BILL NUMBER: AB 721	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Nava
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Adams, Chesbro, Emmerson, Galgiani,
Knight, Niello, and Silva)
   (Coauthor: Senator Walters)

                        FEBRUARY 26, 2009

   An act to amend Section 2620 of the Business and Professions Code,
relating to physical therapists.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 721, as introduced, Nava. Physical therapists: scope of
practice.
   Existing law, the Physical Therapy Practice Act, creates the
Physical Therapy Board of California and makes it responsible for the
licensure and regulation of physical therapists. The act defines the
term "physical therapy" for its purposes and makes it a crime to
violate any of its provisions.
   This bill would revise the definition of "physical therapy," would
authorize a physical therapist to initiate treatment of conditions
within the scope of physical therapist practice, and would require a
physical therapist to refer his or her patient to another specified
healing arts practitioner if the physical therapist has reason to
believe the patient has a condition requiring treatment or services
beyond that scope of practice.
   Because the bill would specify additional requirements under the
Physical Therapy Practice Act, the violation of which would be a
crime, it would impose a state-mandated local program.
   The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 2620 of the Business and Professions Code is
amended to read:
   2620.  (a) Physical therapy means  examining, evaluating, and
testing a person with mechanical, physiological, and developmental
movement-related impairments, functional limitations, and
disabilities or other health and movement-related conditions in order
to develop a plan of therapeutic intervention and to initiate
treatment. Physical therapy is  the art and science of physical
or corrective rehabilitation or of physical or corrective treatment
of  any   a  bodily or mental condition of
 any   a  person by the use of the
physical, chemical, and other properties of heat, light, water,
electricity, sound, massage, and active, passive, and resistive
exercise, and shall include physical therapy evaluation, treatment
planning, instruction  ,  and consultative services. The
practice of physical therapy includes the promotion and maintenance
of physical fitness to enhance the bodily  movement related
  movement-related  health and wellness of
individuals through the use of physical therapy interventions. The
use of roentgen rays and radioactive materials, for diagnostic and
therapeutic purposes, and the use of electricity for surgical
purposes, including cauterization, are not authorized under the term
"physical therapy" as used in this chapter, and a license issued
pursuant to this chapter does not authorize the diagnosis of disease.

   (b) A physical therapist may initiate treatment of conditions
within the scope of practice of a physical therapist. If at any time,
the physical therapist has reason to believe that the patient he or
she is treating has signs or symptoms of a condition that requires
treatment or services beyond the scope of practice of a physical
therapist, the physical therapist shall refer the patient to a person
holding a physician and surgeon's certificate issued by the Medical
Board of California or by the Osteopathic Medical Board of California
or by a person licensed to practice dentistry, podiatric medicine,
or chiropractic.  
   (b) 
    (c)  Nothing in this section shall be construed to
restrict or prohibit other healing arts practitioners licensed or
registered under this division from practice within the scope of
their license or registration.
  SEC. 2.
   No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of
Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs
that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be
incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction,
eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime
or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government
Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.