HB110ENROLLED Page 0 G3WYC6-2 By Representative Moore (P) RFD: Boards, Agencies and Commissions First Read: 21-Mar-23 2023 Regular Session 1 2 3 4 5 HB110 EnrolledHB110 Enrolled Page 1 Enrolled, An Act, Relating to the Board of Physical Therapy; to amend Sections 34-24-191, 34-24-193, 34-24-194, 34-24-196, 34-24-210, 34-24-210.1, 34-24-211, 34-24-212, 34-24-213, 34-24-214, and 34-24-217, Code of Alabama 1975; to give the board authority over certain physical therapy professionals licensed in other states. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA: Section 1. Sections 34-24-191, 34-24-193, 34-24-194, 34-24-196, 34-24-210, 34-24-210.1, 34-24-211, 34-24-212, 34-24-213, 34-24-214, and 34-24-217, Code of Alabama 1975, are amended to read as follows: "§34-24-191 (a) For the purposes of this article, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed by this section: (1) BOARD. The Board of Physical Therapy established by Section 34-24-192. (2) COMMISSION. The Physical Therapy Compact Commission, the national administrative body whose membership consists of all states that have enacted the interstate compact. (3) COMPACT PRIVILEGE. The authorization granted by a remote state to allow a licensee from another state to practice as a physical therapist or work as a physical therapist assistant in the remote state under its laws and 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 HB110 EnrolledHB110 Enrolled Page 2 rules. The practice of physical therapy occurs in the state where the patient/client is located at the time of the patient/client encounter. (4) COMPACT PRIVILEGE HOLDER. An individual licensed as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant in a compact state who has been granted a compact privilege by the Commission. (2)(5) FOREIGN EDUCATED PHYSICAL THERAPIST. A person trained or educated in the practice of physical therapy outside of the United States or any of its territorial possessions. (3)(6) IMPAIRED. The inability of a physical therapy licensee to practice physical therapy with reasonable skill and safety to patients by reason of illness, inebriation, excessive use of drugs, narcotics, alcohol, chemicals, or other substances, or as a result of any physical or mental condition. (4)(9) PHYSICAL THERAPY. The treatment of a human being by the use of exercise, massage, heat, cold, water, radiant energy, electricity, or sound for the purpose of correcting or alleviating any physical or mental condition or preventing the development of any physical or mental disability, or the performance of neuromuscular-skeletal tests and measurements to determine the existence and extent of body malfunction; provided, that physical therapy shall be practiced only upon the referral of a physician licensed to practice medicine or surgery, a dentist licensed to practice dentistry, a licensed chiropractor, a licensed assistant to a physician acting 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 HB110 EnrolledHB110 Enrolled Page 3 pursuant to a valid supervisory agreement, or a licensed certified registered nurse practitioner in a collaborative practice agreement with a licensed physician, except as otherwise provided in this chapter. Physical therapy does not include radiology or electrosurgery. (5)(7) PHYSICAL THERAPIST. A person who practices physical therapy. (6)(11) PHYSICAL THERAPY LICENSEE. A physical therapist or physical therapist assistant who is licensed under this article. (7)(12) PHYSIOTHERAPIST. Synonymous with the term "physical therapist," and the term shall be used to identify only those persons licensed under this article. The physical therapist may use the letters "P.T." or "R.P.T." in connection with his or her name or place of business to denote his or her registration hereunder. (8)(8) PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT. A person who assists in the practice of physical therapy and whose activities require an understanding of physical therapy but do not require professional or advanced training in the anatomical, biological, and physical sciences involved in the practice of physical therapy. The physical therapist assistant shall practice only under the direction of a licensed physical therapist. (9)(10) PHYSICAL THERAPY AIDE. A person trained under the direction of a physical therapist who performs designated and supervised routine tasks related to physical therapy services. 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 HB110 EnrolledHB110 Enrolled Page 4 (10)(13) RESTRICTED LICENSE. a. For a physical therapist, a license on which the board has placed restrictions or conditions, or both, as to the scope of practice, place of practice, supervision of practice, duration of licensed status, or type or condition of patient to whom the physical therapist may provide services. b. For a physical therapist assistant, a license on which the board has placed any restriction. (b) Words importing the masculine gender shall include the feminine." "§34-24-193 (a) It shall be the duty of t The board to shall have the following duties: (1) To pass upon the qualifications of applicants for licensing as physical therapists and licensing as or physical therapist assistants ,. (2) Toto conduct examinations ,. (3) Toto issue licenses andand license renewals to physical therapists and physical therapist assistants qualifying under this article . (4) Toand in a proper case to