UT
Utah House Bill HB0188

Utah 2025 Regular Session

Utah House Bill HB0188 Compare Versions

OldNewDifferences
1-Enrolled Copy H.B. 188
1+02-18 15:46 1st Sub. (Buff) H.B. 188
2+Paul A. Cutler proposes the following substitute bill:
23 1
34 Dry Needling Amendments
45 2025 GENERAL SESSION
56 STATE OF UTAH
67 Chief Sponsor: Paul A. Cutler
78 Senate Sponsor: Todd Weiler
89 2
910
1011 3
1112 LONG TITLE
1213 4
1314 General Description:
1415 5
1516 This bill provides requirements for dry needling by a physical therapist or an occupational
1617 6
1718 therapist.
1819 7
1920 Highlighted Provisions:
2021 8
2122 This bill:
2223 9
2324 ▸ moves the registration requirement for a physical therapist using dry needling from an
2425 10
2526 exception to unlawful and unprofessional conduct to a requirement for licensing;
2627 11
2728 ▸ expands the definition of both physical therapy and occupational therapy to include dry
2829 12
2930 needling;
3031 13
3132 ▸ clarifies that no referral is needed for physical therapy or occupational therapy;
3233 14
3334 ▸ creates a registration requirement for an occupational therapist to engage in dry needling;
3435 15
3536 ▸ allows occupational therapists to assist with mental wellness; and
3637 16
3738 ▸ makes technical changes.
3839 17
3940 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
4041 18
4142 None
4243 19
4344 Other Special Clauses:
4445 20
4546 None
4647 21
4748 Utah Code Sections Affected:
4849 22
4950 AMENDS:
5051 23
5152 58-24b-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 507
5253 24
5354 58-42a-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 507
5455 25
5556 58-42a-301, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1994, Chapter 240
5657 26
5758 ENACTS:
5859 27
59-58-24b-306, Utah Code Annotated 1953 H.B. 188 Enrolled Copy
60+58-24b-306, Utah Code Annotated 1953
6061 28
6162 58-24b-307, Utah Code Annotated 1953
63+1st Sub. H.B. 188 1st Sub. (Buff) H.B. 188 02-18 15:46
6264 29
6365 58-42a-307, Utah Code Annotated 1953
6466 30
6567 58-42a-308, Utah Code Annotated 1953
6668 31
6769 REPEALS:
6870 32
6971 58-24b-505, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2014, Chapter 354
7072 33
7173
7274 34
7375 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
7476 35
7577 Section 1. Section 58-24b-102 is amended to read:
7678 36
7779 58-24b-102 . Definitions.
7880 37
7981 As used in this chapter:
8082 38
8183 (1) "Animal physical therapy" means practicing physical therapy or physiotherapy on an
8284 39
8385 animal.
8486 40
8587 (2) "Board" means the Physical Therapies Licensing Board, created in Section 58-24b-201.
8688 41
8789 (3) "Consultation by telecommunication" means the provision of expert or professional
8890 42
8991 advice by a physical therapist who is licensed outside of Utah to a licensed physical
9092 43
9193 therapist or a health care provider by telecommunication or electronic communication.
9294 44
9395 (4) "General supervision" means supervision and oversight of [a person] an individual by a
9496 45
9597 licensed physical therapist when the licensed physical therapist is immediately available
9698 46
9799 in person, by telephone, or by electronic communication to assist the [person] individual.
98100 47
99101 (5) "Licensed physical therapist" means [a person] an individual licensed under this chapter
100102 48
101103 to engage in the practice of physical therapy.
102104 49
103105 (6) "Licensed physical therapist assistant" means [a person] an individual licensed under this
104106 50
105107 chapter to engage in the practice of physical therapy, subject to the provisions of
106108 51
107109 Subsection 58-24b-401(2)(a).
108110 52
109111 (7) "Licensing examination" means a nationally recognized physical therapy examination
110112 53
111113 that is approved by the division, in consultation with the board.
