THERAPEUTIC RECREATION SPECIALIST - S.B. 235: FLOOR ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 235 (as reported without amendment)

Sponsor: Senator Joanne G. Emmons

Committee: Economic Development, International Trade and Regulatory Affairs

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Public Health Code to provide for the registration of therapeutic recreation specialists. The bill would do the following:

-- Establish a $20 application processing fee and a $60 annual registration fee.

-- Create the Michigan Board of Recreational Therapy.

-- Incorporate professional standards for the Board's guidance.

-- Require applicants to pass an examination and meet educational requirements for registration.

The bill would define "therapeutic recreation specialist" as an individual who provided therapeutic recreation services and was registered under the Code. "Therapeutic recreation" or "recreation therapy" would mean the provision of treatment services and recreation services to individuals with illnesses and disabling conditions. Therapeutic recreation would include individualized assessment to collect systemic, comprehensive, and accurate information necessary to determine and implement treatment services; the evaluation and revision of treatment services; and the development of a discharge plan relative to treatment services.

"Treatment services" would mean services designed to restore, remediate, or rehabilitate to improve functioning and independence as well as to reduce or eliminate the effects of illness or disability through treatment intervention. "Recreation services" would mean the specific use of services designed to provide resources and opportunities to improve health and well-being through recreation intervention.

MCL 333.16131 et al. - Legislative Analyst: N. Nagata

FISCAL IMPACT

The Department of Consumer and Industry Services estimates that the creation of this new license category would cost the Department approximately $80,000 to $100,000 to create and develop the associated programs that are required of this type of regulation, such as inspections and administrative support services. Once the programs were established, the revenue generated by licensing fees would be set at a level to offset the administrative costs incurred by the Department.

Date Completed: 5-28-98 - Fiscal Analyst: M. Tyszkiewicz

floor\sb235 - Analysis available @ http://www.michiganlegislature.org

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.