HB 799

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	an effective date.
8
9	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
10
11	Section 1.  Section 486.0715, Florida Statutes, is created
12	to read:
13	486.0715  Physical therapist; issuance of temporary
14	permit.-
15	(1)  A temporary permit to practice as a physical therapist
16	may be granted to an applicant who graduates from a physical
17	therapy program in the United States recognized by the
18	Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education,
19	subject to the following requirements:
20	(a)  A temporary permit shall be granted to an applicant
21	upon his or her graduation date and shall remain in effect until
22	the results of the National Physical Therapy Examination are
23	released and published. If the applicant receives a passing
24	score, he or she may continue to practice as a physical
25	therapist with a temporary permit until a license is granted at
26	the next available meeting of the board. A temporary permit is
27	void if a passing score on the National Physical Therapy
28	Examination is not obtained.
29	(b)  A temporary permit shall not be extended beyond the
30	time provided in paragraph (a) and is not renewable.
31	(c)  A physical therapist who is practicing under a
32	temporary permit must do so under the direct supervision of a
33	licensed physical therapist.
34	(d)  A supervising licensed physical therapist must
35	supervise one physical therapist who is practicing under a
36	temporary permit at any given time, must be licensed for a
37	minimum of 6 months before the supervision period begins, and
38	must cosign all patient records produced by the physical
39	therapist who is practicing under a temporary permit.
40	(2)  Before the board grants a temporary permit to practice
41	as a physical therapist:
42	(a)  Documentation verifying that the applicant will
43	practice under the direct supervision of a licensed physical
44	therapist as provided in paragraph (1)(c) must be on file with
45	the board, pursuant to rules adopted by the board.
46	(b)  The applicant must demonstrate proof of malpractice
47	insurance and a passing score on the Florida Laws and Rules
48	examination administered by the Federation of State Boards of
49	Physical Therapy.
50	(3)  Submission of the application for a temporary permit
51	to practice as a physical therapist does not authorize an
52	applicant to begin work as a physical therapist. An applicant
53	for a temporary permit shall not work as a physical therapist
54	until a temporary permit is issued by the board.
55	Section 2.  Section 486.1065, Florida Statutes, is created
56	to read:
57	486.1065  Physical therapist assistant; issuance of
58	temporary permit.-
59	(1)  A temporary permit to practice as a physical therapist
60	assistant may be granted to an applicant who graduates from a
61	physical therapy program in the United States recognized by the
62	Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education,
63	subject to the following requirements:
64	(a)  A temporary permit shall be granted to an applicant
65	upon his or her graduation date and shall remain in effect until
66	the results of the National Physical Therapy Examination are
67	released and published. If the applicant receives a passing
68	score, he or she may continue to practice as a physical
69	therapist assistant with a temporary permit until a license is
70	granted at the next available meeting of the board. A temporary
71	permit is void if a passing score on the National Physical
72	Therapy Examination is not obtained.
73	(b)  A temporary permit shall not be extended beyond the
74	time provided in paragraph (a) and is not renewable.
75	(c)  A physical therapist assistant who is practicing under
76	a temporary permit must do so under the direct supervision of a
77	licensed physical therapist.
78	(d)  A supervising licensed physical therapist must
79	supervise one physical therapist assistant who is practicing
80	under a temporary permit at any given time, must be licensed for
81	a minimum of 6 months before the supervision period begins, and
82	must cosign all patient records produced by the physical
83	therapist assistant who is practicing under a temporary permit.
84	(2)  Before the board grants a temporary permit to practice
85	as a physical therapist assistant:
86	(a)  Documentation verifying that the applicant will
87	practice under the direct supervision of a licensed physical
88	therapist as provided in paragraph (1)(c) must be on file with
89	the board, pursuant to rules adopted by the board.
90	(b)  The applicant must demonstrate proof of malpractice
91	insurance and a passing score on the Florida Laws and Rules
92	examination administered by the Federation of State Boards of
93	Physical Therapy.
94	(3)  Submission of the application for a temporary permit
95	to practice as a physical therapist assistant does not authorize
96	an applicant to begin work as a physical therapist assistant. An
97	applicant for a temporary permit shall not work as a physical
98	therapist assistant until a temporary license is issued by the
99	board.
100	Section 3.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.