SF3049

SF3049 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Physical therapy practice provisions modifications

Related bill: HF2689

AI Generated Summary

Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to modify regulations governing the practice of physical therapy in Minnesota. It seeks to clarify the roles and responsibilities of physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students in these fields, and introduces criminal penalties for non-compliance.

Main Provisions

Definition of Physical Therapy: The bill provides a detailed definition of physical therapy, including the scope of practices such as evaluation, diagnosis (excluding medical diagnosis), and therapeutic exercises.
Student Supervision: It sets forth that student physical therapists must work under the on-site supervision of licensed physical therapists, ensuring that the supervising therapist maintains direct contact with patients at least every second treatment session.
Delegation of Duties: The bill outlines specific duties that physical therapists can delegate to assistants but restricts key activities like patient evaluation, treatment planning, and initial documentation from being handed off to assistants or other supportive personnel.
Supervision Limits: Physical therapists are limited to supervising a maximum of two physical therapist assistants at a time and do not need to be present on-site but must be reachable via telecommunications.
Collaboration Requirements: When parts of a patient’s treatment are delegated to an assistant, a physical therapist must observe and document these treatments periodically.

Disciplinary Actions

The bill enumerates various forms of misconduct and conditions under which disciplinary actions, such as suspension or revocation of licenses, can be imposed on physical therapy practitioners. These include: - Engaging in fraudulent activities to obtain a license. - Practicing under the influence of substances. - Violating state or federal narcotics laws. - Failing to properly supervise assistants or students.

The bill allows for civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation, requirements for supervised practice, or mandates for retraining.

Significant Changes

The new law strengthens supervision and training requirements for student physical therapists and assistants to ensure hands-on guidance.
It explicitly prohibits unlicensed individuals from performing physical therapy and establishes penalties for using professional titles without proper credentials.
Repeals certain outdated sections defining "licensed health care professional" and previous related violations.

Relevant Terms

physical therapy, physical therapist, physical therapist assistant, student physical therapist, student physical therapist assistant, onsite supervision, delegation of duties, disciplinary action, licensure, telecommunications, supervision limits, collaboration, prohibited conduct.

Bill text versions

Introduction PDF file

Actions

Date	Chamber	Where	Type	Name	Committee Name
March 26, 2025	Senate	Floor	Action	Introduction and first reading
March 26, 2025	Senate	Floor	Action	Referred to	Health and Human Services

Citations

[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Modifies the definition section related to physical therapy.",
      "modified": [
        "Revised description of what constitutes physical therapy including tasks and exclusions."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "148.65",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Amends provisions about student physical therapists.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarifies the definition and requirements for student physical therapists, including supervision standards."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "148.65",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 5"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Updates the definition of student physical therapist assistants.",
      "modified": [
        "Details the supervision and educational requirements for student physical therapist assistants."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "148.65",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 6"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Changes supervision requirements for physical therapist assistants.",
      "modified": [
        "Specifies the conditions under which a physical therapist must supervise assistants and clarifies telecommunication use."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "148.706",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Amendment to the delegation of duties.",
      "modified": [
        "Provides constraints on what duties may be delegated by physical therapists, ensuring only adequately prepared assistants can be assigned specific tasks."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "148.706",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Adjusts observation and collaboration requirements.",
      "modified": [
        "Defines circumstances under which real-time collaboration and documentation of treatment sessions are necessary."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "148.706",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 3"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Modifications to disciplinary action provisions.",
      "modified": [
        "Refines the grounds for taking disciplinary action against physical therapy practitioners and sets penalties."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "148.75",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Revises prohibited conduct regulations.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarifies prohibitions regarding the unauthorized practice of physical therapy and misrepresentation of qualifications."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "148.76",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Cross-references to existing medical practice definitions.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "147.081",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Cross-references chiropractic practice definitions.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "148.01",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Cross-references dental practice definitions.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "150A.05",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Cross-references podiatry practice definitions.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "153.01",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Cross-references advanced practice nursing definition section.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "148.171",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 3"
  }
]