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CS/SB 632 — Occupational Therapy
by Health Policy Committee and Senator Bradley
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Health Policy Committee (HP)
The bill expands the scope of practice of the occupational therapist and the occupational therapy assistant in ch. 468, Part III, F.S.
The bill replaces the current definition of “occupational therapy” with a new definition that introduces the concepts of the therapeutic use of occupations through habilitation, rehabilitation, and the promotion of health and wellness with individuals, groups, or populations, along with their families or organizations, to support participation, performance, and function in the home, at school, in the workplace, in the community, and in other settings for clients who have, or are at risk of developing, an illness, injury, disease, disorder, condition, impairment, disability, activity limitation, or participation restriction.
The bill creates new terms and definitions for occupational therapy.
The bill deletes a list of “occupational therapy services” from current law, makes reference to “the practice of occupational therapy” instead of “occupational therapy,” and adds the following services to the practice of occupational therapy:
- The assessment, treatment, and education of or consultation with individuals, groups, and populations whose abilities to participate safely in occupations, including activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, rest and sleep, education, work, play, leisure, and social participation, are impaired or have been identified as being at risk for impairment due to issues related to, but not limited to, developmental deficiencies, the aging process, learning disabilities, physical environment and sociocultural context, physical injury or disease, cognitive impairments, or psychological and social disabilities;
- Methods or approaches to determine abilities and limitations related to performance of occupations, including, but not limited to, the identification of physical, sensory, cognitive, emotional, or social deficiencies; and
- Specific occupational therapy techniques used for treatment which include, but are not limited to, training in activities of daily living; environmental modification; assessing the need for the use of interventions such as the design, fabrication, and application of orthotics or orthotic devices; selecting, applying, and training in the use of assistive technology and adaptive devices for sensory, motor, and cognitive activities.
The bill exempts clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, and mental health counselors from the application of the Occupational Therapy Practice Act and exempts occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants from the application of the Psychological Services Act in ch. 490, F.S., and the Clinical, Counseling, and Psychotherapy Act in ch. 491, F.S.
The bill also exempts any person fulfilling an occupational therapy doctoral capstone experience that involves clinical practice or projects, from the requirements of the Occupational Therapy Practice Act if he or she registers with the Department of Health before commencing the capstone experience.
The bill authorizes a licensed occupational therapist to use the title “occupational therapist doctorate” or “O.T.D.” if the occupational therapist has earned a doctoral degree.
If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect July 1, 2022.
Vote: Senate 37-0; House 116-0