MAELINN CHOW

ASSISTANT RESEARCH ANALYST

MICHAEL MADDEN

LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ANALYST

HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

Telephone: (602) 926-3171

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

RESEARCH STAFF

TO:                  MEMBERS OF THE SENATE

APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

DATE:            February 18, 2022

SUBJECT:      Strike everything amendment to S.B. 1398, relating to athletic trainers; dry needling

Purpose

  Requires the Board of Athletic Training (Board) to adopt rules establishing standards of care, training and education qualifications for athletic trainers performing dry needling.

Background

Statute requires the Board to regulate the athletic training profession by: 1) evaluating the qualifications of licensure applicants; 2) designating the national examinations that applicants must pass; 3) issuing licenses; 4) establishing requirements pertaining to the ratio between supervising athletic trainers and athletic training students; 5) establishing requirements for assessing the continuing competence of licensees; and 6) adopting and revising athletic trainer rules (A.R.S.
§ 32-4103).

Athletic training is performed by qualified athletic trainers that have received appropriate Board-prescribed education and training, operating under the direction of a licensed physician. Authorized duties of athletic trainers include: 1) prevention, recognition, examination, evaluation, rehabilitation and management of athletic injuries; 2) prevention, evaluation, immediate care and monitoring of athletic illnesses; 3) planning, administration, evaluation and modification of methods for prevention and risk management of athletic injuries and athletic illnesses; 4) the use of heat, cold, water, light, sound, electricity, passive or active exercise, massage, mechanical devices or any other therapeutic modality to prevent, treat, rehabilitate or recondition athletic injuries; 5) education and counseling related to all aspects of the practice of athletic training; 6) use of topical pharmacological agents in conjunction with the administration of therapeutic modalities and an issued prescription; and 7) referral of a person receiving athletic training services to appropriate health care professionals, as necessary (A.R.S. § 32-4101).

There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1. Requires the Board, by September 30, 2022, to adopt rules establishing the professional standards of care, training and education qualifications for athletic trainers who perform dry needling for therapeutic purposes.

2. Includes, as grounds for disciplinary action of athletic trainers, failing to demonstrate
Board-established professional standards of care, training and education qualifications for performing dry needling.

3. Exempts the Board, until September 30, 2022, from statutory rulemaking requirements for purposes of establishing rules relating to athletic trainer dry needling authority.

4. Defines dry needling as a skilled intervention performed by an athletic trainer using a thin filiform needle to penetrate the skin and stimulate underlying neural, muscular and connective tissues to evaluate and manage neuromusculoskeletal conditions, pain and movement impairments.

5. Makes technical and conforming changes.

6. Becomes effective on the general effective date.