ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-fifth Legislature Second Regular Session
	Senate: APPROP DPA/SE 9-0-1-0 | 3^rd Read 28-0-2-0 House: HHS DP 9-0-0-0

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SB 1398: dry needling; athletic trainers

Sponsor: Senator Pace, LD  25

Caucus & COW

Overview

Directs the Arizona Board of Athletic Training (Board), by September 30, 2022, to adopt rules establishing professional standards of care, training and education qualifications for athletic trainers to perform dry needling for therapeutic purposes.

History

Laws 2000, Chapter 111 established the Board to regulate the practice of athletic training in Arizona by licensing athletic trainers, providing information about licensees to the public, investigating and resolving complaints against licensees. Athletic trainers work in various settings, including public and private high schools, colleges and universities, clinics, hospitals and professional sports organizations.

Licensed physical therapists are permitted to perform dry needling with appropriate education and training as determined by the Board of Physical Therapy. Dry needling is a skilled intervention performed by a physical therapist that uses a thin filiform needle to penetrate the skin and stimulate underlying neural, muscular and connective tissues for the evaluation and management of neuromusculoskeletal conditions (A.R.S. § 32-2001).

A sunrise application was submitted November 1, 2019, requesting an expansion of the scope of practice for athletic trainers to provide dry needling as an additional therapeutic modality, in accordance with rules adopted by the Board pertaining to the required education and training.

Provisions

1. Defines dry needling. (Sec. 1)

2. Deems as grounds for disciplinary action, failure to demonstrate professional standards of care, training and education qualifications for performing dry needling when provided as a therapeutic modality as established by the Board in rule. (Sec. 2)

3. Directs the Board, by September 30, 2022, to adopt rules establishing the professional standards of care, training and education qualifications for performing dry needling for therapeutic purposes. (Sec. 3)

4. Exempts the Board from rulemaking requirements through September 30, 2022, for purposes of establishing rules relating to the required education and training for athletic trainers to perform dry needling for therapeutic purposes. (Sec. 3)

5. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1, 2)

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9.                   SB 1398

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