Physical Therapy Practice and Regulation Act
Summary
Kentucky Governor signed HB48 into law (Acts Ch. 36) on April 7, 2026, substantially amending KRS Chapter 327 governing physical therapy practice. The Act requires practitioners and employers to report physical therapists or assistants convicted of misdemeanors, prohibits sexual contact with active patients, and expands Board of Physical Therapy authority to issue advisory opinions, establish fine amounts, and promulgate administrative regulations.
What changed
HB48 repeals and reenacts KRS 327.010 (definitions) and KRS 327.080 (revolving fund) while extensively amending Chapter 327. Key changes include: mandatory reporting of misdemeanor convictions by practitioners and employers, a 5-year clean disciplinary record requirement for board candidates, authorization for the Board to purchase professional liability insurance and convene advisory committees, and explicit prohibition of sexual contact with active patients or their guardians.
Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants in Kentucky must immediately comply with new reporting obligations and the patient conduct prohibitions. Employers must establish systems to report employee convictions. The Board gains expanded regulatory authority including fee-setting, license issuance for assistant applicants, and discretionary record expungement. Practitioners should monitor for Board guidelines on sexual misconduct allegations.
What to do next
- Physical therapists and assistants must understand new mandatory reporting obligations for misdemeanor convictions
- Healthcare employers must implement procedures to report convicted practitioners to the Board
- Physical therapy practices must review and update patient interaction policies to comply with sexual misconduct prohibitions
Penalties
The Board is authorized to establish amounts, limits, or ranges for fines imposed for violations.
Source document (simplified)
ChangeBridge / Kentucky / HB48 Signed by Governor HB48 House Bill Signed by Governor 2026-04-07
AN ACT relating to physical therapy.
Amend various sections of KRS Chapter 327, relating to the practice and regulation of physical therapy, to state legislative findings; require a practitioner or employer to report a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant who has been convicted of a misdemeanor; require potential board members to not have been under any disciplinary action in the past 5 years; permit the Board of Physical Therapy to purchase professional liability insurance; authorize the board to convene committees and task forces to review and advise the board on pertinent issues; authorize the board to promulgate administrative regulations to establish fee amounts, issue advisory opinions and declaratory rulings related to this chapter, and issue a license to a physical therapist assistant applicant; prohibit physical therapists and physical therapist assistants from engaging in sexual contact with any active patient of record or parent or legal guardian of an active patient of record; require the board to develop guidelines to follow upon receipt of an allegation of sexual misconduct by a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant; allow the board to receive periodic education on issues affecting the practice of physical therapy and public protection; allow the board to determine which disciplinary records may be expunged; authorize the board to establish the amounts, limits, or ranges for any fines imposed; repeal and reenact KRS 327.010 to define terms; repeal and reenact KRS 327.080 to deposit to the credit of a revolving fund for the use of the board; require all expenses of the board to be paid from the revolving fund.
Bill Details
State Kentucky
Session 2026 Regular Session
Chamber House
Official Source apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb48.html
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Sponsors
Amy Neighbors (Rep - R)
Action History
2026-04-07 H signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 36) 2026-03-26 H delivered to Governor 2026-03-26 H enrolled, signed by President of the Senate 2026-03-26 H enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House 2026-03-26 H received in House 2026-03-25 S 3rd reading, passed 38-0 2026-03-24 S passed over and retained in the Consent Orders of the Day 2026-03-20 S posted for passage in the Consent Orders of the Day for Tuesday, March 24 2026 2026-03-11 S 2nd reading, to Rules as a consent bill 2026-03-10 S reported favorably, 1st reading, to Consent Calendar 2026-03-06 S to Licensing & Occupations (S) 2026-02-10 S to Committee on Committees (S) 2026-02-10 S received in Senate 2026-02-09 H 3rd reading, passed 95-0 2026-02-06 H posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Monday, February 09 2026 2026-02-05 H 2nd reading, to Rules 2026-02-04 H reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar 2026-01-14 H to Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations (H) 2026-01-07 H to Committee on Committees (H) 2026-01-07 H introduced in House
Votes
2026-02-09 House: Veto Override RCS# 71 Yea: 95 Nay: 0 2026-03-25 Senate: Third Reading RSN# 3988 Yea: 38 Nay: 0
Committee Referrals
2026-01-07 H Committee On Committees 2026-01-14 H Licensing, Occupations & Administrative Regulations 2026-02-05 H Rules 2026-02-10 S Committee on Committees 2026-03-06 S Licensing and Occupations 2026-03-11 S Rules
Bill Text Versions
0000-00-00 Introduced 0000-00-00 Engrossed
Subjects
Boards and Commissions Health and Medical Services Licensing Occupations and Professions State Agencies Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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