State Recognition for Arizona

Recognized? Yes

Recognition Status: Regulatory language (SB1376) passed and signed into law for use in the DDD code that specifies the term “Music Therapy” instead of “Habilitation with Music” in order to protect the public and maintain service provision. Effective Fall 2010.

Active Task Force? Yes

Year Started: 2006

Task Force Status: Communication continues with legislators, agency officials, and other stakeholders. In Fall 2012, the task force provided recommendations for increasing state recognition to the Dept. of Education and submitted a Sunrise Review application to state committee in September 2012. As a result of the Sunrise Review, SB 1437 was filed in January 2013 that would create a special license for music therapy. Task force members addressed concern from state speech therapy association. In April 2013, an amended version of the bill that would create a state certification in music therapy passed the House and Senate and was forwarded to the Governor, who vetoed the bill citing due to concerns about insufficient government oversight. Task force is looking forward to working with legislators over the next year to create a bill everyone supports that protects the citizens of Arizona.

Task Force Contact Name: Sheri Giguere

Task Force Contact Email: AZmusictherapyTF@gmail.com

Task Force Members: Angie Bollier, Barb Else, Sheri Giguere, Suzanne Oliver, Tracy Leonard-Warner

Task Force Facebook:

State Association: www.azmta.org

State Association Facebook:

Regional Association: www.wramta.org

State Legislative Activity:

Below you will find a link to an online report with information about state-level bills that include the keyword “music therapy.” There may or may not be a bill for your state. Some bills may have a direct impact on the profession (e.g. music therapy licensure legislation) while others may not (e.g. music therapy is included in a pre-existing list of healthcare providers). 

Click here to read the report

Information is provided by Fiscal Note, a subscription service that allows CBMT to follow state and federal legislative and regulatory developments. This resource is provided for informational purposes to help you stay informed on legislative and policy issues impacting music therapy practice. Please contact your task force chair with questions and before taking any action.