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HB 5338

AN ACT REQUIRING THE LICENSURE OF DANCE/MOVEMENT THERAPISTS.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Mitch Bolinsky and 1 co-sponsor

HB 5338 would require licensure for dance/movement therapists, creating a credentialing process and regulatory framework to allow only licensed practitioners to provide the therapy

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Public Health
#dance #occupationallicenses #publichealth #departmentof
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Bill Summary · HB 5338

Summary of HB 5338 — An Act Requiring the Licensure of Dance/Movement Therapists

Overview

HB 5338 proposes to require licensure for dance/movement therapists. The bill is intended to create a formal regulatory framework governing who may practice dance/movement therapy, with oversight likely linked to public health or a related licensing authority. A companion measure exists: SB 1832.

What the bill aims to do

  • Establish a licensure requirement for dance/movement therapists.
  • Create a regulatory process to credential practitioners, thereby authorizing only licensed individuals to provide dance/movement therapy services in the state.
  • Provide a mechanism for enforcement and consumer protection in the practice of dance/movement therapy.

Note: The exact statutory text detailing specific licensure requirements (e.g., education, examinations, supervised practice, professional standards, renewal intervals, fees, scope of practice, exemptions, and disciplinary measures) is not provided in the materials available. The summary below highlights anticipated areas commonly addressed by licensure bills, while indicating that precise provisions would appear in the bill’s text.

Key provisions and potential provisions (as commonly found in licensure bills)

  • Eligibility and qualifications: likely requirements for education, supervised experience, and possibly an examination for licensure.
  • Licensure process: application procedures, issuance of licenses, and licensing renewal cycles.
  • Scope of practice: definitions outlining what constitutes the practice of dance/movement therapy and what licensed practitioners are authorized to do.
  • Regulation and enforcement: oversight by a licensing board or public health department, with penalties for practicing without a license or violating regulations.
  • Exemptions and grandfathering: possible provisions for students, interns, or current practitioners under certain conditions.
  • Professional standards: continuing education requirements and code of professional conduct.
  • Fees and administrative rules: licensure and renewal fees, administrative processes, and potential audits.

These elements are typical of licensure bills, but the precise language and requirements would be defined in HB 5338’s text.

Affected parties

  • Dance/movement therapists seeking licensure and current unlicensed practitioners.
  • Employers and organizations employing dance/movement therapists.
  • Clients/patients receiving dance/movement therapy who may benefit from formal credentialing.
  • Training programs and educational institutions offering relevant coursework and supervised practice.
  • Professional associations representing practitioners.

Procedural timeline and status

  • Filed: March 14, 2025.
  • REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Public Health: initial referral indicates placement with the Joint Committee on Public Health.
  • 2025-01-16: REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Public Health (earlier action).
  • 2025-04-07: Read first time; referred to Public Education (indicating a potential committee reassignment or additional referral).
  • Related bill: SB 1832 (companion).

Next steps

  • HB 5338 would progress through committee hearings (Public Health and possibly Public Education), with opportunities for amendments.
  • If advanced, it would proceed to floor consideration in the chamber of origin and, after passage, move to the other chamber as applicable.
  • Stakeholders (practitioners, educators, health professionals, and consumer groups) may provide testimony on licensure requirements, impact on access to services, and regulatory burdens.

If you’d like, I can compare this bill to the companion SB 1832 or draft a side-by-side impact note based on common licensure structures.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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