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S.B. 43

             1     

RECREATIONAL THERAPY PRACTICE

             2     
AMENDMENTS

             3     
2004 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Sponsor: Gene Davis

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies provisions of the Recreational Therapy Practice Act.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    provides a definition for assessment and modifies the definitions of practice
             13      recreational therapy, treatment plan, and unprofessional conduct;
             14          .    modifies licensing requirements for master therapeutic recreational specialists,
             15      therapeutic recreational specialists, and therapeutic recreational technicians;
             16          .    modifies the scope of practice of master therapeutic specialists and therapeutic
             17      recreational technicians;
             18          .    modifies the content of a recreational therapy treatment or intervention plan; and
             19          .    repeals exemptions from licensure to engage in the practice of recreational therapy.
             20      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             21          None
             22      Other Special Clauses:
             23          None
             24      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             25      AMENDS:
             26          58-40-2, as last amended by Chapter 297, Laws of Utah 1993
             27          58-40-5, as last amended by Chapter 5, Laws of Utah 1992, Third Special Session


             28          58-40-6, as repealed and reenacted by Chapter 108, Laws of Utah 1992
             29          58-40-7, as repealed and reenacted by Chapter 108, Laws of Utah 1992
             30      REPEALS:
             31          58-40-12, as repealed and reenacted by Chapter 297, Laws of Utah 1993
             32     
             33      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             34          Section 1. Section 58-40-2 is amended to read:
             35           58-40-2. Definitions.
             36          In addition to the definitions in Section 58-1-102 , as used in this chapter:
             37          (1) "Approved," when used to refer to a course of education, training, experience,
             38      examination, or other licensing requirement, means with approval by the division in
             39      collaboration with the board.
             40          (2) "Assessment" means the use of skilled observation or evaluation by administering
             41      and interpreting standardized or nonstandardized tests and measurements to identify areas for
             42      recreational therapy services.
             43          [(2)] (3) "Board" means the Board of Recreational Therapy.
             44          [(3)] (4) (a) "Practice recreational therapy" means to engage in the paid performance of
             45      providing therapeutic recreation services [directing, initiating, or prescribing procedures and
             46      activities according to a treatment plan to improve, maintain, prevent, or retard the
             47      development of] according to the therapeutic recreational process to individuals with an
             48      emotional, social, intellectual, or physical pathology [in others by utilizing sports, games, or
             49      other recreational or leisure activities].
             50          (b) A therapeutic recreational process involves minimum skills for competent practice
             51      and includes necessary knowledge to provide the following patient services:
             52          (i) assessment of individual needs for therapeutic recreational intervention;
             53          (ii) development of an individualized treatment or intervention plan based on assessed
             54      need;
             55          (iii) appropriate implementation of therapeutic intervention services;
             56          (iv) evaluation and documentation of patient outcomes; and
             57          (v) the organization and management of therapeutic recreational services.
             58          [(4)] (5) "Treatment or intervention plan" means a written record containing the


             59      information required by Section 58-40-7 , which is composed for each patient by a person
             60      licensed as a master therapeutic recreational specialist or therapeutic recreational specialist
             61      under this chapter.
             62          [(5)] (6) "Unlawful conduct" as defined in Section 58-1-501 includes the following
             63      conduct by any individual who is not licensed under this chapter:
             64          (a) advertising or representing himself as being able to teach or conduct a recreational
             65      therapy program; or
             66          (b) using in connection with his name the initials MTRS, TRS, or TRT, or any term,
             67      title, abbreviation, sign, or device relating to the practice of recreational therapy or the licenses
             68      under this chapter.
             69          [(6)] (7) "Unprofessional conduct" as defined in Section 58-1-501 and as may be
             70      further defined by rule includes:
             71          (a) failing to supervise a therapeutic recreational technician, a student intern, or
             72      temporarily licensed therapeutic recreational specialist when required to do so;
             73          (b) failing to keep or maintain a recreational therapy treatment plan;
             74          (c) making sexual advances to a patient or requesting of a patient sexual favors, sexual
             75      intercourse, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature;
             76          (d) possessing or using illegal or unprescribed prescription drugs or medications;
             77          (e) using or being under the influence of intoxicating beverages while performing
             78      recreational therapy; or
             79          (f) violating Sections 58-40-6 through 58-40-7 .
             80          Section 2. Section 58-40-5 is amended to read:
             81           58-40-5. License requirements.
             82          (1) The division shall issue a license to practice as a master therapeutic recreational
             83      specialist to any applicant who:
             84          (a) (i) has completed an approved [master's] graduate degree in [recreational therapy]
             85      therapeutic recreation or a [master's] graduate degree with an approved emphasis in
             86      [recreational therapy] therapeutic recreation; and
             87          (ii) has completed [two years of full-time] 4,000 hours of paid experience, as defined
             88      by division rule made in accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative
             89      Rulemaking Act, as a licensed therapeutic recreational specialist or [approved equivalent


