House Bill No. introduced by E. Buttrey establishes a new Board of Physical, Rehabilitative, and Developmental Health Care Professionals, which will oversee 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 provisions, establishing licensure criteria, and adopting necessary rules, with a focus on ensuring that only qualified individuals practice in these health professions to protect public health and safety.

The bill also amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to reflect the new board's authority, including redefining the "board" in various contexts and updating the qualifications for licensure in athletic training. It proposes amendments to the licensing process for athletic trainers, allowing the board to issue temporary licenses to applicants who meet certain qualifications but have not yet completed the examination requirement, specifically modifying the criteria for temporary licensing by removing previous subsections (1)(d) while retaining (1)(c). Additionally, it provides exemptions from the examination requirement for applicants with valid licenses from other states or certifications from recognized organizations. The legislation aims to streamline the licensing process and enhance oversight of health care professionals in Montana, with an effective date set for January 1, 2026.

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: 37-11-101, 37-15-102, 37-24-103, 37-36-101, 37-36-201