EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*sb0047*
SENATE BILL 47
J2 5lr1114
(PRE–FILED) CF HB 3
By: Senator Gile
Requested: October 4, 2024
Introduced and read first time: January 8, 2025
Assigned to: Finance
Committee Report: Favorable
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: January 29, 2025
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners – Revisions 2
FOR the purpose of clarifying the definition of “physical therapist assistant” as used in the 3
Maryland Physical Therapy Act; altering the membership of the State Board of 4
Physical Therapy Examiners; requiring the Board to send renewal notices to 5
licensees by electronic means, rather than first–class mail, unless the licensee 6
requests to receive the renewal notice by first–class mail; and generally relating to 7
the State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners. 8
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 9
Article – Health Occupations 10
Section 13–101(a) and 13–311(a) 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 13
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 14
Article – Health Occupations 15
Section 13–101(g), 13–202(a)(1) through (3) and (c), and 13–311(b) 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 18
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 19
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 20
2 SENATE BILL 47
Article – Health Occupations 1
13–101. 2
(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. 3
(g) “Physical therapist assistant” means an individual LICENSED BY THE STATE 4
BOARD OF PHYSICAL THERAPY EXAMINERS who practices limited physical therapy and 5
who has passed the national physical therapy licensing examination administered or 6
accepted by the Board. 7
13–202. 8
(a) (1) The Board consists of [8] 9 members. 9
(2) Of the [8] 9 Board members: 10
(i) Five shall be licensed physical therapists, of which a minimum 11
of four shall be engaged primarily in the clinical practice of physical therapy in this State; 12
(ii) [One] TWO shall be [a] licensed physical therapist [assistant] 13
ASSISTANTS practicing limited physical therapy in this State; and 14
(iii) Two shall be consumer members. 15
(3) The Governor shall appoint the licensed physical therapist members 16
and the licensed physical therapist assistant [member] MEMBERS, with the advice of the 17
Secretary, from a list of names of qualified individuals submitted to the Secretary and the 18
Governor by the American Physical Therapy Association of Maryland. The number of 19
names on the list shall be at least three times the number of vacancies. 20
(c) [The] EACH licensed physical therapist assistant member shall: 21
(1) Have 5 years’ experience in limited physical therapy; and 22
(2) Be engaged in the profession of limited physical therapy in this State. 23
13–311. 24
(a) (1) A license expires on the date set by the Board, unless the license is 25
renewed for an additional term as provided in this section. 26
(2) A license may not be renewed for a term longer than 2 years. 27
(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, at least 1 month 28
before the license expires, the Board shall send to the licensee, by [first–class mail] 29 SENATE BILL 47 3
ELECTRONIC MEANS to the last known E–MAIL address of the licensee, a renewal notice 1
that states: 2
(i) The date on which the current license expires; 3
(ii) The date by which the renewal application must be received by 4
the Board for the renewal to be issued [and mailed] before the license expires; and 5
(iii) The amount of the renewal fee. 6
(2) If requested by a licensee, the Board shall send to the licensee[, at least 7
two times within the month before a license expires,] a renewal notice by [electronic means] 8
FIRST–CLASS MAIL to the last known [electronic mail] address of the licensee. 9
(3) If a renewal notice sent by electronic means under paragraph [(2)] (1) 10
of this subsection is returned to the Board as undeliverable, the Board shall send to the 11
licensee a renewal notice by first–class mail to the last known address of the licensee. 12
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 13
1, 2025. 14
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.