H-617                _______________________________________________

                                                    HOUSE BILL NO. 405

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Representatives Vekich, Lewis, Nelson, Unsoeld, Patrick, Brekke, Sayan, Pruitt, Lux, P. King, Holm and Brough

Read first time 1/28/87 and referred to Committee on Health Care.

AN ACT Relating to the practice of physical therapy; and amending RCW 18.74.010.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

        Sec. 1.  Section 1, chapter 239, Laws of 1949 as last amended by section 2, chapter 116, Laws of 1983 and RCW 18.74.010 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.

          (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 neuro muscular 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)); 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 chiropractic practices as defined by RCW 18.25.005, which include the adjustment or manipulation of the articulations of the spine and its immediate articulations or mobilization of these articulations by use of a thrusting force, are not included under the term "physical therapy" as used in this chapter.

           (5) "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.

           (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.))