Florida SB 478: Early Childhood Music Education Incentive Program

Bill Text

478 
Music Therapy 
2025-12-18T07:26:21Z 
Creating the Music Therapy Advisory Committee within the Department of Health for a specified purpose; authorizing the committee to facilitate the development of certain materials and act as a facilitator of statewide dissemination of information between certain entities; requiring the department to issue a license to practice as a professional music therapist to applicants meeting specified criteria; specifying collaboration requirements for licensees engaging in the practice of music therapy, etc. 
Original Filed Version 
2026 
S 
2026-07-01T00:00:00Z 
GB 
General Bill 
__ 

 Florida Senate - 2026 SB 478 

 By Senator Smith 

 17-00366A-26 2026478__ 
 1 A bill to be entitled 
 2 An act relating to music therapy; creating part XVII 
 3 of ch. 468, F.S., entitled “Music Therapy”; creating 
 4 s. 468.8501, F.S.; defining terms; creating s. 
 5 468.8502, F.S.; creating the Music Therapy Advisory 
 6 Committee within the Department of Health for a 
 7 specified purpose; providing for membership and 
 8 meetings of the committee; authorizing the committee 
 9 to facilitate the development of certain materials and 
 10 act as a facilitator of statewide dissemination of 
 11 information between certain entities; requiring the 
 12 committee to provide an annual analysis of certain 
 13 licensure data; requiring the department to seek the 
 14 advice of the committee on issues relating to music 
 15 therapy; providing for future legislative review and 
 16 repeal of the committee; creating s. 468.8503, F.S.; 
 17 requiring the department to issue a license to 
 18 practice as a professional music therapist to 
 19 applicants meeting specified criteria; providing for 
 20 licensure by endorsement; providing for licensure 
 21 renewal; providing that licensees are responsible for 
 22 the timely renewal of their licenses; requiring 
 23 licensees to inform the department of any change in 
 24 their address within a specified timeframe; providing 
 25 for expiration and termination of licenses; requiring 
 26 the department to place an active license on an 
 27 inactive status upon written request of a licensee; 
 28 authorizing a license to remain on inactive status for 
 29 a specified timeframe; providing for reactivation of 
 30 such licenses; creating s. 468.8504, F.S.; specifying 
 31 collaboration requirements for licensees engaging in 
 32 the practice of music therapy; providing construction; 
 33 creating s. 468.8505, F.S.; beginning on a specified 
 34 date, prohibiting unlicensed individuals from using 
 35 specified titles related to the practice of music 
 36 therapy; providing exceptions; authorizing unlicensed 
 37 individuals meeting specified criteria to practice 
 38 without a license under the supervision of a licensed 
 39 professional music therapist for a specified 
 40 timeframe; creating s. 468.8506, F.S.; providing 
 41 grounds for disciplinary action; authorizing the 
 42 department to conduct investigations of alleged 
 43 misconduct; providing administrative penalties; 
 44 creating s. 468.8507, F.S.; requiring the department 
 45 to adopt rules by a specified date; providing an 
 46 effective date. 
 47 
 48 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 
 49 
 50 Section 1. Part XVII of chapter 468, Florida Statutes, 
 51 consisting of ss. 468.8501-468.8507, Florida Statutes, is 
 52 created and entitled “Music Therapy.” 
 53 Section 2. Section 468.8501, Florida Statutes, is created 
 54 to read: 
 55 468.8501 Definitions.—As used in this part, the term: 
 56 (1) “Advisory committee” means the Music Therapy Advisory 
 57 Committee. 
 58 (2) “Board-certified music therapist” means an individual 
 59 who holds current board certification from the Certification 
 60 Board for Music Therapists. 
 61 (3) “Department” means the Department of Health. 
 62 (4) “Licensed professional music therapist” means a person 
 63 licensed under this part to practice music therapy. 
 64 (5) “Practice of music therapy” means clinical and 
 65 evidence-based music interventions used by a board-certified 
 66 music therapist within a therapeutic relationship to accomplish 
 67 individualized goals for people of all ages and ability levels. 
 68 The term includes all of the following: 
 69 (a) Accepting referrals for music therapy services from 
 70 medical, developmental, mental health, or education 
 71 professionals; family members; clients; caregivers; or other 
 72 professionals authorized to provide client services. 
 73 (b) Conducting music therapy assessments of clients to 
 74 determine whether treatment is indicated. If treatment is 
 75 indicated, the term includes the collection of systematic, 
 76 comprehensive, and accurate information to determine the 
 77 appropriateness and type of music therapy services to provide 
 78 for the client. 
 79 (c) Development of music therapy treatment plans 
 80 individualized to the needs and strengths of the