BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2765

By: Clardy

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties have advocated for the enactment of a physical therapy licensure compact to explore the possibility of establishing a multistate compact for physical therapy licensure and to improve the public's access to physical therapy services. The parties note that certain other states have enacted similar legislation and contend that Texas would benefit from adopting such a compact. H.B. 2765 creates a physical therapy licensure compact and sets out the compact's provisions.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2765 amends the Occupations Code to create the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact and to establish that the compact is enacted and entered into with all other jurisdictions that legally join in the compact. The bill sets out the compact's provisions, including provisions relating to the compact's purpose, requirements for state participation, compact privilege, the establishment of the Physical Therapy Compact Commission as a joint public agency, a coordinated database and reporting system, commission rulemaking powers, and certain other administrative provisions. The bill designates the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners as the compact administrator for Texas and authorizes the board to adopt rules necessary to implement the compact.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.