Bill
SF 5214
Establishes the Athletic Trainer Compact to recognize licenses across member states, allowing practice under a compact privilege with uniform rules and a central Commission.
Overview
- Purpose: Establish the Athletic Trainer Compact, a multistate compact to recognize athletic trainer licenses across member states and permit a licensed athletic trainer to provide services in other member states under a compact privilege.
- Jurisdiction: Minnesota
- Status: Introduced in Senate, referred to Health and Human Services (as of 4/27/2026)
- Sponsor: Sen. Kupec (co-sponsor)
- Relation to Minnesota statutes: Proposes new law codified in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 148 (Sections 148.785x)
Main Purpose and Intent
- Create a mandatory framework for interstate practice of athletic training via a compact among member states.
- Allow eligible athletic trainers to practice across state lines in remote (i.e., non-licensing) states under a compact privilege, subject to rules and scope of practice of the state where the patient is located.
- Establish a governing Compact Commission to administer the compact, set rules, oversee data, compliance, and dispute resolution.
Key Provisions and Changes
1) Definitions (Sec. 1 [148.785])
- Establishes standardized terms: active military member, adverse action, alternative program, athletic training, compact commission, compact privilege, compact qualifying license, continuing competence, current significant investigative information, criminal background check, data system, encumbrance, licensee, scope of practice, remote state, etc.
- Clarifies roles (e.g., remote state, state of qualifying licensure), processes (e.g., criminal background checks, jurisprudence requirements), and data handling.
2) State Participation (Sec. 2 [148.7851])
- Eligibility for states to join: enact model compact language, regulate athletic training, require continuing competence, handle complaints, issue compact privileges, participate in the data system, report adverse actions and investigative information, and comply with rules.
- Fees: member states may set and collect fees for compact privilege issuance and renewal.
- Existing single-state licenses unaffected; compact privilege is in addition to, but distinct from, state licenses.
3) Compact Privilege (Sec. 3 [148.7852])
- Eligibility: Criminal background check; pathways to qualification:
- Pathway (i): current active BOC certification (or successor).
- Pathway (ii): education plus exam requirements if not BOC-certified (bachelor’s degree in athletic training or foreign-equivalent CAATE-accredited program, plus passing the BOC exam or equivalent).
- Requirements: hold a compact qualifying license, no encumbrances in last 2 years, pay fees, meet continuing competence requirements, jurisprudence requirements in remote state(s), report adverse actions within 30 days.
- Validity: compact privilege lasts for the term of the compact qualifying license; renewals for compact privileges align with qualifying license renewal.
- Practice: licensee must follow the remote state’s scope of practice and regulations.
4) Compact Qualifying License (Sec. 4 [148.7853])
- One designated compact qualifying license at a time.
- State of qualifying licensure need not be respondent’s primary residence or practice location.
- Allows holding multiple single-state licenses; compact does not override single-state licensure rules.
5) Active Military Members (Sec. 5 [148.7854])
- Active military members and spouses may be exempt from compact privilege fees; states may offer reductions.
6) Adverse Actions (Sec. 6 [148.7855] and Sec. 10)
- Exclusive authority for adverse action against a compact qualifying license rests with the issuing (qualifying) member state.
- Remote states may take adverse actions on a licensee’s compact privilege following their own procedures; alternative programs may be used and kept nonpublic if allowed by state law.
- Joint investigations and cross-state sharing of investigative information are allowed, with confidentiality protections.
7) Commission and Governance (Sec. 7 [148.7856], Sec. 9 [148.7858])
- Establishes the Athletic Trainer Compact Commission as a joint government agency comprising commissioners from each member state.
- Commission powers: rulemaking, bylaws, budget, audits, contracts, fees, data-sharing, and enforcement support.
- Executive Committee: 5 voting members (plus ex-officio nonvoting members), with duties to manage day-to-day operations and enforcement.
- Meetings: open to the public, with provisions for executive sessions as allowed.
- Annual reporting requirements and public rulemaking process, including public hearings.
8) Data System (Sec. 8 [148.7857])
- A centralized data system for licensure, compact privileges, adverse actions, and current significant investigative information.
- Mandatory uniform data submission by member states; records recognized as authenticated for legal purposes.
- Restrictions on sharing certain information publicly, per contributing state rules.
9) Rulemaking and Oversight (Sec. 9)
- Rules have the force of law, subject to conflict with state laws on scope of practice (rules prevail only to the extent not conflicting with state practice laws).
10) Effective Date, Withdrawal, and Amendments (Sec. 11 [148.786])
- The compact becomes effective after seven charter member states enact and implement the model compact.
- Withdrawal requires 180 days’ notice; ongoing recognition of licenses/privileges continues for at least 180 days post-notice.
- Amendments require enactment by all member states.
11) Construction, Consistency, and Conflicts (Sec. 12–13)
- Compact provisions are severable and maintain consistent effect with existing state laws; conflicts with state laws are superseded to the extent of the conflict.
- The compact remains in effect for remaining member states if a state withdraws or is terminated.
Potential Impact
Timeline and Process Considerations
Note: This summary reflects the bill as introduced and outlines its substantive provisions and mechanics.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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