Florida Senate - 2012 CS for SB 1228
By the Committee on Health Regulation; and Senator Montford
588-03234-12 20121228c1
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to physical therapy; creating ss.
3 486.0715 and 486.1065, F.S.; authorizing issuance of a
4 temporary permit to practice as a physical therapist
5 or physical therapist assistant; providing
6 requirements for issuing a temporary permit; providing
7 for voiding of a temporary permit; providing
8 requirements for the supervision of temporary
9 permittees; amending s. 486.151, F.S.; prohibiting
10 certain acts concerning temporary permits; providing
11 an effective date.
12
13 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
14
15 Section 1. Section 486.0715, Florida Statutes, is created
16 to read:
17 486.0715 Physical therapist; issuance of temporary permit.—
18 (1) The board shall issue a temporary physical therapist
19 permit to an applicant who meets the following requirements:
20 (a) Completes an application for a temporary permit on a
21 form approved by the department.
22 (b) Meets all the eligibility requirements for licensure
23 under chapter 456, s. 486.031, and related rules, except passage
24 of a national examination approved by the board is not required.
25 (c) Submits an application for licensure under s. 486.041.
26 (d) Demonstrates proof of possessing malpractice insurance.
27 (e) Submits documentation, under rules adopted by the
28 board, verifying that the applicant will practice under the
29 direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist as provided
30 in subsection (3).
31 (2) A temporary permit is not renewable and is valid until
32 a license is granted by the board. A temporary permit is void if
33 the permittee does not pass or sit for such an examination
34 within 6 months after the date of graduation from a physical
35 therapy training program.
36 (3) An applicant for a temporary permit may not work as a
37 physical therapist until a temporary permit is issued by the
38 board. A physical therapist who is practicing under a temporary
39 permit must do so under the direct supervision of a licensed
40 physical therapist. A supervising physical therapist shall
41 supervise only one permittee at any given time. The supervising
42 physical therapist must be licensed for a minimum of 6 months
43 before the supervision period begins and must cosign all patient
44 records produced by the physical therapist who is practicing
45 under a temporary permit.
46 Section 2. Section 486.1065, Florida Statutes, is created
47 to read:
48 486.1065 Physical therapist assistant; issuance of
49 temporary permit.—
50 (1) The board shall issue a temporary physical therapist
51 assistant permit to an applicant who meets the following
52 requirements:
53 (a) Completes an application for a temporary permit on a
54 form approved by the department.
55 (b) Meets all the eligibility requirements for licensure
56 under chapter 456, s. 486.102, and related rules, except passage
57 of a national examination approved by the board is not required.
58 (c) Submits an application for licensure under s. 486.103.
59 (d) Demonstrates proof of possessing malpractice insurance.
60 (e) Submits documentation, under rules adopted by the
61 board, verifying that the applicant will practice under the
62 direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist as provided
63 in subsection (3).
64 (2) A temporary permit is not renewable and is valid until
65 a license is granted by the board. A temporary permit is void if
66 the permittee does not pass or sit for such an examination
67 within 6 months after the date of graduation from a physical
68 therapy assistant training program.
69 (3) An applicant for a temporary permit may not work as a
70 physical therapist assistant until a temporary permit is issued
71 by the board. A physical therapist assistant who is practicing
72 under a temporary permit must do so under the direct supervision
73 of a licensed physical therapist. A supervising physical
74 therapist shall supervise only one permittee at any given time.
75 The supervising physical therapist must be licensed for a
76 minimum of 6 months before the supervision period begins and
77 must cosign all patient records produced by the physical
78 therapist assistant who is practicing under a temporary permit.
79 Section 3. Subsection (1) of section 486.151, Florida
80 Statutes, is amended to read:
81 486.151 Prohibited acts; penalty.—
82 (1) It is unlawful for any person to:
83 (a) Practice physical therapy or attempt to practice
84 physical therapy without an active license or temporary permit.
85 (b) Use or attempt to use a license or temporary permit to
86 practice physical therapy which is suspended, or revoked, or
87 void.
88 (c) Obtain or attempt to obtain a license or temporary
89 permit to practice physical therapy by fraudulent
90 misrepresentation.
91 (d) Use the name or title “Physical Therapist” or “Physical
92 Therapist Assistant” or any other name or title which would lead
93 the public to believe that the person using the name or title is
94 licensed to practice physical therapy, unless such person holds
95 a valid license.
96 (e) Make any willfully false oath or affirmation whenever
97 an oath or affirmation is required by this chapter.
98 (f) Knowingly conceal information relating to violations of
99 this chapter.
100 Section 4. This act shall take effect June 1, 2012.