OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST LICENSURE S.B. 921 (S-2):
FLOOR SUMMARY
[Please see the PDF version of this analysis, if available, to view this image.]
Senate Bill 921 (Substitute S-2 as reported by the Committee of the Whole)
Sponsor: Senator Roger Kahn, M.D.
Committee: Health Policy
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Public Health Code to provide for the licensure of occupational therapists, rather than the registration of certified occupational therapists. The bill would do the following:
-- Prohibit an individual from engaging in the practice of occupational therapy or practicing as an occupational therapy assistant without being licensed or otherwise authorized, after rules for licensure were promulgated.
-- Replace the $60 annual registration fee with a $75 annual license fee.
-- Require the Michigan Board of Occupational Therapists to establish minimum standards for licensure as an occupational therapist.
-- Require a licensee to meet requirements for continuing education or continuing competence activities for license renewal, and allow the Board to promulgate rules establishing those requirements.
-- Require one Board member to be a physician.
MCL 333.16345 et al. Legislative Analyst: Suzanne Lowe
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would likely require the State to incur a minor increase in administrative costs associated with the proposed expanded licensure requirements. The Michigan Board of Occupational Therapists could be required to exercise greater oversight of licensed occupational therapists, and also would be charged with developing and maintaining more extensive licensure rules and requirements.
Some portion of these costs would be offset by the proposed increase in annual license fees for occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants. The bill would increase the annual fee from $60 to $75, resulting in increased State revenue. The Department of Community Health estimates that approximately 4,500 occupational therapists and 1,150 occupational therapy assistants would be required to pay the increased licensure costs, suggesting that the State would collect between $75,000 and $90,000 in additional fee revenue.
Date Completed: 9-19-08 Fiscal Analyst: Matthew Grabowski
floor\sb921 Analysis available @ http://www.michiganlegislature.org
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. sb921/0708