This bill seeks to enhance the regulatory framework for recreational therapists and respiratory care practitioners under the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC). It introduces new legal language that clarifies the executive director's rulemaking authority regarding recreational therapy, including detailed requirements for initial licensure, renewal, and reinstatement. Key insertions include eligibility criteria, ethical standards, and the scope of practice, along with provisions for conditional employment pending criminal history checks. The bill also mandates criminal history record checks for applicants and establishes privileged communication standards between recreational therapists and their clients, aligning these protections with those for physician-patient communications.

Additionally, the bill amends regulations for respiratory care practitioners, specifying licensing procedures and the scope of practice. It requires applicants to submit a criminal history record release form and fingerprints, allowing for police clearances if fingerprint submissions are invalid after two attempts. Conditional employment for up to 90 days is permitted while awaiting background check results, provided certain conditions are met. The bill also includes provisions for privileged communication protections for respiratory care practitioners and adjusts the effective dates for various sections, with some provisions taking effect as early as 60 days after passage and others delayed until July 1, 2026. Overall, the fiscal impact is projected to be minimal, estimated at less than $10,000 for each fiscal year from 2025 to 2028.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 326-J:1-a, 326-E:2
As Amended by the House: 326-J:1-a, 326-E:2
As Amended by the Senate: 326-J:1-a, 326-E:2
Version adopted by both bodies: 326-J:1-a, 326-E:2