SB 482

This bill makes several changes to current law regarding the practice of athletic

trainers.

Under current law, no person may use the title "athletic trainer" or otherwise

represent himself or herself as an athletic trainer unless the person is licensed by the

athletic trainers affiliated credentialing board (board). Current law authorizes the

board to grant two types of temporary licenses in addition to standard renewable

licenses. A licensed athletic trainer may engage in athletic training only in

accordance with an evaluation and treatment protocol established by the athletic

trainer and approved by a physician who consults with the athletic trainer. Current

law defines "athletic training" as doing any of the following: 1) preventing,

recognizing, and evaluating athletic injuries; 2) managing and administering the

initial treatment of athletic injuries; 3) giving emergency care or first aid for an

athletic injury; or 4) rehabilitating and physically reconditioning athletic injuries.

"Athletic injury" means an injury or illness that is sustained by an athlete as a result

of, or that impedes or prevents an athlete from, participating in exercise, sports,

games, or recreation. Additionally, current law permits a licensed athletic trainer

to treat or rehabilitate an employee of the athletic trainer's primary employer with

an injury that is identical to an athletic injury and that has resulted from an

occupational activity, if directed and supervised by a physician or chiropractor.

Currently, an evaluation and treatment protocol must require a licensed

athletic trainer to notify the consulting physician as soon as possible if a person being

treated by the athletic trainer sustains new injuries. Also under current law, if a

licensed athletic trainer or the trainer's consulting physician determines that a

patient's medical condition is beyond the scope of the athletic trainer's practice, the

athletic trainer must refer the patient to a licensed physician, physical therapist,

podiatrist, chiropractor, or dentist who can provide appropriate treatment to the

patient (referral requirement).

This bill deletes the current provisions authorizing the board to grant

temporary licenses. The bill alters the definition of "athletic training" by replacing

"athletic injury" with "injury or illness sustained while participating in physical

activity" in the four activities that currently constitute athletic training. Under the

bill, "physical activity" means vigorous participation in exercise, sports, games,

recreation, wellness, fitness, or employment activities. The bill also creates two

additional activities that constitute athletic training: 1) rehabilitating and

physically reconditioning injuries or illnesses that impede or prevent an individual

from participating in physical activity, if the individual recently participated in, and

intends to return to participation in, physical activity, and 2) establishing or

administering risk management, conditioning, and injury prevention programs.

The bill specifies that a licensed athletic trainer may provide athletic training

to an individual without a referral, except that a licensee may not provide certain