112114 54
113115 (8) "On-site supervision" means supervision and oversight of [a person] an individual by a
114116 55
115117 licensed physical therapist or a licensed physical therapist assistant when the licensed
116118 56
117119 physical therapist or licensed physical therapist assistant is:
118120 57
119121 (a) continuously present at the facility where the [person] individual is providing services;
120122 58
121123 (b) immediately available to assist the [person] individual; and
122124 59
123125 (c) regularly involved in the services being provided by the [person] individual.
124126 60
125127 (9) "Physical impairment" means:
126128 61
127129 (a) a mechanical impairment;
128-- 2 - Enrolled Copy H.B. 188
129130 62
130131 (b) a physiological impairment;
132+- 2 - 02-18 15:46 1st Sub. (Buff) H.B. 188
131133 63
132134 (c) a developmental impairment;
133135 64
134136 (d) a functional limitation;
135137 65
136138 (e) a disability;
137139 66
138140 (f) a mobility impairment; or
139141 67
140142 (g) a bodily malfunction.
141143 68
142144 (10)(a) "Physical therapy" or "physiotherapy" means:
143145 69
144146 (i) examining, evaluating, and testing an individual who has a physical impairment or
145147 70
146148 injury;
147149 71
148150 (ii) identifying or labeling a physical impairment or injury;
149151 72
150152 (iii) formulating a therapeutic intervention plan for the treatment of a physical
151153 73
152154 impairment, injury, or pain;
153155 74
154156 (iv) assessing the ongoing effects of therapeutic intervention for the treatment of a
155157 75
156158 physical impairment or injury;
157159 76
158160 (v) treating or alleviating a physical impairment by designing, modifying, or
159161 77
160162 implementing a therapeutic intervention;
161163 78
162164 (vi) reducing the risk of an injury or physical impairment;
163165 79
164166 (vii) providing instruction on the use of physical measures, activities, or devices for
165167 80
166168 preventative and therapeutic purposes;
167169 81
168170 (viii) promoting and maintaining health and fitness;
169171 82
170172 (ix) the administration of a prescription drug pursuant to Section 58-24b-403;
171173 83
172174 (x) subject to Subsection 58-28-307(12)(b), engaging in the functions described in
173175 84
174176 Subsections (10)(a)(i) through (ix) in relation to an animal, in accordance with the
175177 85
176178 requirements of Section 58-24b-405; [and]
177179 86
178180 (xi) engaging in administration, consultation, education, and research relating to the
179181 87
180182 practices described in this Subsection (10)(a)[.] ; or
181183 88
182184 (xii) applying dry needling to enhance an individual's physical performance if the
183185 89
184186 physical therapy practitioner has received the necessary training as determined by
185187 90
186188 division rule in collaboration with the board.
187189 91
188190 (b) "Physical therapy" or "physiotherapy" does not include:
189191 92
190192 (i) diagnosing disease;
191193 93
192194 (ii) performing surgery;
193195 94
194196 (iii) performing acupuncture;
195197 95
196198 (iv) taking x-rays; or
197-- 3 - H.B. 188 Enrolled Copy
198199 96
199200 (v) prescribing or dispensing a drug, as defined in Section 58-37-2.
201+- 3 - 1st Sub. (Buff) H.B. 188 02-18 15:46
200202 97
201203 (11) "Physical therapy aide" means [a person] an individual who:
202204 98
203205 (a) is trained, on-the-job, by a licensed physical therapist; and
204206 99
205207 (b) provides routine assistance to a licensed physical therapist or licensed physical
206208 100
207209 therapist assistant, while the licensed physical therapist or licensed physical therapist
208210 101
209211 assistant practices physical therapy, within the scope of the licensed physical
210212 102
211213 therapist's or licensed physical therapist assistant's license.
212214 103
213215 (12) "Recognized accreditation agency" means an accreditation agency that:
214216 104
215217 (a) grants accreditation, nationally, in the United States of America; and
216218 105
217219 (b) is approved by the division, in consultation with the board.
