88R10770 MAW-F
 
  By: Morrison H.B. No. 2512
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the licensing and regulation of athletic trainers.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 451.001(3), Occupations Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
               (3)  "Athletic training" means the form of health care
  that is provided [includes the practice of preventing, recognizing,
  assessing, managing, treating, disposing of, and reconditioning
  athletic injuries] under the direction or delegated authority of a
  physician licensed in this state and includes:
                     (A)  managing the risk of injury or illness;
                     (B)  preventing injury or illness;
                     (C)  assessing an injury or illness;
                     (D)  providing immediate emergency care and
  therapeutic intervention for an injury or illness;
                     (E)  reconditioning an injury or illness; and
                     (F)  administering other health care [or another
  qualified, licensed health professional who is authorized to refer
  for health care services within the scope of the person's license].
         SECTION 2.  Section 451.153(a), Occupations Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  An applicant for an athletic trainer license must:
               (1)  have met the athletic training curriculum
  requirements of a college or university approved by the commission
  and give proof of graduation;
               (2)  hold a degree or certificate in physical therapy
  and have completed:
                     (A) a basic athletic training course from an
  accredited college or university; and
                     (B)  an apprenticeship described by Subsection
  (b); [or]
               (3)  have a degree in corrective therapy with at least a
  minor in physical education or health that includes a basic
  athletic training course and meet the apprenticeship requirement or
  any other requirement established by the commission;
               (4)  have completed, or have 30 credit hours or less
  remaining to complete, the athletic training curriculum
  requirements of a college or university that is accredited by a
  nationally recognized athletic training accrediting organization
  and approved by the board; or
               (5)  have completed, or have 30 credit hours or less
  remaining to complete, a baccalaureate degree or postbaccalaureate
  degree from a college or university that requires:
                     (A)  not fewer than 24 credit hours related to the
  practice of athletic training; and
                     (B)  completion of an apprenticeship program in
  athletic training clinical practice consisting of not fewer than
  1,800 hours completed over the course of not fewer than five
  separate semesters, at least 1,500 hours of which must be completed
  while the applicant is a student at the college or university.
         SECTION 3.  Section 451.001(1), Occupations Code, is
  repealed.
         SECTION 4.  Section 451.153, Occupations Code, as amended by
  this Act, applies only to an application for an original athletic
  trainer license submitted on or after the effective date of this
  Act. An application for an original athletic trainer license
  submitted before the effective date of this Act is governed by the
  law in effect on the date the application was submitted, and the
  former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.