1. United States
2. Tenn.
3. Letter

Subject: Support Retaining the Tennessee Art Therapy Advisory Committee (SB2227/HB2539)    Dear Representative   I am a professional art therapist based in Nashville,Tennessee. I am writing to urge you to support removing the provision in SB2227/HB2539 that would eliminate the Art Therapy Advisory Committee, or alternatively to support moving the bill to summer study.    The Art Therapy Advisory Committee was formed by the passage of art therapy licensure legislation (SB101/HB183) in 2021. The law aims to protect the mental health and safety of Tennesseans while expanding access to affordable, high-quality mental healthcare. Since its enactment, licensure has helped establish a clearer pathway for qualified art therapists to practice in Tennessee and has supported public access to art therapy services. It also maintains art therapy specific ethical and supervision standards,and ensures that regulatory decisions are informed by people who understand the practice of art therapy.     The Art Therapy Advisory Committee has proven itself to be an exemplary regulatory body:    • Members have met consistently since its formation and meetings have always met quorum.   • There has been no extra cost to the state as members have not incurred travel expenses and the Committee itself is self-sustainable. (The original bill, SB101/HB183, carried a positive fiscal note.)   • Members have thoughtfully and diligently completed the promulgation of rules taking into consideration both the standards set by other related mental health professions in the state as well as the unique considerations for the distinct profession of art therapy.     This work reflects the importance of profession-specific oversight by individuals with subject matter expertise in art therapy practice, ethics, supervision, and licensure. Due to its demonstrated dedication and value, the Art Therapy Advisory Committee recently underwent a successful sunset review. Just last month, the General Assembly enacted SB 1536, extending the Committee through 2031. However, SB2227/HB2539 and its amendment threaten to undo these carefully crafted rules, which were developed collaboratively by art therapy professionals and health department attorneys and administrators. Eliminating the Committee now would reverse a structure the legislature only recently reaffirmed. The Committee’s ongoing work is vital in safeguarding the public, preserving ethical and supervision standards specific to art therapy, and ensuring continued access to high-quality mental health care in Tennessee.     Tennessee is facing a severe mental health crisis, ranking 44th in the U.S. for mental health and well-being, according to Mental Health America, driven by surging demand and acute shortages of professionals, particularly in rural areas. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared 91 out of Tennessee’s 95 counties have a shortage of mental health professionals.     Furthermore, the art therapy profession is expanding. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Information Network (O*NET) classifies art therapists as a Bright Outlook occupation, meaning the field is expected to grow or emerge further in the coming years. It is prudent to establish a clear licensure process now through a dedicated body rather than rely on a general commission.   Given the needs of our residents, it’s critical that we maintain a profession-specific licensure board with subject matter expertiseand oversight. Transferring oversight to a broad commission may dilute these safeguards, stall the recent progress made by the state on art therapy licensure, and create a gap between regulatory choices and actual clinical practice.      As a resident of Tennessee, I respectfully urge you to preserve art therapy-specific oversight and remove the provision that would eliminate the Art Therapy Advisory Committee or vote to move the bill to summer study.  Thank you for your time.