SB164 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Tom Whatley

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Physical Therapy Licensure Compact, established to authorize licensed physical therapists and assistant to practice among compact member states

Summary

The bill creates the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact to let licensed physical therapists and physical therapist assistants practice across member states using a compact privilege.

What This Bill Does

It establishes the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact and a national Commission to govern it. It allows licensees to practice in other member states under a compact privilege, provided they meet home-state license requirements, background checks, continuing competence, and other conditions. It sets up a centralized data system for licensure, adverse actions, and investigations, and outlines how discipline and disputes are handled. It also includes provisions for active-duty military personnel and spouses to designate a home state and for states to join, amend, or withdraw from the compact.

Who It Affects

• Licensed physical therapists and physical therapy assistants who would be able to practice in other member states under a compact privilege, subject to meeting eligibility, background checks, continuing competence, and jurisdictional rules.
• Active-duty military personnel and spouses, who may designate a home state (for example, home of record, PCS state, or current residence) to facilitate licensure portability under the compact.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Physical Therapy Licensure Commission to oversee the compact, including rulemaking, enforcement, dispute resolution, and withdrawal of member states.
• Allows interstate practice via a compact privilege; licensees must hold a valid home-state license, have no encumbrances, be eligible for the remote state, meet jurisprudence requirements, and pay applicable fees.
• Creates a coordinated data system containing licensure, adverse actions, and investigative information, shared among member states with appropriate protections.
• Defines adverse actions and investigations: the home state has exclusive power to impose adverse action on its licensees; remote states can take action against compact privileges; joint investigations and cross-state information sharing are allowed.
• Requires biometric background checks and continuing competence as conditions for licensure and renewal; recognizes a national examination and allows remote states to require jurisprudence requirements.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Physical Therapists