Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Health Care Committee

HB 2315

Brief Description:  Providing for the registration of recreational therapists.

Sponsors:  Representatives Cody, McDermott, Kenney and Tokuda.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Establishes a registration program for recreation therapists under the Secretary of Health.

Hearing Date:  1/17/02

Staff:  John Welsh (786‑7133).

Background:

The services and activities of recreation therapy are not regulated by the state as a health profession.  Recreation therapy includes the prescribed use of recreational and other activities as treatment interventions to improve the functional living competence of persons with disabilities.

Summary of Bill:

A registration program for recreation therapy is established under the Secretary of Health. Persons who practice or represent themselves as a registered recreation therapist must register with the Department of Health.

A recreation therapist performs the prescribed use of recreational and other activities, including counseling and independent living skills, as treatment interventions to improve functional living competence of persons with a physical, cognitive, emotional, behavioral, or social disability.  The therapist restores, remediates, or rehabilitates persons in order to improve functioning and independence, as well as reduce or eliminate the effects of illness or disability.

The secretary is authorized to adopt rules implementing the registration program, establish registration fees, and procedures necessary to administer the program.  The secretary must issue a registration to an applicant who complies with the requirements of the chapter, and who presents with the application a certificate or other documentation verifying that the applicant is certified as a recreation therapist by a nationally recognized professional recreation therapy credentialing organization.

The secretary is the disciplinary authority under the Uniform Discipline Act governing the issuance and denial of registration, unauthorized practice, and the discipline of persons registered under this act for unprofessional conduct.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.