             90      experience] as a certified therapeutic recreational specialist certified by the National Council
             91      for Therapeutic Recreation Certification;
             92          (b) is of good moral character;
             93          (c) submits an application;
             94          (d) pays the required fee; and
             95          (e) passes an approved examination.
             96          (2) The division shall issue a license to practice as a therapeutic recreational specialist
             97      to any applicant who:
             98          (a) has completed an approved bachelor's or graduate degree in [recreational therapy]
             99      therapeutic recreation, a bachelor's or graduate degree with an approved emphasis in
             100      [recreational therapy] therapeutic recreation, or a bachelor's or graduate degree with approved
             101      additional course work in [recreational therapy] therapeutic recreation after graduation;
             102          (b) has completed an approved practicum;
             103          (c) is of good moral character;
             104          (d) submits an application;
             105          (e) pays the required fee; and
             106          (f) passes an approved examination.
             107          (3) The division shall issue a license to practice as a therapeutic recreational technician
             108      to any applicant who:
             109          [(a) has completed an approved training program supervised by a licensed master
             110      therapeutic recreational specialist;]
             111          (a) has received a high school diploma or GED equivalent;
             112          (b) has completed:
             113          (i) an approved educational course in therapeutic recreation taught by a licensed master
             114      therapeutic recreational specialist; or
             115          (ii) six semester hours or nine quarter hours in therapeutic recreation from an
             116      accredited college or university;
             117          (c) has completed an approved practicum under the supervision of a licensed master
             118      therapeutic recreational specialist or an on-site, full-time employed therapeutic recreational
             119      specialist;
             120          [(b)] (d) is of good moral character;


             121          [(c)] (e) submits an application;
             122          [(d)] (f) pays the required fee; and
             123          [(e)] (g) passes an approved examination.
             124          Section 3. Section 58-40-6 is amended to read:
             125           58-40-6. Scope of practice.
             126          (1) A master therapeutic recreational specialist may:
             127          (a) practice recreational therapy as [an unsupervised, independent, or private practice
             128      consultant able to contract with or be employed by others] an employee of a hospital, clinic,
             129      agency, or other facility, in private practice, or as a consultant; and
             130          (b) supervise and train other licensees under this chapter.
             131          (2) A therapeutic recreational specialist may:
             132          (a) practice recreational therapy as the employee of a hospital, clinic, agency, or other
             133      facility; and
             134          (b) supervise [therapeutic recreational technicians] other licensees under this chapter.
             135          (3) [(a)] A therapeutic recreational technician may [practice]:
             136          (a) perform recreational therapy services only:
             137          (i) under the supervision of a master therapeutic recreational specialist or a therapeutic
             138      recreational specialist employed full-time, on-site in the same hospital, clinic, [agency,] or
             139      [other] facility[. (b) A therapeutic recreational technician may prescribe or modify]; or
             140          (ii) in consultation with a master therapeutic recreational specialist;
             141          (b) maintain the ongoing documentation of services provided in accordance with a
             142      treatment or intervention plan only:
             143          (i) under the supervision of either a master therapeutic recreational specialist or a
             144      therapeutic recreational specialist employed full-time, on-site; or [under]
             145          (ii) in consultation [of] with a master therapeutic recreational specialist[.]; and
             146          (c) not perform assessments or prescribe or modify a treatment or intervention plan or
             147      approve or cosign modifications to a treatment or intervention plan.
             148          Section 4. Section 58-40-7 is amended to read:
             149           58-40-7. Recreational therapy treatment or intervention plans.
             150          [Each licensee under]
             151          (1) Under this chapter [shall keep], a recreational therapy treatment or intervention


             152      plan shall be maintained for each patient.
             153          (2) The plan shall include:
             154          [(1)] (a) an assessment based on the strengths, limitations, and needs of the patient;
             155          [(2)] (b) prescribed [procedures,] intervention strategies and approaches[, and
             156      recommended activities];
             157          [(3)] (c) patient goals and measurable treatment or intervention objectives and
             158      outcomes; and
             159          [(4)] (d) evaluations of progress and treatment.
             160          Section 5. Repealer.
             161          This bill repeals:
             162          Section 58-40-12, Exemptions.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-2-04 1:22 PM


A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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