GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2007

SESSION LAW 2007-389

SENATE BILL 768

AN ACT to amend the north carolina recreational therapy licensure act to exempt certain persons employed under the direction of the Department of health and human services until july 1, 2010.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.   G.S. 90C-34 reads as rewritten:

"§ 90C-34.  Persons and practices not affected.

Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to prevent or restrict:

(1)       Any person qualified, registered, certified, or licensed to engage in another profession or occupation or any person working under the supervision of a person registered, certified, or licensed to engage in another profession or occupation in this State from performing work incidental to the practice of that profession or occupation as long as that person does not represent himself or herself as a recreational therapy assistant or recreational therapist or the work to be recreational therapy or therapeutic recreation as defined by this Chapter.

(2)       Any person employed as a therapeutic recreation specialist, therapeutic recreation assistant, or recreational therapist or a recreational therapy assistant by the government of the United States, if he or she provides therapeutic recreation or recreational therapy solely under the direction and control of the organization by which he or she is employed.

(3)       Any person pursuing a course of study leading to a degree in recreational therapy or therapeutic recreation at an accredited college or university that meets the minimum academic requirements for a major or specialization in recreational therapy as defined by the rules and regulations of the Board.

(4)       Any person fulfilling the supervised fieldwork experience required for a degree and for licensure, as defined by the rules of the Board, if the person is designated by a title that clearly indicates his or her status as a student.

(5) Any person employed as a therapeutic recreation specialist, therapeutic recreation assistant, recreational therapist, or recreational therapy assistant by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, if he or she provides therapeutic recreation or recreational therapy solely under the direction and control of the Department."

SECTION 2.  The Department of Health and Human Services in collaboration with the North Carolina Board of Recreational Therapy Licensure shall develop a timetable and benchmarks for achieving full compliance with the requirements of Chapter 90C of the General Statutes.

SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law and expires June 30, 2010.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 1^st day of August, 2007.

                                                                    s/ Beverly E. Perdue

                                                                         President of the Senate

                                                                    s/ Joe Hackney

                                                                         Speaker of the House of Representatives

                                                                    s/ Michael F. Easley

                                                                         Governor

Approved 7:30 p.m. this 19^th day of August, 2007