HB222 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Dickie Drake

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Occupational therapy, Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact, occupational therapists authorized to practice on a limited basis among compact states

Summary

HB222 creates the Interstate Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact to let licensed occupational therapists practice across member states (including Alabama) with a compact privilege, supported by telehealth, a shared data system, and a governing commission.

What This Bill Does

It would create the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact Commission and require member states to license therapists and participate in a shared licensure database. It would allow therapists who meet home-state criteria to practice in other member states through a compact privilege, including via telehealth. It would set rules for background checks, ongoing competence, and how actions in one state affect licensure in others, and provide accommodations for active duty military personnel and spouses, along with processes for investigations and disciplinary actions to be shared and enforced across states.

Who It Affects

• Licensed occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants, who could practice in other compact member states under a compact privilege and must meet eligibility, background check, and jurisprudence requirements.
• Alabama residents/patients receiving occupational therapy, who would gain broader access to services (including telehealth) and benefit from coordinated reporting of licensure and disciplinary actions to protect public safety.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact and the national Commission that oversees it, including rules, bylaws, and enforcement mechanisms.
• Allows a licensee with a valid license in a home state to obtain a compact privilege to practice in other member states, including through telehealth, subject to rules and ongoing competence requirements.
• Requires member states to participate in a shared data system for licensure, adverse actions, and investigative information, and to report actions to the Commission.
• Establishes eligibility criteria for compact privileges (unencumbered license, background checks, jurisprudence requirements) and ongoing obligations (fees, reporting adverse actions, and compliance with remote-state laws).
• Provides special accommodations for active duty military personnel and their spouses, including home-state designation and transfer of compact privileges with moves.
• Gives the Commission authority to handle disputes, enforcement, default and withdrawal of states, and to adopt rules that have the force of law in all member states.
• Allows joint investigations and sharing of investigative materials among member states and coordinates how adverse actions affect compact privileges (deactivation in remote states).
• Creates the process for adding new member states, implementing rules, and potential amendment or withdrawal from the compact.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Occupational Therapists