218220 106
219221 (13)(a) "Testing" means a standard method or technique used to gather data regarding a
220222 107
221223 patient that is generally and nationally accepted by physical therapists for the practice
222224 108
223225 of physical therapy.
224226 109
225227 (b) "Testing" includes measurement or evaluation of:
226228 110
227229 (i) muscle strength, force, endurance, or tone;
228230 111
229231 (ii) cardiovascular fitness;
230232 112
231233 (iii) physical work capacity;
232234 113
233235 (iv) joint motion, mobility, or stability;
234236 114
235237 (v) reflexes or autonomic reactions;
236238 115
237239 (vi) movement skill or accuracy;
238240 116
239241 (vii) sensation;
240242 117
241243 (viii) perception;
242244 118
243245 (ix) peripheral nerve integrity;
244246 119
245247 (x) locomotor skills, stability, and endurance;
246248 120
247249 (xi) the fit, function, and comfort of prosthetic, orthotic, or other assistive devices;
248250 121
249251 (xii) posture;
250252 122
251253 (xiii) body mechanics;
252254 123
253255 (xiv) limb length, circumference, and volume;
254256 124
255257 (xv) thoracic excursion and breathing patterns;
256258 125
257259 (xvi) activities of daily living related to physical movement and mobility;
258260 126
259261 (xvii) functioning in the physical environment at home or work, as it relates to
260262 127
261263 physical movement and mobility; and
262264 128
263265 (xviii) neural muscular responses.
264266 129
265267 (14)(a) "Trigger point dry needling" means the stimulation of a trigger point using a dry
266-- 4 - Enrolled Copy H.B. 188
267268 130
268269 needle to treat neuromuscular pain and functional movement deficits.
270+- 4 - 02-18 15:46 1st Sub. (Buff) H.B. 188
269271 131
270272 (b) "Trigger point dry needling" does not include the stimulation of auricular or distal
271273 132
272274 points.
273275 133
274276 (15) "Therapeutic intervention" includes:
275277 134
276278 (a) therapeutic exercise, with or without the use of a device;
277279 135
278280 (b) functional training in self-care, as it relates to physical movement and mobility;
279281 136
280282 (c) community or work integration, as it relates to physical movement and mobility;
281283 137
282284 (d) manual therapy, including:
283285 138
284286 (i) soft tissue mobilization;
285287 139
286288 (ii) therapeutic massage; or
287289 140
288290 (iii) joint mobilization, as defined by the division, by rule;
289291 141
290292 (e) prescribing, applying, or fabricating an assistive, adaptive, orthotic, prosthetic,
291293 142
292294 protective, or supportive device;
293295 143
294296 (f) airway clearance techniques, including postural drainage;
295297 144
296298 (g) integumentary protection and repair techniques;
297299 145
298300 (h) wound debridement, cleansing, and dressing;
299301 146
300302 (i) the application of a physical agent, including:
301303 147
302304 (i) light;
303305 148
304306 (ii) heat;
305307 149
306308 (iii) cold;
307309 150
308310 (iv) water;
309311 151
310312 (v) air;
311313 152
312314 (vi) sound;
313315 153
314316 (vii) compression;
315317 154
316318 (viii) electricity; and
317319 155
318320 (ix) electromagnetic radiation;
319321 156
320322 (j) mechanical or electrotherapeutic modalities;
321323 157
322324 (k) positioning;
323325 158
324326 (l) instructing or training a patient in locomotion or other functional activities, with or
325327 159
326328 without an assistive device;
327329 160
328330 (m) manual or mechanical traction;
329331 161
330332 (n) correction of posture, body mechanics, or gait; and
331333 162
332334 (o) trigger point dry needling, under the conditions described in Section 58-24b-505.
333335 163
334336 Section 2. Section 58-24b-306 is enacted to read:
335-- 5 - H.B. 188 Enrolled Copy
336337 164
337338 58-24b-306 . Trigger point dry needling -- Experience required -- Registration.
