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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to exemptions from the requirement to hold a license to |
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practice physical therapy. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 453.004(b), Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) This chapter does not apply to: |
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(1) a physical therapy aide; |
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(2) a physical therapy student or physical therapist |
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assistant student: |
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(A) participating in an accredited physical |
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therapy or physical therapist assistant educational program; and |
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(B) being supervised by a license holder under |
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this chapter; |
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(3) a student: |
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(A) participating in an accredited allied health |
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science program leading to licensure by another state agency; and |
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(B) being supervised by properly licensed, |
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certified, or registered personnel; |
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(4) a person practicing physical therapy and engaging |
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in a special project in patient care while working toward a |
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postprofessional [an advanced] degree from an accredited college or |
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university; [or] |
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(5) a physical therapist who does not live in this |
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state, is licensed by the appropriate authority, and is in this |
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state for a period not to exceed six months to attend an educational |
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activity; or |
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(6) a person who practices physical therapy or as a |
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physical therapy assistant and who is: |
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(A) practicing physical therapy in the United |
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States armed services, United States Public Health Service, or |
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Veterans Administration in compliance with federal regulations for |
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licensure of health care providers; |
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(B) licensed in another jurisdiction of the |
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United States or credentialed to practice physical therapy in |
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another country if the person: |
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(i) is teaching, demonstrating, or |
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practicing physical therapy in an educational seminar in this state |
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for not more than 60 days in a 12-month period; or |
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(ii) by contract or employment, is |
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practicing physical therapy in this state for not more than 60 days |
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in a 12-month period for an athletic team or organization or a |
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performing arts company temporarily competing or performing in this |
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state; or |
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(C) licensed in another jurisdiction of the |
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United States, if the person notifies the board of the person's |
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intent to practice in this state, and: |
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(i) is practicing physical therapy for not |
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more than 60 days during a declared local, state, or national |
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disaster or emergency; or |
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(ii) is displaced from the person's |
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residence or place of employment due to a declared local, state, or |
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national disaster and is practicing physical therapy in this state |
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for not more than 60 days after the date the disaster is declared. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |