Text of the Law

The SB 1347 Healing arts, BILL NUMBER: SB 1347 CHAPTERED 10/06/97 CHAPTER 677 FILED WITH SERCRETARY OF STATE OCTOBER 6, 1997 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR OCTOBER 3, 1997.

INTRODUCED BY Committee on Business and Professions (Senators Polanco (Chair), Ayala, Craven, Greene, Johannessen, Kelley, O’Connell, and Rosenthal)

MARCH 18, 1997 An act…., to add Section 17505.2 to, the Business and Professions Code, relating to healing arts.SEC. 6. Section 17505.2 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read: 17505.2

1. (a)     It is unlawful for a person to represent himself or herself as a recreation therapist, to represent the services he or she performs as recreation therapy, or to use terms set forth in subdivision (c), unless he or she meets all of the following requirements:

1. (1)     Graduation from an accredited college or university with a minimum of a baccalaureate degree in recreation therapy or in recreation and leisure studies with a specialization in recreation therapy. Alternatively, a person who does not have one of the preceding degrees may qualify if he or she has a baccalaureate degree in a specialization acceptable for certification by any accrediting body specified in paragraph

1. (2)     Current certification or eligibility for certification as a recreation therapist by the California Board of Recreation and Park Certification or the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification, Inc.

1. (b)     No person shall represent himself or herself as a recreation therapist assistant, or represent the services he or she performs as being in any way related to recreation therapy, unless he or she, at a minimum, has current certification or has eligibility for certification by the California Board of Recreation and Park Certification or the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification, Inc., as a recreation therapist assistant.

(c) A person who does not meet the requirements of subdivision (a) or (b) may not use any of the following words or abbreviations in connection with his or her services, name, or place of business:

1. (1)     Recreation therapist registered
2. (2)     Recreation therapist certified
3. (3)     Certified therapeutic recreation specialist
4. (4)     Recreation therapist
5. (5)     Recreation therapist assistant registered
6. (6)     Certified therapeutic recreation assistant
7. (7)     RTR
8. (8)     RTC
9. (9)     CTRS
10. (10)  RT
11. (11)  RTAR
12. (12)  CTRA

1. (c)     For purposes of subdivision (c), the abbreviation RT shall not be construed to include rehabilitation therapist or respiratory therapist.

1. (d)     Any person injured by a violation of the section may bring a civil action and may recover one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) for the first violation and two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for each subsequent violation. This is the sole remedy for a violation of this section.

SEC.7. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for such a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution. Notwithstanding Section 17580 of the Government Code, unless otherwise specified, the provisions of this act shall become operative on the same date that the act takes effect pursuant to the California Constitution.

RT Title Protection Violation Form

California Recreation Therapy Title Protection Implementation Checklist

Case Senario

Recreation Therapy Title Protection 101 - Slide Presentation

Recreation Therapy Title Protection (Section 17505.2 Business and Professions Codes California) Alleged Violation Report Form

SC-100 Plaintiff's Small Claims and order to go to Court

INFORMATION FOR THE SMALL CLAIMS PLAINTIFF