LIHU‘E — A bill that would regulate music therapy licensing in the state is moving through the Hawai‘i Legislature after the House Culture and Arts Committee unanimously recommended passage of the bill on Monday. “Music therapy is becoming a popular
LIHU‘E — A bill that would regulate music therapy licensing in the state is moving through the Hawai‘i Legislature after the House Culture and Arts Committee unanimously recommended passage of the bill on Monday.
“Music therapy is becoming a popular form of therapy for ill, disabled and special-needs people,” said Rep. Dee Morikawa, D-16th District, explaining that HB 2026 would require those who call themselves a music therapist to be licensed.
Morikawa, who voted in committee for the bill, said the bill might be heard by the House Finance Committee. As of Tuesday, no further hearings had been scheduled.
The bill proposes to establish a Music Therapy Board within the state Department of Commerce and Consumer affairs. Such a board would have power to regulate and administer music therapy licenses.
Some of the qualifications for a license would include a bachelor’s degree or higher in music therapy, or an equivalent degree — from an American Music Therapy Association-approved program — within an accredited college or university.
Other qualifications would be a minimum of 1,200 hours of clinical training, with at least 180 hours in pre-internship experiences and at least 900 hours in internship experiences.
Written testimony submitted by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs licensing administrator Celia Suzuki states the department “strongly” supports a “sunrise study” on the measure before regulating licensing for music therapists.
Board certified music therapist Patricia Blair sent written testimony in support of the bill. Blair said she works for Sounding Joy Music Therapy, an organization that provides music therapy services in Hawai‘i by trained professionals for individuals with special needs.
“I have seen music therapy open doors for clients who otherwise cannot communicate with the outside world,” Blair stated in her testimony.
The vast majority of submitted testimony supported the bill, including testimony from mothers of children with autism who have benefited from music therapy.
Testimony opposing the bill came from New York certified music practitioner Mona Peck.
She stated that she has played harp professionally for 50 years, and works primarily with dying patients.
“I disagree that only board certified music therapists are qualified to do bedside work,” Peck stated.
• Léo Azambuja, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or lazambuja@ thegardenisland.com.