suspend or revoke as necessary the license or compact privilege of such persons individuals. (b) The board mayshall adopt rules and regulations not inconsistent with law as it may deem necessary for the performance of its duties ;, however, the board shall not issue adopt any rules or regulations that require a physical therapist assistant to be within sight of a consulting 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 HB110 EnrolledHB110 Enrolled Page 5 physical therapist or a physical therapist supervisor while working under the direction of that physical therapist , or issue adopt any rules, regulations, or issue any orders inconsistent with Section 34-24-217(b). The board shall maintain a listing of the name of every living physical therapist and physical therapist assistant licensed or granted a compact privilege in this state, his or her last known place of business and last known place of residence, and the date and number of his or her license. (c) The board shall compile a list of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed to practice or granted a compact privilege in this state, and such list shall be available to any person upon application to the board and the payment of such chargea fee as may be fixed by the board. (d) The board may establish and collect a fee for the issuance of a compact privilege. (e) Subject to the provisions of Section 34-24-195, the board shall have the power to may make such expenditures and employ such personnel as it may deem necessary for the administration of the provisions of this article. (f) The board shall hire and establish the responsibilities and salary of an executive director. (b)(g) The board is hereby specifically authorized to may establish and collect a fee for certifying to other boards or entities that a licensee is a member in good standing with the Alabama board. (c)(h) The board may collect a fee from providers of 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 HB110 EnrolledHB110 Enrolled Page 6 continuing education programs. (d)(i) The board is hereby authorized to may discipline its licensees and compact privilege holders by the adoption and collection of administrative fines, not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) per violation, and it is further authorized to may institute any legal proceedings necessary to effect compliance with this chapter. (e)(j)(1) The board shall provide for an impaired practitioner program beginning January 1, 2014. (1)(2) The board shall promote the early identification, intervention, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical therapy licensees or compact privilege holders who may be impaired by reason of illness, inebriation, excessive use of drugs, narcotics, alcohol, chemicals, or other substances, or as a result of any physical or mental condition. (2)(3) In order to carry out this obligation , the board may contract with any nonprofit corporation or medical professional association for the purpose of creating, supporting, and maintaining a committee to be designated the Alabama Physical Therapy Wellness Committee. The committee shall be selected in a manner prescribed by the board. The board may expend available funds as necessary to adequately provide for the operational expenses of the committee including, but not limited to, the actual cost of travel, office overhead, and personnel expense. The funds provided by the board for the purpose of operating expenses are not subject to any provision of law requiring competitive bidding. 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 HB110 EnrolledHB110 Enrolled Page 7 (3)(4) The board may enter into an agreement with a nonprofit corporation or medical professional association for the committee to undertake those functions and responsibilities specified in the agreement, which may include any or all of the following: a. Contracting with providers of treatment programs. b. Receiving and evaluating reports of suspected impairment from any source. c. Intervening in cases of verified impairment. d. Referring impaired physical therapy licensees or compact privilege holders to treatment programs. e. Monitoring the treatment and rehabilitation of impaired physical therapy licensees or compact privilege holders. f. Providing post-treatment monitoring and support of rehabilitated impaired physical therapy licensees or compact privilege holders . g. Performing other activities as agreed by the board and the committee. (4)(5) The committee shall develop procedures in consultation with the board for all of the following: a. Periodic reporting of statistical information regarding impaired physical therapy licensee program activity. b. Periodic disclosure and joint review of all information the board deems appropriate regarding reports received, contracts or investigations made, and the disposition of each report. The committee may not disclose any personally identifiable information except as otherwise 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 HB110 EnrolledHB110 Enrolled Page 8 provided in this article. (5)(6) Any individual appointed to serve as a member of the committee and any auxiliary personnel, consultant, attorney, or other volunteer or employee of the committee taking any action authorized by this article, engaging in the performance of any duties on behalf of the committee, or participating in any administrative or