Texas Senate Bill SB1081

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

• Filed: 2/4/25

Caption

Relating to the regulation of art therapy, including the establishment of the Texas Art Therapy Board and the duties of the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council; requiring an occupational license; creating a criminal offense; imposing a fee.

Impact

If enacted, SB1081 would significantly impact the standards and regulation of art therapy as a mental health service in Texas. The law is designed to protect consumers by ensuring that only qualified individuals may practice this specialized form of psychotherapy. It will require art therapists to meet educational standards, accrue supervised practice hours, and pass a licensing examination. These provisions help to professionalize the field and align art therapy with other established mental health disciplines.

Summary

SB1081, known as the Art Therapy Licensing and Practice Act, aims to regulate the practice of art therapy in Texas by establishing the Texas Art Therapy Board and requiring practitioners to obtain an occupational license. The bill outlines the qualifications needed to practice as a licensed professional art therapist or as an associate art therapist. It also mandates the creation of rules and procedures by the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council to administer the licensing process effectively.

Contention

Notably, some contention may arise regarding the transition period for existing art therapists who may not hold the new license upon enactment. The bill allows for provisional licenses and waivers for those already practicing under certain criteria, which has been met with mixed reactions from the current practitioners community. While some support the introduction of formal standards, others express concern over the potential financial and operational burdens the new regulatory framework may impose on them.

Texas Constitutional Statutes Affected

Occupations Code

• Chapter 507. Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council
  • Section: 001
  • Section: 051
  • Section: 052
  • Section: 053
  • Section: 151

• Chapter 503. Licensed Professional Counselors
  • Section: 310
  • Section: 452
  • Section: 303

Civil Practice And Remedies Code

• Chapter 81. Sexual Exploitation By Mental Health Services Provider
  • Section: New Section