Bill Text: IL SB1595 | 2015-2016 | 99th General Assembly | Engrossed

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Creates the Music Therapy Licensing and Practice Act. Provides for licensure of music therapists by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Establishes the powers and duties of the Department, including prescribing rules defining what constitutes an appropriate curriculum for music therapy, reviewing the qualifications of applicants for licenses, investigating alleged violations of the Act, conducting hearings on disciplinary and other matters, and establishing a schedule of fees for the administration and enforcement of the Act. Establishes qualifications for licensure as a music therapist. Provides that licenses issued under the Act shall be renewed biennially. Establishes the Music Therapy Advisory Committee. Establishes the powers and duties of the advisory committee, including advising the Department on all matters pertaining to licensure, education, and continuing education requirements for music therapists. Establishes grounds for discipline of a license. Provides for civil and criminal penalties for violations of the Act. Creates provisions concerning formal hearings, including transcripts of proceedings, appointment of hearing officers, subpoenas and depositions, and rehearings. Provides for judicial review of all final administrative decisions of the Department. Preempts home rule. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-1)

Status: (Passed) 2015-08-18 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 99-0397 [SB1595 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2015-SB1595-Engrossed.html

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AN ACT concerning regulation.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Music
Therapy Advisory Board Act.
Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:
"Board" means the Music Therapy Advisory Board.
"Music therapist" means a person who is certified by the
Certification Board for Music Therapists.
"Music therapy" means the clinical and evidence-based use
of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals for
people of all ages and ability levels within a therapeutic
relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed
an approved music therapy program. The music therapy
interventions may include music improvisation, receptive music
listening, song writing, lyric discussion, music and imagery,
singing, music performance, learning through music, music
combined with other arts, music-assisted relaxation,
music-based patient education, electronic music technology,
adapted music intervention, and movement to music. The term
"music therapy" does not include the diagnosis or assessment of
any physical, mental, or communication disorder.
"Department" means the Department of Financial and

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Professional Regulation.
"Secretary" means the Secretary of Financial and
Professional Regulation or his or her designee.
Section 10. Advisory board.
(a) There is created the Music Therapy Advisory Board
within the Department. The Board shall consist of 10 members
appointed by the Secretary. The Secretary shall make the
appointments to the Board within 90 days after the effective
date of this Act. The members of the Board shall represent
different racial and ethnic backgrounds and have the
qualifications as follows:
(1) three members who currently serve as music
therapists in Cook County;
(2) one member who currently serves as a music
therapist in DuPage, Kane, Lake, or Will County;
(3) one member who currently serves as a music
therapist in Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Jersey, Macoupin,
Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Randolph, St. Clair, or
Washington County;
(4) one member who currently serves as a music
therapist in any other county in the State;
(5) one member who is a licensed psychologist in
Illinois;
(6) one member who is a licensed social worker or
counselor;

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(7) one member who currently employs music therapists;
and
(8) one representative of a community college,
university, or educational institution that provides
training to music therapists.
(b) In addition, the following persons may each appoint an
ex officio, non-voting member of the Board: the Executive
Director of the Illinois Community College Board, the Director
of Children and Family Services, the Director of Aging, the
Director of Public Health, the Director of Employment Security,
the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the
Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation, the
Director of Healthcare and Family Services, and the Secretary
of Human Services.
(c) The voting members of the Board shall select a
chairperson from the voting members of the Board. The Board
shall consult with additional experts as needed. Five members
constitute a quorum. The Board shall hold its first meeting
within 30 days after the appointment of members by the
Secretary. Members of the Board shall serve without
compensation. The Department shall provide administrative and
staff support to the Board. The meetings of the Board are
subject to the provisions of the Open Meetings Act.
(d) The Board shall consider the core competencies of a
music therapist, including skills and areas of knowledge that
are essential to bringing about music therapy services to

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communities by qualified individuals. As relating to music
therapy services, the core competencies for effective music
therapists may include, but are not limited to:
(1) materials to educate the public concerning music
therapist licensure;
(2) the benefits of music therapy;
(3) the utilization of music therapy by individuals and
in facilities or institutional settings;
(4) culturally competent communication and care;
(5) music therapy for behavior change;
(6) support from the American Music Therapy
Association or any successor organization and the
Certification Board for Music Therapists;
(7) clinical training; and
(8) education and continuing education requirements.
Section 15. Report.
(a) The Board shall develop a report with its
recommendations regarding the certification process for music
therapists. The report shall be completed no later than 12
months after the first meeting of the Board. The report shall
be submitted to all members and ex officio members of the
Board, the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Minority
Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, and the Minority Leader of the House of
Representatives. The Department shall publish the report on its

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Internet website.
(b) The report shall at a minimum include the following:
(1) a summary of research regarding the best practices,
curriculum, and training programs for designing a
certification program in this State for music therapists,
including a consideration of a multi-tiered education or
training system, statewide certification,
non-certification degree-based levels of certification,
support from the American Music Therapy Association and
Certification Board for Music Therapists, and the
requirements for experience-based certification;
(2) recommendations regarding certification and
renewal process for music therapists and a system of
approval and accreditation for curriculum and training;
(3) recommendations for a proposed curriculum for
music therapists that ensures the content, methodology,
development, and delivery of any proposed program is
appropriately based on cultural, geographic, and other
specialty needs and also reflects relevant
responsibilities for music therapists; and
(4) recommendations for best practices for
reimbursement options and pathways through which secure
funding for music therapists may be obtained.
(c) The Board shall advise the Department, the Governor,
and the General Assembly on all matters that impact the
effective work of music therapists.