HB164 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jim McClendon

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Board of Physical Therapy, impaired professional wellness committee and program created; executive director appointment, licensing in lieu of registration of physical therapists assistants, Secs. 34-24-191, 34-24-193, 34-24-194, 34-24-195, 34-24-210, 34-24-211, 34-24-212, 34-24-213, 34-24-217 am'd

Summary

HB164 updates the Alabama Physical Therapy Practice Act by creating an impaired practitioner wellness program, updating terminology from registered to licensed for therapists and assistants, and expanding board powers and duties.

What This Bill Does

It defines impairment and creates the Alabama Physical Therapy Wellness Committee to identify, intervene, treat, and monitor impaired licensees confidentially. It changes references from 'registered' to 'licensed' for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, and updates 'foreign trained' to 'foreign educated'. It shifts certain duties from the board secretary to an executive director, and authorizes the board to hire and set the executive director's compensation, collect certain fees, and discipline licensees with administrative fines up to $1,000 per violation, including the ability to place license restrictions. It also establishes licensing and examination rules, requires credential evaluation for foreign-educated therapists, and provides a fund to manage these activities with an effective date several months after passage.

Who It Affects

• Licensed physical therapists in Alabama, who could face impairment interventions, restrictions on their licenses, and discipline under the board's authority.
• Licensed physical therapist assistants in Alabama, who could face license restrictions and disciplinary actions under the updated framework.
• Foreign-educated physical therapists planning to practice in Alabama, who must have their educational credentials evaluated and approved by the board.
• Continuing education providers, who may be charged fees by the board for CE programs.
• The Alabama Physical Therapy Wellness Committee and partnering nonprofit or medical associations, which will operate the impairment program and manage related activities.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Alabama Physical Therapy Wellness Committee to identify, intervene, treat, and monitor impaired licensees; provides funding, confidentiality, and immunity protections; authorizes reporting and annual committee performance to the board.
• Renames 'physical therapy' terminology from 'registered' to 'licensed' for therapists and assistants, and updates 'foreign trained' to 'foreign educated' with related definitional changes.
• Transfers some duties from the board's secretary to an executive director; authorizes the board to hire the executive director and set compensation.
• Allows the board to discipline licensees by admin fines up to $1,000 per violation and to place restrictions on licenses as part of disciplinary action.
• Authorizes the board to collect fees, including certification fees for licensees in good standing and fees from continuing education providers; establishes a dedicated Physical Therapist Fund for these funds.
• Sets licensing and examination procedures: board administers exams for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, including foreign-educated credentials evaluation and acceptance criteria; licenses issued to those who pass and meet standards.
• Provides a safe harbor provision for certain physician-employee relationships, protecting licensees from disciplinary action solely due to those arrangements.
• Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Physical Therapy, Board of