Physical Therapists Perform Sports Physicals

Second Regular Session Seventy-fifth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO INTRODUCED HOUSE BILL 26-1231 LLS NO. 26-0485.01 Jacob Baus x2173 HOUSE SPONSORSHIP Bradley and Lukens, SENATE SPONSORSHIP Marchman, House Committees Senate Committees Education A BILL FOR AN ACT CONCERNING AUTHORIZING PHYSICAL THERAPISTS TO PERFORM PREPARTICIPATION PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS FOR SCHOOL ACTIVITIES.

Bill Summary (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov.) The bill requires that if a statewide high school activities association (association) requires a physical examination and written clearance from a health-care provider before a student may play or participate in a supervised team athletic activity, the association shall permit a licensed physical therapist to provide the physical examination Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.

Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law. Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law.

and written clearance for the student to play or participate.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado: SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly finds and declares that:

(a) Physical therapists licensed pursuant to article 285 of title 12, Colorado Revised Statutes, are health-care professionals who complete graduate-level education and clinical training in the evaluation of the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, and pulmonary systems;

(b) Preparticipation physical examinations for interscholastic athletic activities are intended to assess a student's physical readiness to safely participate in an athletic activity and identify potential risk factors for injury or illness;

(c) Licensed physical therapists are trained and qualified to perform evaluations of strength, flexibility, balance, endurance, functional movement, and cardiovascular response to physical activity and to make appropriate participation determinations consistent with their scope of practice;

(d) The bylaws of the Colorado High School Activities Association currently require a physical examination and written medical clearance for participation in interscholastic athletics and permit such clearance to be provided by licensed physicians, physician assistants, advanced chiropractors; and (e) practice registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and Permitting licensed physical therapists to perform preparticipation physical examinations and provide written clearance for interscholastic athletic activities increases access to timely care for students and families without compromising student safety. SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-32-116.5, add (6.5) as follows: 22-32-116.5. Extracurricular and interscholastic activities definitions.

(6.5) IF A STATEWIDE HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION REQUIRES A PHYSICAL EXAMINATION AND WRITTEN CLEARANCE FROM A HEALTH-CARE PROVIDER BEFORE A STUDENT MAY PLAY OR PARTICIPATE IN A TEAM ATHLETIC ACTIVITY, THE STATEWIDE HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION SHALL PERMIT A PHYSICAL THERAPIST LICENSED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 285 OF TITLE 12 TO PROVIDE THE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION AND WRITTEN CLEARANCE FOR THE STUDENT TO PLAY OR PARTICIPATE.

SECTION 3. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August 12, 2026, if adjournment sine die is on May 13, 2026); except that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.