S-0060.3/91 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 5146
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 52nd Legislature 1991 Regular Session
By Senators McCaslin, Bauer, Sellar, McMullen, Amondson, Niemi, Madsen, Snyder, L. Smith, Johnson, Rasmussen, Gaspard, Pelz, Sutherland and Conner.
Read first time January 22, 1991. Referred to Committee on Health & Long‑Term Care.
AN ACT Relating to physical therapists; amending RCW 18.74.010, 18.74.012, and 18.74.023; repealing section 17, chapter 297, Laws of 1990; repealing section 18, chapter 297, Laws of 1990 (uncodified); providing effective dates; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 18.74.010 and 1988 c 185 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.
(1) "Board" means the board of physical therapy created by RCW 18.74.020.
(2)
"Department" means the department of ((licensing)) health.
(3) (("Director"
means the director of licensing.
(4)))
"Physical therapy" means the treatment of any bodily or mental
condition of any person by the use of the physical, chemical, and other
properties of heat, cold, air, light, water, electricity, sound, massage, and
therapeutic exercise, which includes posture and rehabilitation procedures; the
performance of tests and measurements of neuromuscular function as an aid to
the diagnosis or treatment of any human condition; performance of treatments on
the basis of test findings after consultation with and periodic review by an
authorized health care practitioner except as provided in RCW 18.74.012 ((until
June 30, 1991)); supervision of selective forms of treatment by trained
supportive personnel; and provision of consultative services for health,
education, and community agencies. The use of Roentgen rays and radium for diagnostic
and therapeutic purposes, the use of electricity for surgical purposes,
including cauterization, and the use of spinal manipulation or manipulative
mobilization of the spine and its immediate articulations, are not included
under the term "physical therapy" as used in this chapter.
(((5)))
(4) "Physical therapist" means a person who practices physical
therapy as defined in this chapter but does not include massage operators as
defined in RCW 18.108.010.
(5) "Secretary" means the secretary of health.
(6) Words importing the masculine gender may be applied to females.
(7) "Authorized health care practitioner" means and includes licensed physicians, osteopathic physicians, chiropractors, naturopaths, podiatrists, and dentists: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That nothing herein shall be construed as altering the scope of practice of such practitioners as defined in their respective licensure laws.
Sec. 2. RCW 18.74.012 and 1990 c 297 s 19 are each amended to read as follows:
Notwithstanding the provisions of RCW 18.74.010(4), a consultation and periodic review by an authorized health care practitioner is not required for treatment of neuromuscular or musculoskeletal conditions: PROVIDED, That a physical therapist may only provide treatment utilizing orthoses that support, align, prevent, or correct any structural problems intrinsic to the foot or ankle by referral or consultation from an authorized health care practitioner.
((This
section shall expire June 30, 1991.))
Sec. 3. RCW 18.74.023 and 1986 c 259 s 124 are each amended to read as follows:
The board has the following powers and duties:
(1) To administer examinations to applicants for a license under this chapter.
(2) To
pass upon the qualifications of applicants for a license and to certify to the
((director)) secretary duly qualified applicants.
(3) To make such rules not inconsistent with the laws of this state as may be deemed necessary or proper to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
(4) To
establish and administer requirements for continuing ((professional
education as may be necessary or proper to ensure the public health and safety
and)) competency, which ((may)) shall be a
prerequisite to ((granting and)) renewing a license under this chapter.
(5) To keep an official record of all its proceedings, which record shall be evidence of all proceedings of the board which are set forth therein.
(6) To adopt rules not inconsistent with the laws of this state, when it deems appropriate, in response to questions put to it by professional health associations, physical therapists, and consumers in this state concerning the authority of physical therapists to perform particular acts.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:
(1) 1990 c 297 s 17; and
(2) 1990 c 297 s 18 (uncodified).
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. (1) Sections 1, 2, and 4 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect June 30, 1991.
(2) Section 3 of this act shall take effect January 1, 1992.