339+- 5 - 1st Sub. (Buff) H.B. 188 02-18 15:46
338340 165
339341 (1) A physical therapist may practice trigger point dry needling if the physical therapist:
340342 166
341-(a) has a valid license to practice physical therapy under this chapter;
343+(a) has Ĥ→ [held ] ←Ĥ a Ĥ→ valid ←Ĥ license to practice physical therapy
344+166a
345+under this chapter Ĥ→ [, and has actively ] ←Ĥ
342346 167
347+ Ĥ→ [practiced physical therapy, for two years] ←Ĥ ;
348+168
343349 (b) has successfully completed a course in trigger point dry needling that is:
344-168
350+169
345351 (i) approved by the division; and
346-169
352+170
347353 (ii) at least 304 total course hours, including at a minimum of:
348-170
354+171
349355 (A) 54 hours of in-person instruction; and
350-171
356+172
351357 (B) 250 supervised patient treatment hours;
352-172
358+173
353359 (c) files a certificate of completion of the course described in Subsection (1)(b) with the
354-173
360+174
355361 division;
356-174
362+175
357363 (d) registers with the division as a trigger point dry needling practitioner; and
358-175
364+176
359365 (e) meets any other requirement to practice trigger point dry needling established by the
360-176
366+177
361367 division.
362-177
368+178
363369 (2) The division shall make rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
364-178
370+179
365371 Administrative Rulemaking Act, that establish:
366-179
372+180
367373 (a) the criteria for approving a course described in Subsection (1)(b); and
368-180
374+181
369375 (b) the requirements described in Subsection (1)(e).
370-181
376+182
371377 (3) The division may charge, in accordance with Section 63J-1-504, a fee for the
372-182
378+183
373379 registration described in Subsection (1)(d).
374-183
380+184
375381 Section 3. Section 58-24b-307 is enacted to read:
376-184
382+185
377383 58-24b-307 . No referral required for physical therapy.
378-185
384+186
379385 A physical therapist may evaluate, initiate, and provide physical therapy treatment for a
380-186
386+187
381387 client without a referral from another health service provider.
382-187
388+188
383389 Section 4. Section 58-42a-102 is amended to read:
384-188
390+189
385391 58-42a-102 . Definitions.
386-189
392+190
387393 [In addition to the definitions in Section 58-1-102, as] As used in this chapter:
388-190
394+191
389395 (1) "Board" means the Physical Therapies Licensing Board created in Section 58-24b-201.
390-191
396+192
391397 (2)(a) "Individual treatment plan" means a written record composed for each client by [a
392-192
398+193
393399 person] the individual licensed under this chapter to engage in the practice of
394-193
400+194
395401 occupational therapy.
396-194
402+195
397403 (b) "Individual treatment plan" includes:
398-195
404+196
399405 (i) planning and directing specific exercises and programs to improve sensory
400-196
406+197
401407 integration and motor functioning at the level of performance neurologically
402-197
408+- 6 - 02-18 15:46 1st Sub. (Buff) H.B. 188
409+198
403410 appropriate for the individual's stage of development;
404-- 6 - Enrolled Copy H.B. 188
405-198
411+199
406412 (ii) establishing a program of instruction to teach a client skills, behaviors, and
407-199
413+200
408414 attitudes necessary for the client's independent productive, emotional, and social
409-200
415+201
410416 functioning;
411-201
417+202
412418 (iii) analyzing, selecting, and adapting functional exercises to achieve and maintain
413-202
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414420 the client's optimal functioning in activities of daily living and to prevent further
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416422 disability; and
417-204
423+205
418424 (iv) planning and directing specific programs to evaluate and enhance perceptual,
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420426 motor, and cognitive skills.
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427+207
422428 (3) "Occupational therapist" means [a person] an individual licensed under this chapter to
423-207
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424430 practice occupational therapy.
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431+209
426432 (4) "Occupational therapy aide" means [a person] an individual who is not licensed under
427-209
433+210
428434 this chapter but who provides supportive services under the supervision of an
429-210
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430436 occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant.
