FIRST REGULAR SESSION
[TRULY AGREED TO AND FINALLY PASSED]
SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
SENATE BILL NO. 225
90TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
1999
L1199.02T
AN ACT
To repeal section 334.655, RSMo Supp. 1998, relating to physical therapist assistants, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to the same subject, with an emergency clause.
Section A. Section 334.655, RSMo Supp. 1998, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 334.655, to read as follows:
334.655. 1. A candidate for licensure to practice as a physical therapist assistant shall be at least nineteen years of age. A candidate shall furnish evidence of the person's good moral character and of the person's educational qualifications. The educational requirements for licensure as a physical therapist assistant are:
(1) A certificate of graduation from an accredited high school or its equivalent; and
(2) Satisfactory evidence of completion of an associate degree program of physical therapy education accredited by the commission on accreditation of physical therapy education.
2. Persons desiring to practice as a physical therapist assistant in this state shall appear before the board at such time and place as the board may direct and be examined as to the person's fitness to engage in such practice. Applications for examination shall be in writing, on a form furnished by the board and shall include evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant possesses the qualifications provided in subsection 1 of this section. Each application shall contain a statement that the statement is made under oath of affirmation and that its representations are true and correct to the best knowledge and belief of the person signing the statement, subject to the penalties of making a false affidavit or declaration.
3. The examination of qualified candidates for licensure to practice as physical therapist assistants shall embrace a written examination and which shall cover the curriculum taught in accredited associate degree programs of physical therapy assistant education. Such examination shall be sufficient to test the qualification of the candidates as practitioners. The examination shall be given by the board at least once each year. The examination given at any particular time shall be the same for all candidates and the same curriculum shall be included and the same questions shall be asked.
4. The examination shall include, as related to the human body, the subjects of anatomy, kinesiology, pathology, physiology, psychology, physical therapy theory and procedures as related to medicine and such other subjects, including medical ethics, as the board deems useful to test the fitness of the candidate to practice as a physical therapist assistant.
5. Examination grades or scores shall be preserved by the board subject to public inspection. Examination papers retained by the board shall be subject to public inspection for a period of three years and thereafter may be destroyed.
6. The board shall license without examination any legally qualified person who is a resident of this state and who was actively engaged in practice as a physical therapist assistant on August 28, 1993. The board may license such person pursuant to this subsection until ninety days after [rules developed by the state board of registration for the healing arts regarding physical therapist assistant licensing become effective] the effective date of this section.
7. A candidate to practice as a physical therapist assistant who does not meet the educational qualifications may submit to the board an application for examination if such person can furnish written evidence to the board that the person has been employed in this state for at least three of the last five years under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist and such person possesses the knowledge and training equivalent to that obtained in an accredited school. The board may license such persons pursuant to this subsection until ninety days after rules developed by the state board of healing arts regarding physical therapist assistant licensing become effective.
Section B. Because of a need to update certain licensing procedures, this act is deemed necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health, welfare, peace and safety, and is hereby declared to be an emergency act within the meaning of the constitution, and this act shall be in full force and effect upon its passage and approval.