Fall 2009 issue
NEW JERSEY TASK FORCE ON OCCUPATIONAL REGULATION
Kathy Murphy, PhD, MT-BC, FAMI, LPC, LCAT
The NJSTF continues its advocacy efforts in New Jersey. Members of the task force include Carol Ann Blank, Kristen Brennan, Leah Oswanski, and David Ramsey. We are pleased to welcome Susanne Kobb as the new student representative to the task force. Patrick Stewart, our legislative consultant has been monitoring several bills that are important for our clients, as well as setting up meetings with key legislators and administrators, all to meet our goal of attaining official state recognition of music therapy here in the Garden State.
UPDATE ON STATE RECOGNITION
In early September, we received a draft copy to the MT Licensure Bill which was distributed to those MTs who attended the informational meetings at Montclair State University and Rider University. That version of the bill is currently under review by the Division of Consumer Affairs. They received the bill before the Statement of Need was prepared, and their initial reaction was to oppose our legislation. Patrick Stewart, our legislative consultant, has been in touch with the Attorney General and explained that our bill was in response to regulations that have been promulgated by the Division of Child and Behavioral Health Services, the Department of Education, and the Division of Family Services within the Department of Health and Senior Services. The AG’s office is advocating on our behalf, and working with the Division of Consumer Affairs to suggest compromise language. We have not seen this language as of this writing, but hope to have some information to share at the NJAMT meeting on 10/18/09. Please watch the MAR listserve and check the website for important updates. You can also send an e-mail to njtaskforce@yahoo.com and you will be added to the task force’s e-mail list.
USE OF “CMT” DESIGNATION IN NJ
We recently learned that NJ Statutes Annotated Title 45: 11-73 prohibits anybody, except a massage therapists licensed pursuant to the massage therapy act to use the abbreviation “MT” or “CMT” in the state of NJ. We have notified the NMTR and they are in the process of notifying those individuals on the registry. The section of the law reads as such:
45:11-73 Licensure required for use of certain titles.
18. a. No person shall engage in the practice of massage and bodywork therapies as a licensed massage and bodywork therapist or present, call or represent himself as a licensed massage and bodywork therapist unless licensed pursuant to this amendatory and supplementary act.
b. No person shall assume, represent himself as, or use the title or designation “massage or bodywork therapists,” “licensed massage and bodywork therapist” or any tile or designation which includes the words ‘massage<’ bodywork,” “masseur,” “masseuse,” “shiatsu,” “acupressure,” “acupressure, “accu-pressure,” “nuad bo’rarn, “amma,” anma,” “chi nei tsang,’ “tuina,” “polarity educator,’ polarity therapist,” polarity therapy,” “polarity practitioner,” or any of the abbreviations “MT,” “BT,” “MBT,” “MBST,” “CMBT,” “COBT,” “CMT,” ‘LBT,” “LMBST,” “LMBT,” “LABT,” “LOBT,” ‘AB,” “ABT,” “OB,” “RPP,” OR”LMT” or similar abbreviations as determined by the board, unless licensed under this amendatory and supplementary act
L.2007, c337, s.18
MUSIC THERAPY DAY
Music Therapy Day will be held in December. We are waiting for the legislative calendar to come out before selecting a date. Please watch the NJ listserve for updates on Music Therapy Day and ways you can help out.
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