Senate Bill 18 Summary

• Enacts the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact, allowing physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in one member state to practice in other member states under a "compact privilege" without obtaining separate state licenses.

• Establishes the Physical Therapy Compact Commission as the national administrative body with representatives from each member state to promulgate rules, maintain a data system tracking licensees, and oversee compact implementation.

• Requires member states to participate in the commission's data system, conduct criminal background checks using FBI records, utilize a recognized national examination for licensure, and maintain continuing competence requirements.

• Provides that remote states may remove a licensee's compact privilege for violations and that home states have exclusive authority to impose adverse actions against licenses, while allowing information sharing among member states.

• Adds provisions recognizing individuals holding multistate licenses under the compact as authorized to practice as physical therapists and physical therapist assistants in Michigan, with the same obligations as state-licensed practitioners.