New Jersey – First Music Therapist License in MAR!!
Submitted by Paula Unsal, Chair NJSTF
And with this Senate vote 30-8…
New Jersey music therapists moved their licensing bill to the Governor’s desk!!!
Then on January 21, 2020 Governor Phil Murphy signed into law A2183 the Music Therapist Licensing Act, P.L.2019, c.471 making New Jersey the first state in the Mid-Atlantic Region to have a music therapist license!
On the same day he also signed the Recreational Therapists Licensing Act which provided for the new State Board of Creative Arts and Activities Therapies. Specifically this bill language changed the name of the newly created State Board of Creative Arts Therapies and provided for a thirteen member board comprised of two each art, drama, dance/movement, music and recreational therapists plus three public members.
This state board is a first in the nation!!!
Paula Unsal and Virginia Eulacio Cierniak were at the capitol while other NJSTF members monitored live streaming waiting for the Senate vote.
The New Jersey State Task Force (NJSTF) is composed of Paula Unsal, Chair; Lynn Coyle, Virginia Eulacio Cierniak, Melissa Santiago; Beth Walls; Consulting Member Brian Abrams and Student Representative Lauren Carter.