House Bill 438 proposes the establishment of a new Board of Physical, Rehabilitative, and Developmental Health Care Professionals, which will be responsible for the licensing and regulation of athletic trainers, occupational therapy practitioners, physical therapy examiners, and speech-language pathologists and audiologists. The board will consist of 12 members, including professionals from each of these fields and a public member. The bill outlines the board's duties, such as administering and enforcing relevant laws, establishing licensure criteria, and adopting necessary rules to ensure that only qualified individuals practice in these health professions, thereby protecting public health and safety.

In addition to creating the new board, the bill amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to replace references to the previous boards with the new board's name, specifically in sections 37-11-101, 37-15-102, 37-24-103, 37-36-101, and 37-36-201. It also repeals outdated sections related to the former boards, including their powers, duties, and organizational structures. The bill introduces updated educational requirements for athletic trainers, ensuring they hold degrees from accredited programs. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, while preserving rights and duties that existed prior to its enactment.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 37-11-101, 37-15-102, 37-24-103, 37-36-101, 37-36-201
HB0438_1(1): 37-11-101, 37-15-102, 37-24-103, 37-36-101, 37-36-201
HB0438_1(2): 37-11-101, 37-15-102, 37-24-103, 37-36-101, 37-36-201
HB0438_1(3): 37-11-101, 37-15-102, 37-24-103, 37-36-101, 37-36-201
HB0438_1(4): 37-11-101, 37-15-102, 37-24-103, 37-36-101, 37-36-201
HB0438_1(5): 37-11-101, 37-15-102, 37-24-103, 37-36-101, 37-36-201
HB0438_1: 37-11-101, 37-15-102, 37-24-103, 37-36-101, 37-36-201
HB0438_X(1): 37-11-101, 37-15-102, 37-24-103, 37-36-101, 37-36-201
HB0438_X(2): 37-11-101, 37-15-102, 37-24-103, 37-36-101, 37-36-201
HB0438_X(3): 37-11-101, 37-15-102, 37-24-103, 37-36-101, 37-36-201
HB0438_X(4): 37-11-101, 37-15-102, 37-24-103, 37-36-101, 37-36-201
HB0438_X(5): 37-11-101, 37-15-102, 37-24-103, 37-36-101, 37-36-201
HB0438_X(6): 37-11-101, 37-15-102, 37-24-103, 37-36-101, 37-36-201
HB0438_X(7): 37-11-101, 37-15-102, 37-24-103, 37-36-101, 37-36-201
HB0438_X(8): 37-11-101, 37-15-102, 37-24-103, 37-36-101, 37-36-201
HB0438_X(9): 37-11-101, 37-15-102, 37-24-103, 37-36-101, 37-36-201
HB0438_X: 37-11-101, 37-15-102, 37-24-103, 37-36-101, 37-36-201