Ratifies the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact. (BDR 54-566)

Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants in this State by the Nevada Physical Therapy Board. (Chapter 640 of NRS) Section 1 of this bill enacts the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact, which allows a person who is licensed as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant in a state that is a member of the Compact to practice as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant in other states that are members of the Compact. In order to practice as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant under the Compact, the Compact requires a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant to: (1) hold a license in his or her home state; (2) have no encumbrances on his or her license; (3) meet certain other requirements for eligibility; (4) have had no adverse actions taken against any license or authority to practice under the Compact within the previous 2 years; (5) notify the Physical Therapy Compact Commission that he or she is seeking to practice under the Compact in another state; (6) pay any applicable fees; (7) meet any requirements in the state in which he or she seeks to practice under the Compact; and (8) report any adverse action taken against him or her by a non-member state within 30 days after the date the adverse action is taken. The Compact authorizes a member state to take adverse action against a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant practicing in the member state under the Compact. The Compact requires member states to create and establish a joint public agency called the Physical Therapy Compact Commission. The Commission is required to, among other things: (1) establish bylaws; (2) make rules that facilitate and coordinate the implementation and administration of the Compact; (3) hold meetings, which may be closed under certain conditions; and (4) resolve disputes related to the Compact among states that are members of the Compact. The Commission is additionally authorized to levy and collect an annual assessment from each state that is a member of the Compact. The Compact also requires the Commission to provide for the development, maintenance and utilization of a data system to facilitate the sharing of information among member states. Section 2 of this bill, in general, authorizes the Nevada Physical Therapy Board to disclose information to the data system when required by the Compact. Section 9 of this bill provides for the confidentiality of certain information disclosed through the data system. Section 4 of this bill deems practicing as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant under the Compact to be equivalent to practicing under a license issued by the Nevada Physical Therapy Board, thereby providing such persons with the same authority, duties and legal protections as a licensee. Section 2 of this bill requires a physical therapist practicing under the Compact to display proof that he or she is authorized to practice under the Compact in the same manner as a licensed physical therapist is required to display his or her license. Sections 5-8 and 10-14 of this bill replace the term “registered physical therapist” with the term “licensed physical therapist” to reflect current terminology used in existing law governing the practice of physical therapy and this bill.