Pennsylvania HB 482: An Act authorizing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to join the Interstate Compact; providing for the form of the compact; and imposing additional powers and duties on the Governor, the Secretary of the Commonwealth and the Compact.

Bill Text

SENATE AMENDED
PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 465, 1942 PRINTER'S NO. 2867
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 482
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY MARKOSEK, BURGOS, FREEMAN, HARKINS, SAPPEY,
DONAHUE, GIRAL, SANCHEZ, GUENST, VENKAT, HANBIDGE, HILL-
EVANS, KHAN, HOHENSTEIN, DALEY, SHUSTERMAN, DEASY, GREEN,
MADDEN, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, WEBSTER AND BOYD, FEBRUARY 4, 2025
SENATOR STEFANO, CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE,
IN SENATE, AS AMENDED, FEBRUARY 4, 2026
AN ACT
Authorizing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to join the
Interstate Compact; providing for the form of the compact;
and imposing additional powers and duties on the Governor,
the Secretary of the Commonwealth and the Compact.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Interstate
Occupational Therapy Licensure Act.
Section 2. Authority to execute compact.
The Governor of Pennsylvania, on behalf of this State, is
hereby authorized to execute a compact in substantially the
following form with any one or more of the states of the United
States and the General Assembly hereby signifies in advance its
approval and ratification of such compact:
SECTION 1. PURPOSE
The purpose of this Compact is to facilitate interstate
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practice of Occupational Therapy with the goal of improving
public access to Occupational Therapy services. The Practice of
Occupational Therapy occurs in the State where the
patient/client is located at the time of the patient/client
encounter. The Compact preserves the regulatory authority of
States to protect public health and safety through the current
system of State licensure.
This Compact is designed to achieve the following objectives:
A. Increase public access to Occupational Therapy services
by providing for the mutual recognition of other Member State
licenses;
B. Enhance the States' ability to protect the public's
health and safety;
C. Encourage the cooperation of Member States in regulating
multi-State Occupational Therapy Practice;
D. Support spouses of relocating military members;
E. Enhance the exchange of licensure, investigative, and
disciplinary information between Member States;
F. Allow a Remote State to hold a provider of services with
a Compact Privilege in that State accountable to that State's
practice standards; and
G. Facilitate the use of Telehealth technology in order to
increase access to Occupational Therapy services.
SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS
As used in this Compact, and except as otherwise provided,
the following definitions shall apply:
A. "Active Duty Military" means full-time duty status in the
active uniformed service of the United States, including members
of the National Guard and Reserve on active duty orders pursuant
to 10 U.S.C. Chapter 1209 and 10 U.S.C. Chapter 1211.
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B. "Adverse Action" means any administrative, civil,
equitable, or criminal action permitted by a State's laws which
is imposed by a Licensing Board or other authority against an
Occupational Therapist or Occupational Therapy Assistant,
including actions against an individual's license or Compact
Privilege such as censure, revocation, suspension, probation,
monitoring of the Licensee, or restriction on the Licensee's
practice.
C. "Alternative Program" means a non-disciplinary monitoring
process approved by an Occupational Therapy Licensing Board.
D. "Compact Privilege" means the authorization, which is
equivalent to a license, granted by a Remote State to allow a
Licensee from another Member State to practice as an
Occupational Therapist or practice as an Occupational Therapy
Assistant in the Remote State under its laws and rules. The
Practice of Occupational Therapy occurs in the Member State
where the patient/client is located at the time of the
patient/client encounter.
E. "Continuing Competence/Education" means a requirement, as
a condition of license renewal, to provide evidence of
participation in, and/or completion of, educational and
professional activities relevant to practice or area of work.
F. "Current Significant Investigative Information" means
Investigative Information that a Licensing Board, after an
inquiry or investigation that includes notification and an
opportunity for the Occupational Therapist or Occupational
Therapy Assistant to respond, if required by State law, has
reason to believe is not groundless and, if proved true, would
indicate more than a minor infraction.
G. "Data System" means a repository of information about
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Licensees, including but not limited to license status,
Investigative Information, Compact Privileges, and Adverse
Actions.
H. "Encumbered License" means a license in which an Adverse
Action restricts the Practice of Occupa