87R11394 MAW-F
By: Morrison H.B. No. 3254
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. The changes in law made by this Act to Section
451.153, Occupations Code, apply 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, 2021.