SB25 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Greg AlbrittonSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to the Board of Physical Therapy; to amend Sections 34-24-191, 34-24-193, 34-24-194, 34-24-196, 34-24-210, 34-24-210.1, 34-24-211, 34-24-212, 34-24-213, 34-24-214, and 34-24-217, Code of Alabama 1975; to give the board authority over certain physical therapy professionals licensed in other states.

Summary

SB25 would give Alabama's Board of Physical Therapy authority to regulate physical therapists and physical therapy assistants who are licensed in other states but have compact privileges to practice in Alabama.

What This Bill Does

The bill extends regulatory authority to out-of-state practitioners who practice in Alabama under the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact, including licensing, discipline, and oversight. It creates and funds an impairment/wellness program (Alabama Physical Therapy Wellness Committee) to identify and assist impaired licensees, with strong confidentiality protections. It updates practice rules and prescribes how services may be provided (including some initial evaluations without prescription) and strengthens licensure processes for out-of-state and foreign-educated practitioners, including background checks. It also sets penalties for violations and requires the board to adopt implementing rules by 2024.

Who It Affects

• Physical therapists and physical therapy assistants licensed in other states who have compact privileges to practice in Alabama, as they will be regulated, registered, and potentially disciplined by the Alabama Board of Physical Therapy and may pay related fees.
• Alabama residents receiving physical therapy services from compact-privilege holders, as their care will be provided under Alabama-accepted standards, referral requirements, and oversight to protect patient safety.

Key Provisions

• Defines terms such as BOARD, COMMISSION, COMPACT PRIVILEGE, COMPACT PRIVILEGE HOLDER, and related concepts to govern interstate licensure and practice.
• Gives the Board authority to license, regulate, discipline, suspend, or revoke licenses or compact privileges of out-of-state practitioners, and to maintain public listings and collect related fees.
• Establishes the Alabama Physical Therapy Wellness Committee to identify, treat, and monitor impaired licensees, with confidentiality and immunity provisions for committee members and contracting entities.
• Allows the Board to impose administrative fines up to $1,000 per violation and to pursue legal actions to enforce compliance.
• Permits license issuance without examination for certain out-of-state or compact-privilege holders, if their original state substantially met Alabama’s historic licensing requirements; requires foreign-educated therapists to have credentials evaluated by a recognized agency.
• Requires background checks (fingerprints) for licensure after June 1, 2021, with costs borne by the applicant, and uses both state and federal background checks.
• Allows certain practice without prescription or referral under 34-24-210.1, for specified scenarios (e.g., wellness, home health, nursing homes, conditioning, and previously diagnosed conditions), with requirements for referrals in most cases and timelines for plans of care.
• Mandates the Board to adopt implementing rules by January 1, 2024, and to implement licensure and compact-privilege processes through the amended sections (34-24-191, 34-24-193, 34-24-194, 34-24-196, 34-24-210, 34-24-210.1, 34-24-211, 34-24-212, 34-24-213, 34-24-214, and 34-24-217).

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

Subjects

Physical Therapy Practice Act; to give the board authority over certain physical therapy professionals licensed in other states.