HB 255 Kentucky House · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT relating to physical therapy.

Summary
Amend various sections of KRS Chapter 327, relating to the practice and regulation of physical therapy, to state legislative findings; allow a physical therapist to refer a patient for tests or examination; require a practitioner or employer to report a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant who has been convicted of a misdemeanor; require potential board members to not have been under any disciplinary action in the past five years; permit the Board of Physical Therapy to purchase professional liability insurance; authorize the board to convene committees and task forces to review and advise the board on pertinent issues; authorize the board to promulgate administrative regulations to establish fee amounts, issue advisory opinions and declaratory rulings related to this chapter, and issue a license to a physical therapist assistant applicant; prohibit physical therapists and physical therapist assistants from engaging in sexual contact with any active patient of record or parent or legal guardian of the active patient of record; require the board to develop guidelines to follow upon receipt of an allegation of sexual misconduct by a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant; allow the board to receive periodic education on issues affecting the practice of physical therapy and public protection; allow the board to determine which disciplinary records may be expunged; authorize the board to establish the amounts, limits, or ranges for any fines imposed; repeal and reenact KRS 327.010 to define terms; repeal and reenact KRS 327.080 to deposit to the credit of a revolving fund for the use of the board; require all expenses of the board to be paid from the revolving fund.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 4, 2025 Last action Mar 27, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Current/Final · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill updates Kentucky's physical therapy regulations by reorganizing the statute structure, modernizing definitions, and clarifying who can practice physical therapy. The changes include adding a new section to the chapter, updating the definition of physical therapy to better reflect current practices, and modifying the licensing requirements to include compact privilege options.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of practice clarity by explicitly including compact privileges for out-of-state practitioners and updating the definition of physical therapy to better encompass modern treatment approaches.
DEFINITION

Updated the definition of 'Physical therapy' to clarify what is included and excluded, removing outdated references to roentgen rays and radium for diagnostic purposes.

ELIGIBILITY

Added eligibility for compact privileges under KRS 327.300, allowing out-of-state licensed physical therapists to practice in Kentucky without full licensure.

REQUIREMENT

Modified the practice requirements to clarify that students can engage in clinical practice under supervision without violating licensing restrictions.

TECHNICAL

Made formatting and structural changes including renumbering sections and updating document headers and page counts.

Floor votes · House Feb 28, 2025

How they voted

940
Passed · 10 other
Total votes 104
Feb 28, 2025
D Democratic21
19 Yea 2
90% Yea
R Republican83
75 Yea 8
90% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
17
Key actions
3
Committee
6
Mar 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
reported favorably, to Rules
lower
Mar 6, 2025
Committee
to Licensing & Occupations (S)
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Committee
to Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Feb 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
3rd reading, passed 90-0 with Committee Substitute (1)
lower
Feb 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
lower
Feb 7, 2025
Committee
to Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations (H)
lower
Feb 4, 2025
Committee
to Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Feb 4, 2025
Introduced
introduced in House
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.