HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 5829

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                         Health Care

Title:  An act relating to professional services.

Brief Description:  Allowing providers of occupational therapy and physical therapy to become shareholders in a professional services corporation.

Sponsors:  Senators Thibaudeau and Loveland.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Health Care:  4/1/99 [DP].

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$Authorizes physical therapists and occupational therapists to jointly form and practice through a single professional service corporation or professional limited liability company.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 7 members:  Representatives Cody, Democratic Co-Chair; Parlette, Republican Co-Chair; Pflug, Republican Vice Chair; Alexander; Campbell; Conway and Edmonds.

Staff:  John Welsh (786-7133).

Background:

Professionals licensed to provide a particular health care service may form and practice through a professional health service corporation or professional limited liability company.  These business entities are composed of professionals who are licensed to practice the same professional service. 

Additionally, a group of professionals licensed to practice a number of different health care services may combine to form and practice their services through a single professional service corporation or professional limited liability company.  However, they may engage only in the health care services for which they are licensed. 

Occupational therapists and physical therapists are licensed by the Department of Health to provide occupational therapy and physical therapy respectively.  The law does not authorize these professions to jointly form or practice through a single professional service corporation or professional limited liability company.

Summary of Bill:

Occupational therapists and physical therapists may own stock in and render their respective professional services through a single professional service corporation or professional limited liability company.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This bill will allow occupational therapists and physical therapists to open their own professional services corporations and limited liability corporations as other professions are allowed to do.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Melissa Johnson, Washington State Physical Therapy Association.