SB 185

This bill regulates the practice of clinical exercise physiology, defined in the bill

to include working with individuals who have chronic medical conditions for which

exercise training has been shown to have a therapeutic benefit; administering

clinical exercise assessments to individuals who have or are at risk for

cardiovascular, pulmonary, or other chronic medical conditions; providing

individuals with education and instruction based upon medical history, clinical

assessment outcomes, and exercise training principles; and developing and

implementing exercise training protocols and programs for individuals who have or

are at risk for cardiovascular, pulmonary, and other chronic medical conditions for

which exercise training has been shown to have a therapeutic benefit. Under the bill,

no one may use the title "clinical exercise physiologist" or make similar

representations without a license to practice clinical exercise physiology (license).

A license is granted by the five-member Clinical Exercise Physiology Affiliated

Credentialing Board (board), created in the bill. Under the bill, the board is attached

for limited purposes to the Medical Examining Board, which regulates physicians

and certain other professions.

Under the bill, the board may grant an initial license to a person who is at least

18 years of age, holds a master's degree in exercise physiology or a related field, is

certified by the American College of Sports Medicine, has at least 600 hours of

qualifying clinical experience, and pays a fee. The bill also allows the board, for one

year after the requirement in the bill to obtain a license goes into effect, to grant an

initial license to practice clinical exercise physiology to certain individuals who

cannot satisfy all of the requirements described above but who satisfy certain

experience and other requirements.

The bill requires the board to promulgate rules that establish the qualifying

degrees and qualifying clinical experience that are required for licensure, a scope of

practice for clinical exercise physiologists, and standards for what constitutes

unprofessional conduct for a clinical exercise physiologist.

The bill includes provisions for the professional discipline of licensees, which

allow the board to take certain actions against a licensee who violates certain

prohibitions in the bill.

Finally, the bill also applies certain other laws, such as the law providing for

confidentiality of health care records and the health care workers whistleblowers

protection law, to licensed clinical exercise physiologists.

Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime,

the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a

report concerning the proposed penalty and the costs or savings that are likely to

result if the bill is enacted.