judicial proceeding resulting therefrom, in the performance and operation thereof, shall be immune from any liability, civil or criminal, that might otherwise be incurred or imposed. Any nonprofit corporation or medical professional association or other entity that contracts with or receives funds from the board for the creation, support, and operation of the committee, in so doing, shall be immune from any liability, civil or criminal, that might otherwise be incurred or imposed. (6)(7) All information, interviews, reports, statements, memoranda, or other documents furnished to or produced by the committee and any findings, conclusions, recommendations, or reports resulting from any investigation, intervention, treatment, or rehabilitation, or other proceeding of the committee is privileged and confidential. All records and proceedings of the committee pertaining to an impaired physical therapy licensee or compact privilege holder are confidential and shall be used by the committee and the members of the committee only in the exercise of the proper function of the committee and shall not be public record nor available for court subpoena or for discovery proceedings. In the event of a breach of contract between the committee and 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 HB110 EnrolledHB110 Enrolled Page 9 the impaired physical therapy licensee or compact privilege holder, all records pertaining to the conduct determined to cause the breach of contract shall be disclosed to the board upon its request for disciplinary purposes only. Nothing contained in this subdivision shall apply to records made in the regular course of business of a physical therapy licensee and any information, document, or record otherwise available from an original source is not to be construed as immune from discovery or use in any civil proceeding merely because it is presented or considered during proceedings of the committee. (7)(8) The committee shall render an annual report to the board concerning the operations and proceedings of the committee for the preceding year. The committee shall report to the board any physical therapy licensee or compact privilege holder who in the opinion of the committee is unable to perform physical therapy duties with reasonable skill and safety to patients by reason of illness, inebriation, excessive use of drugs, narcotics, alcohol, chemicals, or other substances, or as a result of any physical or mental condition when it appears that the physical therapy licensee or compact privilege holder is currently in need of intervention, treatment, or rehabilitation and the licensee individual has failed or refused to participate in any program of treatment or rehabilitation recommended by the committee. A report to the Alabama Physical Therapy Wellness Committee shall be deemed a report to the board for the purposes of any mandated reporting of physical therapy licensee impairment of a licensee or compact privilege holder otherwise provided for 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 HB110 EnrolledHB110 Enrolled Page 10 by law. (8)(9) If the board has reasonable cause to believe that a physical therapy licensee or compact privilege holder is impaired, the board may cause an evaluation of the physical therapy licensee that individual to be conducted by the committee for the purpose of determining if there is an impairment. The committee shall report the findings of its evaluation to the board." "§34-24-194 (a) Any person may file a complaint with the board against any licensed physical therapist , or licensed physical therapist assistant , or compact privilege holder in the state charging the person with a violation of this article. The complaint shall set forth specifications of charges in sufficient detail to disclose to the accused fully and completely the alleged acts of misconduct for which he or she is charged. When a complaint is filed, the executive director of the board shall mail a copy thereof to the accused by registered mail at his or her address of record, with a written notice of the time and place of a hearing of the complaint, advising the accused that he or she may be present in person and by counsel if he or she so desires to offer testimony and evidence in his or her defense. (b) The board may issue subpoenas and compel the attendance of any witness or the production of any book, writing, or other documentation in the possession, custody, or control of any person. Any person refusing to produce any book, writing, or other documentation or to appear to testify, 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 HB110 EnrolledHB110 Enrolled Page 11 without legal excuse, at a hearing of the board, after having been served with a subpoena issued by the board requiring the person to appear, produce any book, writing, or other form of documentation or testify at the hearing, shall be guilty of contempt. Upon certification of the act of contempt by the board to the judge of the circuit court in whose jurisdiction the hearing is held or is to be held, the judge shall punish the contempt as though committed before the judge. The accused party shall, on application to the board, be furnished by the board with a subpoena for any witness in his or her behalf or for the production of any book, writing, or other documentation to be used in his or her behalf at the hearing. (c) At the