SRC-CDH S.B. 1192 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1192
By: Armbrister
Health & Human Services
4-10-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, Texans live a more active lifestyle and sports medicine
facilities are growing increasingly popular.  However, an athletic trainer
is defined in statute as  a person who rehabilitates and treats injuries
incurred by athletes on the advice and consent of the trainer's team
physician.  This legislation aims to create a broader definition of
athletic trainers by permitting a physician or chiropractor, as well as a
team physician, to refer an athlete or patient for treatment by such a
trainer. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1192 establishes the regulation of athletic trainers.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is granted to the Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers
in SECTION 2 (Section 10(a), Article 4512d, V.T.C.S.) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 1, Article 4512d, V.T.C.S., as follows:

Sec. 1.  DEFINITIONS; EXCEPTIONS.  Redefines "athletic trainer" to mean a
person with specific qualifications who, on the advice and consent of a
physician or chiropractor, rather than his team physician, carries out the
practice or prevention and physical rehabilitation of injuries incurred by
athletes or patients; and is authorized to use physical modalities related
to rehabilitation and treatment, rather than being authorized to use
physical modalities such as heat, light, sound, cold, electricity, or
mechanical devices for that same purpose.  Defines "commissioner" and
"department."  Provides that the provisions of this Act do not apply to
registered massage therapists, rather than masseurs or masseuses in their
particular sphere of labor.  Deletes the provision exempting chiropodists
from the application of this Act. Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 2. Amends Sections 10(a) and (b), Article 4512d, V.T.C.S., to
authorize the Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers, by rule, to set a
reasonable application fee in addition to the fees set under Section 7 of
this Act.  Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 3. Effective date:  September 1, 1997.
  Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.