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432438 (5) "Occupational therapy assistant" means [a person] an individual licensed under this
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439+213
434440 chapter to practice occupational therapy under the supervision of an occupational
435-213
441+214
436442 therapist as described in Sections 58-42a-305 and 58-42a-306.
437-214
443+215
438444 (6)(a) "Practice of occupational therapy" means the therapeutic use of everyday life
439-215
445+216
440446 activities with an individual:
441-216
447+217
442448 (i) that has or is at risk of developing an illness, injury, disease, disorder, condition,
443-217
449+218
444450 impairment, disability, activity limitation, or participation restriction; and
445-218
451+219
446452 (ii) to develop or restore the individual's ability to engage in everyday life activities
447-219
453+220
448454 by addressing physical, cognitive, mental wellness, psychosocial, sensory, or other
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450456 aspects of the individual's performance.
451-221
457+222
452458 (b) "Practice of occupational therapy" includes:
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454460 (i) establishing, remediating, or restoring an undeveloped or impaired skill or ability
455-223
461+224
456462 of an individual;
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463+225
458464 (ii) modifying or adapting an activity or environment to enhance an individual's
459-225
465+226
460466 performance;
461-226
467+227
462468 (iii) maintaining and improving an individual's capabilities to avoid declining
463-227
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464470 performance in everyday life activities;
465-228
471+229
466472 (iv) promoting health and wellness to develop or improve an individual's
467-229
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468474 performance in everyday life activities;
469-230
475+231
470476 (v) performance-barrier prevention for an individual, including disability prevention;
471-231
477+- 7 - 1st Sub. (Buff) H.B. 188 02-18 15:46
478+232
472479 (vi) evaluating factors that affect an individual's activities of daily living in
473-- 7 - H.B. 188 Enrolled Copy
474-232
480+233
475481 educational, work, play, leisure, and social situations, including:
476-233
482+234
477483 (A) body functions and structures;
478-234
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479485 (B) habits, routines, roles, and behavioral patterns;
480-235
486+236
481487 (C) cultural, physical, environmental, social, virtual, and spiritual contexts and
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483489 activity demands that affect performance; and
484-237
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485491 (D) motor, process, communication, interaction, and other performance skills;
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492+239
487493 (vii) providing interventions and procedures to promote or enhance an individual's
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489495 safety and performance in activities of daily living in educational, work, and
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491497 social situations, including:
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493499 (A) the therapeutic use of occupations and exercises;
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495501 (B) training in self-care, self-management, home-management, and community
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497503 and work reintegration;
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499505 (C) the development, remediation, or compensation of behavioral skills and
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501507 physical, cognitive, neuromuscular, and sensory functions;
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503509 (D) the education and training of an individual's family members and caregivers;
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505511 (E) care coordination, case management, and transition services;
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507513 (F) providing consulting services to groups, programs, organizations, or
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509515 communities,
510-250
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511517 (G) modifying the environment and adapting processes, including the application
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513519 of ergonomic principles;
514-252
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515521 (H) assessing, designing, fabricating, applying, fitting, and providing training in
516-253
522+254
517523 assistive technology, adaptive devices, orthotic devices, and prosthetic devices;
518-254
524+255
519525 (I) assessing, recommending, and training an individual in techniques to enhance
520-255
526+256
521527 functional mobility, including wheelchair management;
522-256
528+257
523529 (J) driver rehabilitation and community mobility;
524-257
530+258
525531 (K) enhancing eating and feeding performance; [and]
526-258
532+259
527533 (L) applying physical agent modalities, managing wound care, dry needling, and
528-259
534+260
529535 using manual therapy techniques to enhance an individual's performance skills,
530-260
536+261
531537 if the occupational therapist has received the necessary training as determined
532-261
538+262
533539 by division rule in collaboration with the board[.] ; or
534-262
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535541 (M) applying dry needling to enhance an individual's occupational performance if
536-263
542+264
537543 the occupational therapy practitioner has received the necessary training as
538-264
544+265
539545 determined by division rule in collaboration with the board.
