HB464 Alabama 2013 Session

Updated Feb 24, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Jim McClendon
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2013
Title: Occupational Therapy, definition of occupational therapy, expands who may refer a patient for treatment, exempts certain occupational therapists from referral requirement, deletes requirement that Board of Medical Examiners jointly approve certain rules, provides for hire of an executive director, Secs. 34-39-3, 34-39-4, 34-39-5, 34-39-6, 34-39-7, 34-39-8, 34-39-11, 34-39-16 am'd.
Summary: HB464 updates Alabama's Occupational Therapy Practice Act to broaden who can refer patients to OT, relaxes referral rules in some settings, and makes administrative and licensing reforms to the OT board.
What This Bill Does
It would expand who may refer a patient for occupational therapy to include licensed assistants to a physician under supervision, licensed nurse practitioners in collaborative practice with physicians, and licensed psychologists. It would exempt OT services in wellness or community settings from the mandatory referral. It would allow licensees to include academic credentials with license acronyms, increase the number of consecutive board terms from two to three, create an executive director position, and adjust licensing and disciplinary processes (such as revoking an active limited permit if the exam is not passed and allowing complaint copies to be mailed by the executive director). It would also remove the joint approval requirement for certain board rules and implement miscellaneous technical corrections.

Who It Affects
Referring professionals (physician assistants, nurse practitioners in collaborative practice with physicians, licensed psychologists, and physicians acting under supervisory agreements) would be able to refer patients for occupational therapy.
Occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and OT providers—especially those in wellness or community settings—along with their patients, would be affected by the referral exemption, credential display changes, and various board/licensing updates.

Key Provisions
Expands who may refer patients for occupational therapy to include licensed assistants to physicians under supervisory agreement, licensed nurse practitioners in collaborative practice with physicians, and licensed psychologists.
Exempts occupational therapists delivering services in wellness or community settings from the referral requirement.
Allows licensees to include academic credentials with license acronyms (e.g., MS, OTD) on their materials.
Increases the number of consecutive terms a board member may serve from two to three.
Creates employment and compensation provisions for an executive director and authorizes the board to hire staff.
Provides for revocation of an active limited permit if the holder fails the qualifying examination.
Allows the executive director, upon request of the board secretary, to mail a copy of a complaint to the accused.
Deletes certain requirements for degree or certificate conferral and makes technical corrections; and removes the joint approval requirement with the Board of Medical Examiners for certain rules.
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: Occupational Therapy Practice Act