Bill
SD 1755
Establishes Massachusetts Chapter 112A to join the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact, enabling cross-state practice under host-state standards with enhanced licensure data sharing
Status: House concurred
Introduced: February 27, 2025
Overview
- This bill would establish a Massachusetts chapter (Chapter 112A) for the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact (PTLC). The overall purpose is to facilitate interstate practice of physical therapy while preserving state licensure authority to safeguard public health and safety. Practice is considered to occur where the patient is located at the time of encounter.
- The compact aims to increase public access to physical therapy, improve information sharing about licensure and discipline, support military families, and hold out-of-state providers accountable to the host state’s standards.
Key Provisions
- Establishment of Chapter 112A (Physical Therapy Licensure Compact) to be inserted into the General Laws.
- Objectives of the compact:
- Mutual recognition of licenses among member states to boost access to care.
- Enhanced public protection and cross-state regulatory cooperation.
- Support for spouses of relocating military members.
- Improved exchange of licensure, investigative, and disciplinary information.
- Accountability of remote-state providers to the host state’s practice standards.
- Definitions critical to the compact (selected):
- Active Duty Military; Adverse Action; Alternative Program; Compact Privilege (authorization for practice in a member state under the host state’s rules); Continuing Competence; Data System; Executive Board; Home State; Home/Remote/Member/Party States; Physical Therapist and Physical Therapist Assistant; Physical Therapy Compact Commission.
- “Practice of physical therapy” occurs where the patient is located.
- Participation requirements for member states:
- Full participation in the Commission’s data system and use of unique identifiers.
- Clear mechanisms for receiving, notifying, and sharing information about complaints and adverse actions.
- Implementation of criminal background checks (including FBI background checks) within a timeframe established by rules.
- Compliance with all Commission rules.
- Recognition of a national examination as part of licensure.
- Continuing competence requirements for license renewal.
- Background checks:
- States may obtain biometric information for FBI background checks as part of licensure decisions.
- Compact privileges:
- Member states must grant the compact privilege to licensees holding a valid, unencumbered license in another member state (specific procedural text in the bill’s section on this point is truncated in the provided version, but the intent is to enable practice across member states under the compact framework).
Who Is Affected
- Physical therapists (PTs) and physical therapist assistants (PTAs) licensed in Massachusetts, and those seeking licensure or compact privileges under the PTLC.
- Massachusetts licensing boards for physical therapy, which would participate in the compact system.
- Patients receiving physical therapy, who may benefit from easier cross-state access and standardized oversight.
- Military spouses and families seeking relocation with smoother licensure pathways.
- Public health and safety authorities through enhanced information sharing and accountability.
Procedural and Timeline Aspects
- Legislative history in this session:
- Referred to the Public Health Committee on February 27, 2025.
- House concurred on February 27, 2025.
- Upon adoption, the law would add Chapter 112A to the General Laws and enable participation in the national Physical Therapy Compact Commission and its data systems, with rules governing timing for background checks and other implementation details to be established by the Commission’s rules.
Notes
- The bill references a similar matter previously filed in the House (No. 2233, 2023-2024) and reflects ongoing efforts to participate in the national compact framework.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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