HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2704

                  As Amended by the Senate

Title:  An act relating to inactive status for physical therapists.

Brief Description:  Creating inactive license status for physical therapists.

Sponsors:  Representatives Skinner, Cody and Anderson.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Health Care:  1/29/98 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  2/10/98, 96-0.

Senate Amended.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Dyer, Chairman; Backlund, Vice Chairman; Skinner, Vice Chairman; Cody, Ranking Minority Member; Murray, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Anderson; Conway; Parlette; Sherstad; Wood and Zellinsky.

Staff:  John Welsh (786-7133).

Background:  Physical therapists are licensed by the Department of Health for practice and regulated by the Board of Physical Therapy.  Physical therapy, as defined by law, includes treatment of any bodily or mental condition by the use of the physical, chemical, and other properties of heat, cold, air, light, water, electricity, sound, massage, and therapeutic exercise.

Currently, there is no authority for the department to place a license in an inactive status for physical therapists no longer practicing.

Summary of Bill:  A licensed physical therapist may place the license in inactive status in accordance with requirements prescribed by rule of the Board of Physical Therapy.  The board may establish fees for inactive licenses.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S): By law, the Secretary of Health establishes fees for licenses, not the Board of Physical Therapy.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Retired licensees may wish to retain their credential as a physical therapist at a lesser cost.  An inactive license would permit this.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Janet Peterson, Washington State Physical Therapy Association (pro).