1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to health-related licensing; clarifying athletic trainer scope of practice;
1.3 amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 148.7802, by adding a subdivision;
1.4 148.7806; 148.7807; 148.7814; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2024, section
1.5 148.7802, subdivisions 4, 5.
1.6BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.7 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 148.7802, is amended by adding a subdivision
1.8to read:
1.9 Subd. 6a.Athletic training.For the purpose of treating emergent, acute, and chronic
1.10injuries and nonorthopedic conditions, "athletic training" means the following actions when
1.11performed within the training and experience of the athletic trainer pursuant to section
1.12148.7806, paragraph (c):
1.13 (1) prevention and wellness promotion;
1.14 (2) risk management;
1.15 (3) immediate and emergency care;
1.16 (4) examination, assessment, and diagnosis of a condition for which treatment is included
1.17in the training and experience of the athletic trainer as required in section 148.7806, paragraph
1.18(c);
1.19 (5) therapeutic interventions, rehabilitation, and reconditioning;
1.20 (6) clinical decision-making to determine if a consultation or referral is necessary;
1.21 (7) health care administration; and
1Section 1.
25-01796 as introduced01/28/25 REVISOR AGW/ES
SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 962NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: HOFFMAN, Utke, Frentz and Kupec)
OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
Introduction and first reading02/03/2025
Referred to Health and Human Services 2.1 (8) maintenance of professional responsibility.
2.2 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 148.7806, is amended to read:
2.3 148.7806 ATHLETIC TRAINING.
2.4 Athletic training by a licensed athletic trainer under section 148.7808 includes the
2.5activities described in paragraphs (a) to (e).
2.6 (a) An athletic trainer shall: perform athletic training, as defined in section 148.7802,
2.7subdivision 6a, under the direction of, on the prescription of, or in collaboration with a
2.8primary physician who is licensed in Minnesota to practice medicine, as defined in section
2.9147.081, and whose license is in good standing.
2.10 (1) prevent, recognize, and evaluate athletic injuries;
2.11 (2) give emergency care and first aid;
2.12 (3) manage and treat athletic injuries; and
2.13 (4) rehabilitate and physically recondition athletic injuries.
2.14 The (b) An athletic trainer may use modalities such as cold, heat, light, sound, electricity,
2.15exercise, and mechanical devices must use therapeutic interventions within the training and
2.16experience of the athletic trainer pursuant to paragraph (c) for treatment and rehabilitation
2.17of athletic injuries to athletes in the primary employment site a patient.
2.18 (b) (c) The primary physician shall establish evaluation and treatment protocols to be
2.19used by the athletic trainer. The primary physician shall record the protocols on a form
2.20prescribed by the board. The protocol form must be updated yearly at the athletic trainer's
2.21license renewal time and kept on file by the athletic trainer.
2.22 (c) (d) At the primary employment site, except in a corporate setting, an athletic trainer
2.23may evaluate and treat an athlete for an athletic injury a patient not previously diagnosed
2.24for not more than 30 days, or a period of time as designated by the primary physician on
2.25the protocol form, from the date of the initial evaluation and treatment. Preventative care
2.26after resolution of the injury is Prevention, wellness, education, exercise, and reconditioning
2.27are not considered treatment. This paragraph does not apply to a person who is referred for
2.28treatment by a person licensed in this state to practice medicine as defined in section 147.081,;
2.29to practice chiropractic as defined in section 148.01,; to practice physical therapy as defined
2.30in section 148.65, except as provided under paragraph (f); to practice podiatry as defined
2.31in section 153.01,; or to practice dentistry as defined in section 150A.05, and whose license
2.32is in good standing.
2Sec. 2.
25-01796 as introduced01/28/25 REVISOR AGW/ES 3.1 (d) (e) An athletic trainer may:
3.2 (1) organize and administer an athletic training program, including, but not limited to,
3.3educating and counseling athletes patients;
3.4 (2) monitor the signs, symptoms, general behavior, and general physical response of an
3.5athlete a patient to treatment and rehabilitation, including, but not limited to, whether the
3.6signs, symptoms, reactions, behavior, or general response show abnormal characteristics
3.7that require a change in the plan of care or a referral; and
3.8 (3) make suggestions to the primary physician or other treating provider for a modification
3.9in the treatment and rehabilitation of an injured athlete a patient based on the indicators in
3.10clause (2).
3.11 (e) (f) In a clinical, corporate, and physical therapy setting, when the service provided
3.12is, or is represented as being, physical therapy, an athletic trainer may work only under the
3.13direct supervision of a physical therapist as defined in section 148.65.
3.14 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 148.7807, is amended to read:
3.15 148.7807 LIMITATIONS ON PRACTICE.
3.16 (a) An athletic trainer must not practice or claim to practice medicine as defined in
3.17section 147.081; acupuncture as defined in section 147B.01; chiropractic as defined in
3.18section 148.01; physical therapy as defined in section 148.65, except as provided under
3.19section 148.7806, paragraph (f); podiatry as defined in section 153.01; occupational therapy
3.20as defined in section 148.6404; or any other licensed or registered health care profession,
3.21unless the athletic trainer also holds the appropriate license or registration to practice that
3.22profession.
3.23 (b) If an athletic trainer determines that a patient's medical condition is beyond outside
3.24the scope of practice of that athletic trainer, the athletic trainer must refer the patient to a
3.25person licensed in this state to practice medicine as defined in section 147.081,; to practice
3.26chiropractic as defined in section 148.01,; to practice physical therapy as defined in section
3.27148.65, except as provided under section 148.7806, paragraph (f); to practice podiatry as
3.28defined in section 153.01,; or to practice dentistry as defined in section 150A.05, and whose
3.29license is in good standing and in accordance with established evaluation and treatment
3.30protocols. An athletic trainer shall modify or terminate treatment of a patient that is not
3.31beneficial to the patient, or that is not tolerated by the patient.
3Sec. 3.
25-01796 as introduced01/28/25 REVISOR AGW/ES 4.1 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 148.7814, is amended to read:
4.2 148.7814 APPLICABILITY.
4.3 Sections 148.7801 to 148.7815 do not apply to persons who are certified as an athletic
4.4trainers trainer who is in Minnesota temporarily with an individual or group that is
4.5participating in a specific athletic event or series of athletic events if the athletic trainer is
4.6licensed, certified, or registered by another state or county, or is certified as an athletic
4.7trainer by the Board of Certification or the board's recognized successor and come into
4.8Minnesota for a specific athletic event or series of athletic events with an individual or
4.9group.
4.10 Sec. 5. REPEALER.
4.11 Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 148.7802, subdivisions 4 and 5, are repealed.
4Sec. 5.
25-01796 as introduced01/28/25 REVISOR AGW/ES 148.7802 DEFINITIONS.
Subd. 4.Athlete."Athlete" means a person participating in exercises, sports, games, or recreation
requiring physical strength, agility, flexibility, range of motion, speed, or stamina.
Subd. 5.Athletic injury."Athletic injury" means an injury sustained by a person as a result of
the person's participation in exercises, sports, games, or recreation requiring physical strength,
agility, flexibility, range of motion, speed, or stamina.
1R
APPENDIX
Repealed Minnesota Statutes: 25-01796