AB 2221 Summary

• Redefines "occupational therapy" to include therapeutic use of meaningful goal-directed activities with individuals, groups, and populations to support participation and function, removing the requirement that services follow a physician diagnosis.

• Increases the maximum number of occupational therapy assistants an occupational therapist may supervise from 2 to 3 at any one time, with the occupational therapist responsible for overall use and actions of aides.

• Eliminates the "post professional" limitation for occupational therapists providing hand therapy services or using physical agent modalities, allowing these practices during professional education.

• Requires (rather than authorizes) the California Board of Occupational Therapy to establish continuing competence requirements for license renewal, with only a portion fulfilled through competency assessment activities within a broader professional development plan.

• Adds marriage and family therapy, professional clinical counseling, clinical social work, and educational psychology to the list of practices occupational therapists are not authorized to perform, and requires occupational therapists and assistants serving as educators in California programs to be licensed.