HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 6383

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                         Health Care

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

Brief Description:  Creating inactive license status for physical therapists.

Sponsors:  Senators Wood and Fairley.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Health Care:  2/20/98 [DPA].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives Dyer, Chairman; Backlund, Vice Chairman; Cody, Ranking Minority Member; Anderson; Conway; Parlette; Sherstad; Wood and Zellinsky.

Staff:  John Welsh (786-7133).

Background:  Physical therapists treat physical and emotional impairments via a variety of therapeutic methods enumerated in statute, such as therapeutic exercise, posture and rehabilitation procedures and performance of treatments utilizing heat, cold, air, light, water, electricity, sound, and massage.  A person must obtain a license from the Department of Health in order to practice physical therapy.  There is no statutory provision for inactive license status.

Summary of Bill as Amended:  Physical therapists can obtain an inactive status license if the person is not practicing physical therapy or providing services.  The board must prescribe requirements for maintaining an inactive status and converting from an inactive or active status.

The secretary establishes fees for the inactive status license.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The secretary, instead of the board, establishes fees for the inactive status license.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  There is a need for an inactive status license to reflect physical therapists who are retired or not working.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Melissa Johnson, Washington State Physical Therapy Association (pro).