hearing, the board shall receive evidence upon the subject matter under consideration and shall accord the accused person individual a full and fair opportunity to be heard in his or her defense. The board shall not be bound by strict or technical rules of evidence, but shall consider all evidence fully and fairly except, that all oral testimony considered by the board must be under oath. If the board is convinced that the licensed physical therapist or the licensed physical therapist assistant licensee or compact privilege holder has violated this article, it may revoke his or her license. (d) The action of the board in revoking or refusing to issue a license or compact privilege may be reviewed by the Circuit Court of Montgomery County by a writ of mandamus, accompanied by a bond to be approved by the court, to determine whether the board acted arbitrarily, capriciously, 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 HB110 EnrolledHB110 Enrolled Page 12 or illegally. The review procedure provided in this subsection shall not suspend the action of the board in the revocation or refusal of a license. (e) The board may restrict a license or compact privilege and may require the licensee a licensee or compact privilege holder to report regularly to the board on matters related to the reasons for the restricted license." "§34-24-196 (a) Each violation of Section 34-24-210 shall be punishable by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100)$100 nor more than five hundred dollars ($500) $500, or by imprisonment for not less than 30 days nor more than 90 days, or both. (b) Any person individual who knowingly makes a false statement in his or her application for registration or a license or compact privilege under this article , or in response to any inquiry by the board , shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars ($100) $100 nor more than five hundred dollars ($500)$500 or by imprisonment for not less than 30 days nor more than 90 days, or both." "§34-24-210 (a) License or compact privilege required. No person individual shall practice nor hold himself or herself out to be able to practice physical therapy in this state unless he or she is licensed or has been granted a compact privilege in accordance with this article chapter. (b) License or compact privilege required. No person individual shall act nor hold himself or herself out as being 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 HB110 EnrolledHB110 Enrolled Page 13 able to act as a physical therapist assistant unless he or she is licensed or has been granted a compact privilege in accordance with this article. (c) Other healing arts not affected. Nothing in this article shall prohibit any person individual licensed to practice any other of the healing arts in this state under any other law from engaging in the practice for which he or she is licensed." "§34-24-210.1 (a) Without prescription or referral, a licensed physical therapist or compact privilege holder may perform an initial evaluation or consultation of a screening nature to determine the need for physical therapy and may perform the physical therapy and other services provided in subdivisions (1) to (5), inclusive, of subsection (b)(1) through (5). Implementation of physical therapy shall otherwise be based on the referral of a person licensed to practice medicine, surgery, dentistry, chiropractic, licensed assistant to a physician acting pursuant to a valid supervising agreement, or a licensed certified registered nurse practitioner in a valid collaborative practice agreement with a licensed physician. (b) The physical therapy and other services referred to in subsection (a), which may be performed without prescription or referral, include and are limited to the following: (1) To a child with a diagnosed developmental disability pursuant to the plan of care for the child. (2) To a patient of a home health care agency pursuant to the plan of care for the patient. 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 HB110 EnrolledHB110 Enrolled Page 14 (3) To a patient in a nursing home pursuant to the plan of care for the patient. (4) Related to conditioning or to providing education or activities in a wellness setting for the purpose of injury prevention, reduction of stress, or promotion of fitness. (5) To an individual for a previously diagnosed condition or conditions for which physical therapy services are appropriate after informing the health care provider rendering the diagnosis. The diagnosis shall have been made within the immediately preceding 90 days. The physical therapist shall provide the health care provider who rendered the diagnosis with a plan of care for physical therapy services within the first 15 days of physical therapy intervention." "§34-24-211 (a) An applicant for licensure as a physical therapist or for a license as a physical therapist assistant shall file a written application on forms provided by the board together with a fee as set by the board, no part of which shall be returnedrefundable. The applicant shall present evidence satisfactory to the board that he or she is of good moral character and has completed a program of physical therapy education appropriate for training a physical therapist or a physical therapist assistant , as the case may be, approved by the board or a nationally recognized accrediting agency. Each applicant shall also be