BILL NUMBER: AB 1000	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Wieckowski

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2013

   An act to amend Section 2630 of the Business and Professions Code,
relating to physical therapy.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1000, as introduced, Wieckowski. Physical therapy.
   Existing law, until January 1, 2014, establishes the Physical
Therapy Board of California, which oversees the licensing and
regulation of physical therapists. Existing law prohibits any person
or persons from practicing or offering to practice physical therapy
in this state for compensation, or to hold himself or herself out as
a physical therapist, unless he or she holds a valid license, as
specified.
   This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change to these
provisions.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 2630 of the Business and Professions Code is
amended to read:
   2630.  It is unlawful for any person or persons to practice, or
offer to practice, physical therapy in this state for compensation
received or expected, or to hold himself or herself out as a physical
therapist, unless at the time of so doing  the person
  he or she  holds a valid, unexpired, and
unrevoked license issued under this chapter.
   Nothing in this section shall restrict the activities authorized
by their licenses on the part of any persons licensed under this code
or any initiative act, or the activities authorized to be performed
pursuant to Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 2655) or Chapter 7.7
(commencing with Section 3500).
   A physical therapist licensed pursuant to this chapter may utilize
the services of one aide engaged in patient-related tasks to assist
the physical therapist in his or her practice of physical therapy.
"Patient-related task" means a physical therapy service rendered
directly to the patient by an aide, excluding non-patient-related
tasks. "Non-patient-related task" means a task related to observation
of the patient, transport of the patient, physical support only
during gait or transfer training, housekeeping duties, clerical
duties, and similar functions. The aide shall at all times be under
the orders, direction, and immediate supervision of the physical
therapist. Nothing in this section shall authorize an aide to
independently perform physical therapy or any physical therapy
procedure. The board shall adopt regulations that set forth the
standards and requirements for the orders, direction, and immediate
supervision of an aide by a physical therapist. The physical
therapist shall provide continuous and immediate supervision of the
aide. The physical therapist shall be in the same facility as, and in
proximity to, the location where the aide is performing
patient-related tasks, and shall be readily available at all times to
provide advice or instruction to the aide. When patient-related
tasks are provided to a patient by an aide, the supervising physical
therapist shall, at some point during the treatment day, provide
direct service to the patient as treatment for the patient's
condition, or to further evaluate and monitor the patient's progress,
and shall correspondingly document the patient's record.
   The administration of massage, external baths, or normal exercise
not a part of a physical therapy treatment shall not be prohibited by
this section.