HLS 14RS-4694 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 159
BY REPRESENTATIVE STUART BISHOP
HEALTH SERVICES: Creates a task force to study the prospective establishment of art
therapist as a licensed profession
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To create the Task Force on Art Therapist Licensure and Regulation to study the prospective2
establishment of art therapist as a licensed profession in Louisiana and to request that3
the task force report to the legislative committees on health and welfare on or before4
December 31, 2014, with a baseline framework for licensure of art therapists and5
regulation of the practice of art therapy.6
WHEREAS, art therapy is a widely recognized and respected mental health7
profession; and8
WHEREAS, the profession of art therapy integrates psychotherapeutic principles,9
art media, and the creative process for clinical mental health diagnosing, increasing10
awareness of self and others, and promoting developmentally appropriate academic and11
social interaction; and12
WHEREAS, in the clinical realm, art therapy helps clients to achieve important13
goals, including but not limited to the following:14
(1) Coping with symptoms, stress, and traumatic experiences.15
(2) Improving cognitive abilities.16
(3) Addressing developmental, behavioral, mental, and emotional needs; and17
WHEREAS, in Louisiana and elsewhere, art therapy is practiced in a wide variety18
of settings, including hospitals, psychiatric and rehabilitation facilities, wellness centers,19
forensic institutions, schools, crisis centers, senior communities, private practices, and other20
clinical and community settings; and21 HLS 14RS-4694 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 159
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WHEREAS, establishing the licensed profession of art therapist in Louisiana is1
necessary not only to meet community needs for mental health services but to protect the2
public, as full professional licensure, along with appropriate standards and regulations for3
the profession, will ensure that only properly educated, trained, and credentialed4
professionals are officially recognized as art therapists and are permitted, exclusively, to use5
"art therapist" as a professional title in this state.6
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby7
create the Task Force on Art Therapist Licensure and Regulation to study prospective8
establishment of art therapist as a licensed profession in Louisiana.9
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall be composed of the10
following members:11
(1) Two representatives of the Louisiana Art Therapy Association, one of whom12
shall be the chairperson of the subcommittee for licensure of the association, and one of13
whom shall be the president of the association or his designee.14
(2) The executive director of the Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board15
of Examiners or his designee.16
(3) The president of the Louisiana Association for Marriage and Family Therapy or17
his designee.18
(4) The executive director of the Louisiana Counseling Association or his designee.19
(5) The state superintendent of education or his designee.20
(6) The secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals or his designee.21
(7) The executive director of the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of22
Psychologists or his designee.23
(8) The president of the Louisiana Psychological Association or his designee.24
(9) The executive director of the National Association of Social Workers, Louisiana25
Chapter, or his designee.26
(10) The president of the Louisiana Association of Clinical Social Workers or his27
designee.28
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall convene on or before29
September 1, 2014.30 HLS 14RS-4694 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 159
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that on or before December 31, 2014, the task force1
shall submit a written report to the House Committee on Health and Welfare and the Senate2
Committee on Health and Welfare providing a baseline framework for licensure of art3
therapists and regulation of the practice of art therapy.4
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the5
president of the Louisiana Art Therapy Association, the executive director of the Louisiana6
Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners, the president of the Louisiana7
Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, the executive director of the Louisiana8
Counseling Association, the state superintendent of education, the secretary of the9
Department of Health and Hospitals, the executive director of the Louisiana State Board of10
Examiners of Psychologists, the president of the Louisiana Psychological Association, the11
executive director of the Louisiana Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers,12
and the president of the Louisiana Association of Clinical Social Workers.13
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Stuart Bishop HCR No. 159
Creates the Task Force on Art Therapist Licensure and Regulation to study the prospective
establishment of art therapist as a licensed profession in Louisiana and to report to the
legislative committees on health and welfare on or before Dec. 31, 2014, with a baseline
framework for licensure of art therapists and regulation of the practice of art therapy.