a citizen of the United States or, if not a citizen of the United States, a person who is legally present in the United States with appropriate documentation 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 HB110 EnrolledHB110 Enrolled Page 15 from the federal government. (b) On and after June 1, 2021, an applicant for licensure as a physical therapist or a physical therapist assistant shall submit to the board, on a form sworn to by the applicant, his or her name, date of birth, Social Security number, and two complete sets of fingerprints for completion of a criminal history background check. The board shall submit the fingerprints to the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency for a state criminal history background check. The fingerprints shall be forwarded by the agency to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a national criminal history background check. Costs associated with conducting a criminal history background check shall be paid by the applicant." "§34-24-212 (a) Generally. The board shall give an appropriate physical therapy examination and a jurisprudence examination to every applicant who complies with Section 34-24-211 and who pays the fee prescribed for the examination. Examinations shall be held within the state at least once each year, at such times and places as the board determines. A practical or demonstration examination may be required at the discretion of the board when an applicant is retaking a written examination after previously having failed such an examination. (b) Physical therapist. The physical therapy examination given applicants for licensure as a physical therapist shall be a written examination , approved by the board. Such examination shall to test the applicant's knowledge of the basic and clinical sciences as they relate to 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 HB110 EnrolledHB110 Enrolled Page 16 the practice of physical therapy, physical therapy theory and procedures, and such other subjects as the board may deem useful to test the applicant's fitness to practice physical therapy. The board shall also administer a jurisprudence examination to applicants for licensure as a physical therapist, which shall be a written examination approved by the board to test the applicant's knowledge of the laws and rules of the State of Alabama as they relate to the practice of physical therapy and such other subjects as the board may deem useful to test the applicant's knowledge of applicable law. A practical or demonstration examination may be required if so determined by the board. The board, in its discretion, may waive the requirement for a jurisprudence examination. (c) Physical therapist assistant. The physical therapy examination given applicants for licensure as physical therapist assistant willshall be a written examination , approved by the board . Such examination shall to test the applicant's knowledge of the basic and clinical sciences as they relate to the practice of physical therapy, physical therapy theory and procedures, and such other subjects as the board may deem useful to test the applicant's fitness to act as a physical therapist assistant. The board shall also administer a jurisprudence examination to applicants for licensure as a physical therapist assistant, which shall be a written examination approved by the board to test the applicant's knowledge of the laws and rules of the State of Alabama as they relate to the practice of physical therapy and such other subjects as the board may deem useful to test the 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448 HB110 EnrolledHB110 Enrolled Page 17 applicant's knowledge of applicable law. A practical or demonstration examination may be required if so determined by the board. The board, in its discretion, may waive the requirement for a jurisprudence examination. (d) Foreign educated physical therapist. Any foreign educated physical therapist who plans to practice in the state must have their educational credentials evaluated by a recognized educational evaluation agency and have that agency send their report directly to the board. The board will shall determine the acceptability of equivalency in educational preparation. If the board rules determines the education to be acceptable, the routine application process will be followed. (e) Compact privilege applicants. Individuals purchasing a compact privilege for the State of Alabama shall pass the jurisprudence examination required of licensed physical therapists of licensed physical therapist assistants before the privilege is issued by the Commission. (f) By January 1, 2024, the board shall adopt rules to implement this chapter. " "§34-24-213 The board shall issue a license to each applicant who passes the appropriate examination for licensure as a physical therapist or licensure as a physical therapist assistant in accordance with standards fixed by it and who is not disqualified to receive a license under the provisions of Section 34-24-217." "§34-24-214 On Upon payment to the board of a fee set by the board 449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470 471 472 473 474 475 476 HB110 EnrolledHB110 Enrolled Page 18 and the submission of a written application on forms provided by the board, the board shall issue a license without examination to: (1) A person An individual who is qualified within the meaning