Pennsylvania 2025_0 Regular Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 5 R · 4 D cosponsors

SB 197 — An Act amending the act of October 10, 1975 (P.L.383, No.110), known as the Physical Therapy Practice Act, further providing for definitions, for powers and duties of board, for continuing education and for practice of physical therapy.

Last action — Referred to CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, Jan. 29, 2025

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced January 29, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 9 sponsors

    1 primary, 8 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (5 R · 4 D) — cross-party backing.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

Physical Therapy Direct Access and Treatment Timeframe

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

7 changes Share ↗

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends the Physical Therapy Practice Act to change the definitions and requirements related to practice without a referral and continuing education.

  • Section 2

    "Certificate of authorization" means a certificate, approved by the board, to practice physical therapy without a referral under section 9(a).

    This change removes the formal definition of 'certificate of authorization' related to practicing physical therapy without a referral.

  • Section 3(a)

    and certificates of authorization

    This change eliminates the issuance and renewal of 'certificates of authorization' as part of the duties of the board.

  • Section 3(a)

    or certificate of authorization

    This change allows the board to revoke licenses without mention of 'certificates of authorization'.

  • Section 7.2

    A physical therapist who has met the continuing education requirements for a certificate of authorization set forth in section 9(c)(1) shall be deemed to have met the continuing education requirement for license renewal. No credit shall be given for any course in office management or practice building.

    This change removes the provision for certifying continuing education through the 'certificate of authorization' and the restriction on credit for certain courses.

  • Section 9(b)

    [A certificate of authorization to] → The practice of

    This change rephrases authorization to practice physical therapy, removing the specific mention of 'certificate of authorization'.

  • Section 9(b)

    to treat a condition in an individual which is a nonneurologic, nonmuscular or nonskeletal condition or to treat an individual who has an acute cardiac or acute pulmonary condition unless the physical therapist has consulted with the individual's licensed physician, dentist or podiatrist regarding the individual's condition and the physical therapy treatment plan or has referred the individual to a licensed physician, dentist or podiatrist for diagnosis and referral.

    This change simplifies the phrasing about conditions that require physician consultation for treatment.

  • Section 9(e)

    [30] → 60

    This change extends the duration from 30 days to 60 days that a physical therapist may treat an individual without a referral.

Action History

  1. Referred to CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, Jan. 29, 2025

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 8 co-sponsors · 244 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (8)

Not signed on (244)

244 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

healthcare labor
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 197 do?
Physical Therapy Direct Access and Treatment Timeframe
Who sponsors SB 197?
SB 197 is sponsored by Scott E. Hutchinson (Republican), Rosemary M. Brown (Republican), Greg Rothman (Republican), Wayne D. Fontana (Democratic), Judith L. Schwank (Democratic), Lynda Schlegel Culver (Republican), Doug Mastriano (Republican), Maria Collett (Democratic), and Lisa M. Boscola (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 197?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced January 29, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 197?
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Last checked for changes 4 months ago · updated continuously

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