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HB 2512 Bill Success- What Does It Mean?

May 25, 2023 brought the athletic trainers in Texas the touchdown they were looking for with the passing of HB 2512 (the Athletic Trainer Updated Practice Act) in the Senate by a 29-0 vote at 12:12am.  This has been an accomplishment for ALL of us, and truly speaks to the whole "team" mindset that we have to have to get things done.  We would would like to commend the TSATA Board, our Directors Spanky Stephens and Jimmy Kendrick, Governmental Affairs Team consisting of Dennis Hart, Randy Mathews, Bre'Layshia Alexander, Ryan Pena, Jerry Greeson, Joseph Hebert, the NATA office (Amy Callender & Deanna Kuykendall) and so many more individuals too numerous to name for collaborating and turning opposition to ally in final days.

Now what does this mean?  The HB 2512 Bill Analysis reads as follows:

BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center

H.B. 2512

88R19786 MAW-F

By: Morrison (Kolkhorst)

 Health & Human Services

 5/18/2023

 Engrossed

  AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 Current state law governing the practice of athletic training is outdated and is too restrictive with respect to the services an athletic trainer provides and the types of injuries an athletic trainer may treat. Making this practice less restrictive would allow physically active Texans greater access to the health care services an athletic trainer provides under the direction of a licensed physician or other applicable licensed health professional. H.B. 2512 seeks to allow greater access to an athletic trainer's services under such supervision and increase employment opportunities for athletic trainers by revising the definitions of "athletic training" and "athletic injury" to reflect the current language included in the domains of athletic training education and practice.

 H.B. 2512 amends current law relating to the regulation of athletic trainers.

 RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Sections 451.001(1) and (3), Occupations Code, as follows:

 (1) Provides that the definition "athletic injury" means an injury sustained by a person as the result of physical activity or exercise or the person's participation in an organized sport or sport-related exercise or activity, including interscholastic, intercollegiate, intramural, recreational, semiprofessional, and professional sports activities.

 (3) Provides that the definition "athletic training" means the form of health care that includes principles and methods for managing and treating athletic injuries for athletic individuals in good general health, rather than the practice of preventing, recognizing, assessing, managing, treating, disposing of, and reconditioning athletic injuries, under the direction of a physician licensed in this state or another qualified, licensed health professional who is authorized to refer for health care services within the scope of the person's license, and consists of:

 (A) managing the risk of an athletic injury or illness;

 (B) preventing an athletic injury or illness;

 (C) assessing an athletic injury or illness;

 (D) providing immediate emergency care;

 (E) providing therapeutic intervention for an athletic injury; and

 (F) reconditioning an athletic injury or illness.

 SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2023.

SRC-RVG H.B. 2512 88(R)       

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