AB 1279, as introduced, Holden. Music therapy.
Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of various healing arts practitioners by boards within the Department of Consumer Affairs.
This bill would enact the Music Therapy Act and would state the intent of the Legislature to provide statutory definitions relating to the practice of music therapy and enable consumers and state and local agencies to more easily identify qualified music therapists. The bill would define terms for the purposes of the act.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 4650)
2is added to Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, to
3read:
This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the
4Music Therapy Act.
The Legislature finds and declares the following:
6(a) Existing national certification of music therapist requires
7the therapist to have graduated with a bachelor’s degree or its
8equivalent, or higher, from a music therapy degree program
9approved by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA),
10successful completion of a minimum of 1,200 hours of supervised
11clinical work through preinternship training at an approved degree
12program, and internship training through approved national roster
13or university affiliated internship programs, or an equivalent.
14(b) Upon successful completion of the AMTA academic and
15clinical training requirements or its international equivalent, an
16individual is eligible to sit
for the national board certification exam
17administered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists
18(CBMT), an independent, nonprofit corporation fully accredited
19by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.
20(c) The CBMT grants the Music Therapist-Board Certified
21(MT-BC) credential to music therapists who have demonstrated
22the knowledge, skills, and abilities for competence in the current
23practice of music therapy. The purpose of board certification in
24music therapy is to provide an objective national standard that can
25be used as a measure of professionalism and competence by
26interested agencies, groups, and individuals.
27(d) The MT-BC is awarded by the CBMT to an individual upon
28successful completion of an academic and clinical training program
29approved by the AMTA or an international equivalent and
30successful completion of an objective written examination
31demonstrating
current competency in the profession of music
32therapy. The CBMT administers this examination, which is based
33on a nationwide music therapy practice analysis that is reviewed
34and updated every five years to reflect current clinical practice.
35(e) Once certified, a music therapist must adhere to the CBMT
36Code of Professional Practice and recertify every five years through
37either a program of continuing education or reexamination.
It is the intent of the Legislature that this chapter do the
39following:
P3 1(a) Provide statutory definitions relating to the practice of music
2therapy.
3(b) Enable consumers and state and local agencies to more easily
4identify qualified music therapists.
As used in this act:
6(a) “Music therapy” means the clinical and evidence-based use
7of music therapy interventions in developmental, rehabilitative,
8habilitative, medical, mental health, preventive, wellness care, or
9educational settings to accomplish individualized goals for people
10of all ages and ability levels within a therapeutic relationship by
11a qualified individual. Music therapy includes all of the following:
12(1) The development of music therapy treatment plans specific
13to the needs and strengths of the client who may be seen
14individually or in groups.
15(2) Individualized treatment plans for each client.
16(3) The establishment of goals, objectives, and potential
17strategies of the music therapy services appropriate for the client
18and setting.
19(b) “Music therapy interventions” include, but are not limited
20to, music improvisation, receptive music listening, song writing,
21lyric discussion, music and imagery, singing, music performance,
22learning through music, music combined with other arts,
23music-assisted relaxation, music-based patient education, electronic
24music technology, adapted music intervention, and movement to
25music.
26(c) “Qualified individual” includes an individual who has
27completed the education and clinical training requirements
28established by the American Music Therapy Association and who
29holds current board certification from the Certification Board for
30Music
Therapists.
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