The bill establishes the Art Therapist Licensure Act in Kansas, which regulates and licenses professional art therapists. It defines essential terms such as "art therapy," "licensed clinical art therapist," and "licensed professional art therapist," and sets forth the qualifications for licensure, including age, educational requirements, supervised experience, and a certification examination. The bill also provides for temporary licenses for those completing postgraduate supervised experience and allows waivers for applicants with significant prior experience. The Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board is tasked with overseeing the licensure process, including the issuance and renewal of licenses, and ensuring compliance with continuing education requirements.

Additionally, the bill amends the authority of the Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board to enforce licensure laws across various mental health professions, allowing it to seek court orders against individuals violating these laws. It emphasizes the confidentiality of complaints and reports received by the board, with specific exceptions for legal proceedings. The board is granted the power to revoke licenses voluntarily surrendered during misconduct investigations and can opt for censure instead of harsher disciplinary actions. The bill also repeals certain existing statutes and will take effect upon publication in the statute book.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 74-7507, 74-7508
As introduced: 74-7507, 74-7508