of support for HB 208 from colleagues, co-workers, agencies, administrators, appropriate clients, and anyone that you know that supports our efforts and the importance of art therapy being licensed and protected in the State of Ohio. 

BATA's Legislative Chair Michaele Barsnack has already received agency support letters from James Cancer Center, The Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, Ruffing Montessori Schools, Kendal at Oberlin, The Art Therapy Studio, Akron Children's Hospital & Behavioral Health, Gooch & Gooch LLC, Amethyst, Ursuline College, and Center for Families and Children as a direct result from BATA member advocacy efforts.  Thank you to those who have helped obtain and recruit support letters, as well as those who have come forward with interest in providing on-site testimony when hearings begin.

We would love to have more support letters to present to Members of the Health Committee when hearings begin.

Letters of support can be e-mailed to Michaele Barsnack, artcounselor1@yahoo.com  or mailed to Michaele at Capital University,
Art/Art Therapy Department, 1 College & Main St., Columbus, OH, 43209 .

7/5/09
Art therapy practitioners seek Ohio recognition
Associated Press article-- Dayton Daily News
By Terry Kinney


6/11/09
HB 208 ASSIGNED TO THE HEALTH COMMITTEE
We are pleased to learn that HB 208 has been assigned to the Health Committee, where we have many of our co-sponsors serving as members (Hagan, Letson, Oslslager, Winburn, Yuko) and Barbara Boyd serves as Chair. BATA members who have a Representative serving on the Health Committee have been alerted to contact him/her and urge them to support HB 208. Next steps include hearings with the Health Committee.

6/7/09
HB 208 IS INTRODUCED
Our art therapy licensure legislation now has a House Bill number and available to view on-line: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=128_HB_208.

Legislative floor actions
Dayton Daily News - Dayton,OH
HB 208 ART THERAPY (Skindell) — To regulate the practice of art therapy.


6/1/09 
CALL FOR CO-SPONSORS UPDATE

This is an update about the Call for Co-Sponsors in the House of Representatives for our art therapy licensure legislation. Our legislation has 12 co-sponsors:

Rep. Robert HaganRep. Marian HarrisRep. Mike Foley

Rep. John Domenick     Rep. Tom Letson  Rep. Peter Ujvaji

Rep. Mark Okey     Rep Dennis Murray      Rep. W. Scott Oslslager

Rep. Roland Winburn    Rep. Barbara Boyd      Rep. Kenny Yuko


We thank these Representatives for their support and co-sponsoring this legislation being introduced by our sponsor Representative Skindell.

Thank you to those BATA members who have called, e-mailed, and contacted their Representatives and urged them to sponsor this legislation.

Members of the BATA Board of Directors and Legislative Committee put together packets of information about art therapy and our legislation to deliver to all 99 House Representatives of the 128th General Assembly at their offices located in the Riffe Center, Columbus.  Here is my letter that will accompany each packet.

Soon our legislation will be filed and receive a House Bill (HB) number. We will keep you updated on any new developments.  Thank you everyone's help with this effort!


4/24/2009
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE- OVERVIEW OF LICENSURE LEGISLATION

Art Therapy License:

  • Evidence that the applicant is currently board certified by the Art Therapy Credentials Board, Inc. (ATCB); and
  • Three letters of recommendation from professional sources, one of which shall be from an art therapist and
  • Properly completed application, pays the fee established under section 4757.31 of the Revised Code, is of good moral character

Provisional/Temporary License:

  • Have a degree from an American Art Therapy Association (AATA) approved program or equivalent and maintain supervision under the guidelines of the Art Therapy Credential Board (ATCB) OR hold a current ATR with the Art Therapy Credential Board (ATCB) and
  • Properly completed application, pays the fee established under section 4757.31 of the Revised Code, is of good moral character
  • Provisional license is good for 2 years and renewable 3 times

Grandparenting:

  • Have a degree in art therapy and
  • Provide documentation evident of 5 years of employment as an art therapist (within the last 10 years) and
  • Has taken the Social Worker, Counselor, Marriage & Family Therapist, Psychologist or Psychiatrist exam
  • Properly completed application, pays the fee established under section 4757.31 of the Revised Code, is of good moral character
  • Grandparenting initiative will last for 1 year after the amendment goes into effect.

Scope of Practice:

A person licensed under this chapter as an art therapist may practice art therapy through the integrated use of psychotherapeutic principles and visual art media in the assessment, evaluation, treatment, amelioration, and remediation of emotional, cognitive, neurological, psychosocial, physical, and developmental discords. A licensed art therapist may provide training and supervision to art therapy students or prospective applicants for licensure.


© 2007-10 The Buckeye Art Therapy Association

Art Therapy Licensure Comes to  Kentucky!

Art Therapy Licensure, passed the House of Representatives on Feb 13, 2009, 90-1 and the Senate on March 9 , 2009, 38-0!  The bill was signed on 4/14/09 by the Governor!

Read more at: http://www.kyarttherapy.org/.

Congrats to Kentucky art therapists for all their hard work and efforts to make this happen!
HB 208
Sponsor: Rep. Michael Skindell

Legislation for Art Therapy Licensure- View the Bill Here.