AlaskaHB 17334th Legislature (2025-2026)House

LIC.: OCCUP/PHYS THERAPY;SPEECH;AUDIOLOGY

Sponsored By: Nellie Unangiq Jimmie (Democratic)

Became Law

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Analyzed Economic Effects

10 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 6 mixed.

Occupational therapy no longer needs referrals

Patients can receive occupational therapy without a referral from another health care provider. Services include help with pain, daily tasks, swallowing, mobility, assistive devices, and physical and mental wellness. Assistants can provide only services they are qualified to perform, under an occupational therapist’s supervision. The law also recognizes imaging, electrical diagnostic tests, and other professionally accepted methods for gathering information for therapy.

Therapist discipline suspends interstate work privileges

Only the home state can discipline an occupational therapist’s or assistant’s home-state license. Another participating state can discipline practice privileges there, following its existing due-process rules. Home-state discipline deactivates privileges in all other member states until all home-license restrictions are removed. Restoring privileges also requires following compact procedures. A state can recover investigation and case costs from the affected practitioner only when its own law allows it.

Military therapists can keep licensing home

Active-duty service members and their spouses can keep a qualifying state as their occupational therapy licensing home during active duty. They must hold a current license in good standing in that state. Changing the home state requires applying for a new state license or using the compact’s home-state change process.

States coordinate investigations of occupational therapists

Compact states can investigate occupational therapists and assistants together and must share relevant investigation, court-case, and compliance records. Home states must treat reported out-of-state conduct like conduct at home, applying their own laws. States can use another state’s factual findings for discipline, but must follow their own procedures. Moving does not stop an investigation: the original home state finishes it, reports findings, and the new state receives discipline notices. Courts in other compact states must enforce board subpoenas under local procedures; the issuing authority pays required witness fees and expenses.

Occupational therapists gain interstate access with conditions

Alaska joins the occupational therapy compact, allowing eligible therapists and assistants to practice in participating states without separate licenses. Applicants need an unrestricted home-state license, no restrictions on any state license, and a valid Social Security or National Practitioner ID. Past discipline requires paid fines, completed conditions, and a two-year wait after completion. Applicants must complete a background check, notify the commission, pay fees, and meet the receiving state’s legal-knowledge requirements. They must follow that state’s laws; assistants need supervision by a therapist licensed or holding compact privileges there. Licensees must report discipline from nonmember states within 30 days. Binding compact rules override conflicting state laws, while compatible state laws remain in force.

Therapy applicants face checks with privacy limits

Alaska occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and audiology licensees applying for compact privileges must submit fingerprints and pay required fees. The law does not state fee amounts. Alaska can obtain criminal-history information for compact licensing across these professions, physical therapy, and therapy assistants. Agencies can use the specified occupational therapy, speech, audiology, and physical therapy background-check records only to assess qualifications and fitness. The physical therapy limit covers both licenses and compact privileges.

Compact states get help and enforcement

Member states must enforce the compact and its rules as law; the commission can intervene in cases affecting it. The commission provides notice and technical help to states that fail to comply. After other measures fail, a majority vote can end membership; a majority vote also authorizes federal enforcement cases. A removed state still owes incurred obligations, and the commission bears no default costs unless it agrees in writing. At a member state’s request, the commission must try to resolve compact disputes and adopt rules for mediation and binding decisions.

States face compact entry and exit rules

The occupational therapy compact takes effect when the tenth member state enacts it. The commission’s initial authority is limited to assembling and adopting rules needed to run the compact; later states follow existing rules. A state can leave by repealing the compact, but withdrawal takes effect six months later. Its licensing board must keep reporting investigations and discipline through withdrawal, with reporting duties remaining for pre-withdrawal matters. Compact amendments bind no state until every member state enacts them.

Therapist records shared with privacy safeguards

The compact commission must maintain a shared system of licensing, discipline, and investigation records. Member states must submit the data required by commission rules. Investigation information is available only to member states, and contributing states can restrict public release of discipline records. Records must be removed when the contributing state’s law requires expungement.

Therapy commission gets powers and fees

A joint public commission runs the occupational therapy compact, with one delegate chosen by each member state’s licensing board. Its uniform rules bind member states. Commission personnel receive civil liability protection for covered official work; the commission must defend them and cover covered civil claims. These protections exclude intentional, willful, or wanton misconduct. When other revenue falls short, the commission can charge states annually and other parties fees to fund its approved budget; amounts are unspecified.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Nellie Unangiq Jimmie
Democratic • House

Cosponsors

Burke
Affiliation unavailable
Jeremy Bynum
Republican • House
David Nelson
Republican • House
Alyse Galvin
Not • House
Andrew Gray
Democratic • House
Rebecca Himschoot
Not • House
DeLena Johnson
Republican • House
Andy Josephson
Democratic • House
Genevieve Mina
Democratic • House
Robert Myers
Republican • Senate
Mike Prax
Republican • House
Calvin Schrage
Not • House
Rebecca Schwanke
Republican • House
Andi Story
Democratic • House
Louise Stutes
Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 14 • No: 6

Senate vote • 5/20/2026

PASSED Y14 N6