85R5244 MAW-F
 
  By: Taylor of Collin S.B. No. 728
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the regulation of the practice of physical therapy.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 453.301, Occupations Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 453.301.  PRACTICE BY PHYSICAL THERAPIST [TREATING
  PATIENT UNDER PRIOR REFERRAL]. (a) A physical therapist may treat
  a patient for an injury or condition in a manner described by
  Section 453.005 without a [that was the subject of a prior] referral
  if the physical therapist:
               (1)  has been licensed to practice physical therapy for
  at least one year;
               (2)  is covered by professional liability insurance in
  the minimum amount required by board rule [notifies the referring
  practitioner of the therapy not later than the fifth business day
  after the date therapy is begun]; and
               (3)  either:
                     (A)  possesses a doctoral degree in physical
  therapy from:
                           (i)  a program that is accredited by the
  Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education; or
                           (ii)  an institution that is accredited by
  an agency or association recognized by the United States secretary
  of education; or
                     (B)  has completed at least 30 hours of continuing
  competence activities in the area of differential diagnosis.
         (a-1)  A physical therapist may treat a patient under
  Subsection (a) [begins any episode of treatment before the first
  anniversary of the referral by the referring practitioner;
               [(4)     for physical therapy episodes subsequent to the
  episode which was initiated by the referral, treats the patient]
  for not more than [20 treatment sessions or] 30 consecutive
  calendar days[, whichever occurs first ; and
               [(5)     satisfies any other requirement set by the
  board].
         (b)  The physical therapist must obtain a referral from a
  [confer with the] referring practitioner before the physical
  therapist may continue treatment that exceeds treatment authorized
  under Subsection (a-1) [(a)(4)].
         SECTION 2.  Section 453.351(a), Occupations Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  The board may deny a license or suspend or revoke a
  license, place a license holder on probation, reprimand a license
  holder, impose an administrative penalty, or otherwise discipline a
  license holder if the applicant or license holder has:
               (1)  except as provided by Section [453.301 or]
  453.302, provided care [physical therapy] to a person outside the
  scope of the physical therapist's practice [without a referral from
  a referring practitioner];
               (2)  used drugs or intoxicating liquors to an extent
  that affects the license holder's or applicant's professional
  competence;
               (3)  been convicted of a felony, including a finding or
  verdict of guilty, an admission of guilt, or a plea of nolo
  contendere, in this state or in any other state or nation;
               (4)  obtained or attempted to obtain a license by fraud
  or deception;
               (5)  been grossly negligent in the practice of physical
  therapy or in acting as a physical therapist assistant;
               (6)  been found to be mentally incompetent by a court;
               (7)  practiced physical therapy in a manner detrimental
  to the public health and welfare;
               (8)  had a license to practice physical therapy revoked
  or suspended or had other disciplinary action taken against the
  license holder or applicant;
               (9)  had the license holder's or applicant's
  application for a license refused, revoked, or suspended by the
  proper licensing authority of another state or nation; or
               (10)  in the case of a physical therapist assistant,
  treated a person other than under the direction of a physical
  therapist.
         SECTION 3.  Not later than November 1, 2017, the Texas Board
  of Physical Therapy Examiners shall adopt rules necessary to
  implement Section 453.301, Occupations Code, as amended by this
  Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.