Pennsylvania 2025_0 Regular Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 20 D · 7 R cosponsors

SB 579 — An Act amending the act of July 9, 1987 (P.L.220, No.39), known as the Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors Act, providing for licensing and regulating the practice of music therapy; and making editorial changes.

Last action — Referred to CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, April 9, 2025

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced April 09, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 27 sponsors

    1 primary, 26 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (20 D · 7 R) — cross-party backing.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

Licensure of Professional Music Therapists under the Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors Act

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

8 changes Share ↗

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill expands the Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors Act to include professional music therapy and updates various definitions and titles within the act.

  • P.L.220, No.39

    An act licensing and regulating the practice of social work; for licensing and regulating the practice of music therapy; → Licensing and regulating the practice of social work, marriage and family therapy, professional counseling and professional music therapy; providing penalties; and making an appropriation.

    This change updates the title of the act to reflect the inclusion of professional music therapy.

  • Section 1

    Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors Act. → Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, Professional Counselors and Professional Music Therapists Act.

    This change updates the short title of the act to include professional music therapists.

  • Section 2

    and licensed professional counseling → and licensed professional music therapy.

    This change recognizes professional music therapy as an area that is regulated for public safety and welfare.

  • Section 3

    the State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors under the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs → the State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, Professional Counselors and Professional Music Therapists under the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs

    This change expands the board's name to reflect the inclusion of professional music therapists.

  • Section 4

    hold oneself forth as licensed bachelor social worker, licensed social worker, licensed clinical social worker, licensed associate marriage and family therapist, licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed associate professional counselor or licensed professional counselor → represent that the person is a licensed bachelor social worker, licensed social worker, licensed clinical social worker, licensed associate marriage and family therapist, licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed associate professional counselor, licensed professional counselor or licensed professional music therapist

    This amendment includes licensed professional music therapists in the list of titles that require a license to be used.

  • Section 5(a)

    [13] → [15]

    This change increases the number of members on the board from 13 to 15 to accommodate additional representation for professional music therapists.

  • Section 5(a)

    at least one of whom shall be a licensed social worker; two of whom shall be licensed marriage and family therapists; two of whom shall be licensed professional counselors → at least one of whom shall be a licensed social worker; two of whom shall be licensed marriage and family therapists; two of whom shall be licensed professional counselors; two of whom shall be licensed professional music therapists with a master's degree or higher in music therapy or a related field;

    This change ensures that there is representation from licensed professional music therapists on the board.

  • Section 5(c)

    one of whom shall serve a two-year term and one of whom shall serve a four-year term[.]; and two professional members to serve as the marriage and family therapist members of the board → one of whom shall serve a two-year term and one of whom shall serve a four-year term. The professional members of the board initially appointed pursuant to this subsection need not be licensed by the licensure examination adopted by the board but, at the time of appointment, must have satisfied the education and experience requirements of this act for licensure as a clinical social worker, a marriage and family therapist, a professional counselor or a licensed professional music therapist.

    This change clarifies the initial appointments for newly added music therapist members to the board.

Action History

  1. Referred to CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, April 9, 2025

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 26 co-sponsors · 226 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (26)

Not signed on (226)

226 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

healthcare education
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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 579 do?
Licensure of Professional Music Therapists under the Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors Act
Who sponsors SB 579?
SB 579 is sponsored by Judith L. Schwank (Democratic), Lynda Schlegel Culver (Republican), Nikil Saval (Democratic), Patty Kim (Democratic), Elder A. Vogel (Republican), Carolyn T. Comitta (Democratic), Timothy P. Kearney (Democratic), Art Haywood (Democratic), Wayne D. Fontana (Democratic), Jay Costa (Democratic), Scott E. Hutchinson (Republican), Christine M. Tartaglione (Democratic), Judy Ward (Republican), Anthony H. Williams (Democratic), Amanda M. Cappelletti (Democratic), Steven J. Santarsiero (Democratic), Devlin J. Robinson (Republican), Marty Flynn (Democratic), Katie J. Muth (Democratic), John I. Kane (Democratic), James Andrew Malone (Democratic), Maria Collett (Democratic), Nick Pisciottano (Democratic), Joe Picozzi (Republican), Gene Yaw (Republican), Sharif Street (Democratic), and Nick Miller (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 579?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced April 09, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 579?
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Last checked for changes 4 months ago · updated continuously

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