Bill Summary for H828 (2013-2014)

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Summary date: 

Apr 15 2013

Bill Information:

View NCGA Bill Details2013-2014 Session
House Bill 828 (Public) Filed Wednesday, April 10, 2013
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT UPDATING THE PHYSICAL THERAPY PRACTICE ACT.
Intro. by Fulghum, Hollo, Faircloth, Murry.

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Bill summary

Amends GS 90-270.25 to authorize the North Carolina Board of Physical Therapy Examiners (Board) to remove one of its board members for specified reasons. Amends GS 90-270.26, which specifies the powers and duties of the Board, to provide that investigation records are not public records but that an investigation record or information from a record may become a public record if it is otherwise used in the hearing process. Grants the board new powers and duties, including the power to issue subpoenas, acquire and hold property, and establish or participate in mental health or substance abuse programs for physical therapists or physical therapist assistants.

Adds new GS 90-270.29.1 requiring all applicants for licensure as a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant to consent to a criminal history record check. Authorizes the Board to deny licensure based on information gathered in the record check. Adds new GS 114-19.33 authorizing the North Carolina Department of Justice to provide information to the Board in response to a request for a record check.

Amends GS 90-270.30, which relates to licensure of foreign-trained physical therapists, to authorize licensure of foreign-trained physical therapist assistants in some circumstances.

Amends GS 90-270.30 to add three new exceptions to the requirement that physical therapists and physical therapist assistants obtain a license: (1) those licensed or credentialed in another state or country and practicing in the state temporarily in connection with athetics or performing arts; (2) those licensed in another state who enter the state to provide therapy during a declared local, state, or national disaster or emergency; and (3) those who are licensed in another state but forced to leave that state because of a disaster or emergency. Individuals in the latter two categories must notify the Board and are allowed to practice without a license for a limited period of time.

Makes technical changes.