of this article as a physical therapist by another state of the United States of America, its possessions, or the District of Columbia, if the requirements for licensing or registration in such state, possession, or district were at the date of his or her licensing or registration by such that state substantially equal to the requirement for the initial licensing of persons individuals practicing physical therapy when this article became effective, August 20, 1965, or for licensing by examination prepared by the professional examining service as set forth in thethis article and any additional requirements prescribed by the board. (2) A person An individual who is qualified within the meaning of this article as a physical therapist assistant by another state of the United States of America, its possessions, or the District of Columbia, if the requirements for licensing in such state, possession, or district were at the date of his or her licensing by such that state substantially equal to the requirements set forth in this article." "§34-24-217 (a) The board shall refuse to issue a license to any person individual and, after notice and hearing in accordance with its regulations and rules, shall suspend or revoke the license or compact privilege of any person individual who has 477 478 479 480 481 482 483 484 485 486 487 488 489 490 491 492 493 494 495 496 497 498 499 500 501 502 503 504 HB110 EnrolledHB110 Enrolled Page 19 done any of the following : (1) Practiced physical therapy other than upon the referral of a physician licensed to practice medicine or surgery, a dentist licensed to practice dentistry, a licensed chiropractor, a licensed assistant to a physician acting pursuant to a valid supervisory agreement, or a licensed certified registered nurse practitioner in a valid collaborative practice agreement with a licensed physician, except as provided in Section 34-24-210.1, or practiced as a physical therapist assistant other than under the direction of a licensed physical therapist ;. (2) Used drugs or intoxicating liquors alcoholic beverages to an extent which affects his or her professional competency;. (3) Been convicted of a felony or of a crime involving moral turpitude;. (4) Obtained or attempted to obtain a license or compact privilege by fraud or deception ;. (5) Been grossly negligent in the practice of physical therapy or in acting as a physical therapist assistant ;. (6) Been adjudged mentally incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction ;. (7) Been guilty of conduct unbecoming a person licensed as a physical therapist or licensed as a physical therapist assistantlicensee or compact privilege holder or of conduct detrimental to the best interest of the public ;. (8) Been convicted of violating any state or federal narcotic law;. 505 506 507 508 509 510 511 512 513 514 515 516 517 518 519 520 521 522 523 524 525 526 527 528 529 530 531 532 HB110 EnrolledHB110 Enrolled Page 20 (9) Treated or undertaken to treat human ailments otherwise than by physical therapy as defined in this article;. (10) Advertised unethically according to standards as set by the board ; or. (11) Failed or refused to obey any lawful order or regulation of the board. (b) For purposes of this article and notwithstanding any other provision of this article or any rules or regulations adopted by the board, any person licensedlicensee or compact privilege holder under this article who has a bona fide employment or independent contract with a physician, a physician group, or an entity with which a physician has a legal compensation arrangement, including fair market value wages, compensation, benefits, or rents for services or property provided, or in which a physician has a legal financial interest, including any direct or indirect ownership or investment interest, shall not be deemed to be engaged in conduct unbecoming a person licensedlicensee or compact privilege holder under this article, or to be engaged in conduct detrimental to the best interest of the public, or to be in violation of any other provision of this article by virtue of any of the above relationships, and shall not be subject to licensure or compact privilege denial, suspension, revocation, or any other disciplinary action or penalty under this article: (1) by virtue of such employment or contract, or (2) by virtue of the provision of physical therapy services pursuant to a referral from the employing or contracting 533 534 535 536 537 538 539 540 541 542 543 544 545 546 547 548 549 550 551 552 553 554 555 556 557 558 559 560 HB110 EnrolledHB110 Enrolled Page 21 physician, or from a physician with a legal compensation arrangement with or a legal financial interest in the employing or contracting physician group." Section 2. This act shall become effective on the first day of the third month following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law. 561 562 563 564 565 566 HB110 EnrolledHB110 Enrolled Page 22 ________________________________________________ Speaker of the House of Representatives ________________________________________________ President and Presiding Officer of the Senate House of Representatives I hereby certify that the within Act originated in and was passed by the House 27-Apr-23. John Treadwell Clerk Senate 31-May-23 Passed 567 568 569 570 571 572 573 574 575 576 577 578 579 580 581 582 583 584 585 586 587 588 589 590 591 592