540-265
546+- 8 - 02-18 15:46 1st Sub. (Buff) H.B. 188
547+266
541548 (7) "Unlawful conduct" means the same as that term is defined in Sections 58-1-501 and
542-- 8 - Enrolled Copy H.B. 188
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549+267
544550 58-42a-501.
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546552 (8) "Unprofessional conduct" means the same as that term is defined in Sections 58-1-501
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553+269
548554 and 58-42a-502.
549-269
555+270
550556 Section 5. Section 58-42a-301 is amended to read:
551-270
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552558 58-42a-301 . Licensure required -- License classification.
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554560 (1) A license is required to engage in the practice of occupational therapy, except as
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561+273
556562 specifically provided in Section 58-1-307 or 58-42a-304.
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558564 (2) The division shall issue to [a person] an individual who qualifies under this chapter a
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560566 license in the classification of:
561-275
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562568 (a) occupational therapist; or
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569+277
564570 (b) occupational therapy assistant.
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566572 (3) Nothing in this chapter shall permit an individual licensed under this chapter to engage
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568574 in the practice of mental health therapy as defined in Section 58-60-102.
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570576 [(3) Nothing in this chapter shall permit an individual licensed under this chapter to engage
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572578 in the practice of mental health therapy.]
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579+282
574580 Section 6. Section 58-42a-307 is enacted to read:
575-282
581+283
576582 58-42a-307 . Trigger point dry needling -- Experience required -- Registration.
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583+284
578584 (1) An occupational therapist may practice trigger point dry needling if the occupational
579-284
585+285
580586 therapist:
581-285
582-(a) has a valid license to practice occupational therapy under this chapter;
583587 286
588+(a) has Ĥ→ [held ] ←Ĥ a Ĥ→ valid ←Ĥ license to practice occupational therapy
589+286a
590+under this chapter Ĥ→ [, and has ] ←Ĥ
591+287
592+ Ĥ→ [actively practiced occupational therapy, for two year
593+287a
594+s] ←Ĥ ;
595+288
584596 (b) has successfully completed a course in trigger point dry needling that is:
585-287
597+289
586598 (i) approved by the division; and
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599+290
588600 (ii) at least 304 total course hours, including a minimum of:
589-289
601+291
590602 (A) 54 hours of in-person instruction; and
591-290
603+292
592604 (B) 250 supervised patient treatment hours;
593-291
605+293
594606 (c) files a certificate of completion of the course described in Subsection (1)(b) with the
595-292
607+294
596608 division;
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609+295
598610 (d) registers with the division as a trigger point dry needling practitioner; and
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611+296
600612 (e) meets any other requirement to practice trigger point dry needling established by the
601-295
613+297
602614 division.
603-296
615+- 9 - 1st Sub. (Buff) H.B. 188 02-18 15:46
616+298
604617 (2) The division shall make rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
605-297
618+299
606619 Administrative Rulemaking Act, that establish:
607-298
620+300
608621 (a) the criteria for approving a course described in Subsection (1)(b); and
609-299
622+301
610623 (b) the requirements described in Subsection (1)(e).
611-- 9 - H.B. 188 Enrolled Copy
612-300
624+302
613625 (3) The division may charge, in accordance with Section 63J-1-504, a fee for the
614-301
626+303
615627 registration described in Subsection (1)(d).
616-302
628+304
617629 Section 7. Section 58-42a-308 is enacted to read:
618-303
630+305
619631 58-42a-308 . No referral required for occupational therapy.
620-304
621- An occupational therapist may evaluate, initiate, and provide occupational therapy
622-305
632+306
633+ (1) An occupational therapist may evaluate, initiate, and provide occupational therapy
634+307
623635 treatment for a client without a referral from another health service provider.
624-306
636+308
625637 Section 8. Repealer.
626-307
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627639 This bill repeals:
628-308
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629641 Section 58-24b-505, Trigger point dry needling -- Experience required -- Registration.
630-309
642+311
631643 Section 9. Effective date.
632-310
644+312
633645 This bill takes effect on May 7, 2025.
634646 - 10 -