Winter 2010 issue
PENNSYLVANIA STATE TASK FORCE ON OCCUPATIONAL REGULATIONS (PASTF)
Valerie F. Uschock, LCAT, MT-BC, NMT
The 2009-2011 Pennsylvania State Task Force on Occupational Regulations (PASTF) is composed of the following members:
Voting members: Dena Condron, MMT, MT-BC, LPC; Nicole Hahna, MS, MT-BC, FAMI; Caroline Servinsky, MT-BC; Valerie Uschock, LCAT, MT-BC, NMT (Chair); Melanie Walborn, MT-BC
Non-voting ex-officio members: Deborah Benkovitz, LSW, MSW, MT-BC (MAR President); Carol Ann Blank, LCAT, LPC, FAMI, MMT, MT-BC (MAR Government Relations Chair); Judy Simpson, MHP, MT-BC (AMTA Director of Government Relations); Dena Register, PhD, MT-BC (CBMT Regulatory Affairs Advisor).
Hello and Happy New Year!! PASTF has had some changes in membership which have all been approved by the MAR Executive Board. We appreciate the work of members past and look forward to continued good work from current members.We welcome Caroline Servinsky and Nicole Hahna as our newest members to PASTF.
HB 1250: PA COUNSELOR PRACTICE BILL
In mid-October 2009, PASTF was notified of this proposed bill, therefore it has become the focus of PASTF in the past few months.
1. Background of Bill: HB 1250 is currently in its 9th version, with writing led by Paul West of the Pennsylvania Counseling Association (PCA) who is working with the House Professional Licensure Committee to construct the wording of the bill. This Committee is headed by Representative Michael McGeehan with 25 other State Representatives making up the committee. Support is being offered by Marlene Tremmel, who is the attorney for this committee. HB 1250 is officially considered an amendment to the 1987 licensure bill. It adds to the title act coverage of the original bill, an additional layer of practice act protection. HB 1250 is meant to be a private practice bill which would give counselors more control over who calls themselves a counselor when conducting Private Practice. In other words, if someone decides to hang a shingle and call themselves a Counselor but are not licensed, this will be illegal.
Paul is supportive of Creative Arts Therapists (CATs) and welcoming CATs to PCA, but has questions about how to respond to questions from legislators re: CAT training, education and supervision. Specifically, Paul asks that we CATs review the bill and write a letter to a) support the practice act and b) detail the training, education and supervision. The timeline Paul recently clarified was to suggest developing the foundation of a support letter now and then to modify it once the final version of the bill comes in. Marlene Tremmel, the attorney assisting the Licensure Committee with these efforts is indicating the possibility of a late January vote by the committee. In order for a bill to become law, it is first discussed by and voted on within a committee. After that point it will move to the floor of the full House for a vote and then over to the floor of the full Senate for a vote. Both the House and the Senate must agree on the working for the governor to then sign the bill into law.
2. CAT Work Group: In response to Paul's request, a Creative Arts Therapist (CAT) Work Group was formed which includes representative from Art Therapy, Dance/Movement Therapy, and Music Therapy. A conference call was held on December 21, 2009. The purpose of the work group is to address questions of the bill, discuss the bill in terms of our support of it, and to plan a unified response to the bill. Carol Ann Blank and Dena Register attended this conference call as representatives of PASTF and Music Therapy. Some of the highlights are as follows:
- Currently the fact that this is a practice bill that addresses private practice only is difficult to see in the 8th draft. There needs to be more clarification on this point as it is not clearly stated in the current draft of the bill.
- Music Therapy concerns presented include protecting rights of all music therapists in PA to practice, including those who work and are board certified at the bachelor’s level. Currently the general provisions are not problematic, but there is a need to look at the details of the bill.
- All CAT Disciplines were asked to provide information on PA Master Degrees including diagnosis, assessment, and to emphasize our high level of training. Judy Simpson from AMTA provided a document overview of MT competencies and PA Master's Programs. Carol Ann and Valerie are currently transferring this information to a collective CAT chart.
- The bill is expected to go to vote in late January.
MAR CONFERENCE SESSION ON LICENSING
Look for a special session on licensing in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania to be held at the the MAR Conference in Pittsburgh, PA (Friday, March 26th). The MAR Govt. Relations Chair and the Chairs of each task force will be giving an overview and updates regarding licensure in these states. Discussion of PA licensing will cover becoming licensed, remaining licensed, supervision requirements, and the current status of HB 1250.
As always, PASTF is here for you. Please notify us of any issues you are aware of as this is the best way for us to advocate for you. Please direct any inquiries to: pastate.task.force@gmail.com
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