An Act To Update the Licensing Laws for Occupational Therapy Practice
Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §2271, as amended by PL 1997, c. 294, §1, is repealed.
Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §2272, sub-§4, as repealed and replaced by PL 1997, c. 294, §2, is amended to read:
Sec. 3. 32 MRSA §2272, sub-§5, as repealed and replaced by PL 1997, c. 294, §2, is repealed.
Sec. 4. 32 MRSA §2272, sub-§8, as repealed and replaced by PL 1997, c. 294, §2, is repealed.
Sec. 5. 32 MRSA §2272, sub-§8-A is enacted to read:
Sec. 6. 32 MRSA §2272, sub-§9, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 294, §2, is amended to read:
A minimum of 6 months, or 940 hours, of level II fieldwork is required for occupational therapy educational programs.
A minimum of 12 weeks, or 440 hours, of level II fieldwork is required for occupational therapy assistant educational programs.
Sec. 7. 32 MRSA §2272, sub-§12-A, as amended by PL 1999, c. 386, Pt. I, §1, is repealed.
Sec. 8. 32 MRSA §2272, sub-§§12-B and 12-C are enacted to read:
Sec. 9. 32 MRSA §2272, sub-§14, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 294, §2, is amended to read:
Sec. 10. 32 MRSA §2276, sub-§1-A, as amended by PL 1999, c. 386, Pt. I, §2, is further amended to read:
This subsection is not intended to prohibit occupational therapy students and occupational therapy assistant students completing fieldwork from using the letters "O.T.S." and "O.T.A.S." respectively.
Sec. 11. 32 MRSA §2279, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1983, c. 746, §2, is repealed.
Sec. 12. 32 MRSA §2281, as amended by PL 2013, c. 217, Pt. J, §3, is further amended to read:
§ 2281. Waiver of requirements for licensure
The board shall grant a license to any person who, prior to July 25, 1984, successfully completed an examination administered by the Psychological Corporation under contract with the American Occupational Therapy Certification Board if that person meets the requirements of section 2279, subsections 1 and subsection 3.
Sec. 13. 32 MRSA §2282, as amended by PL 2007, c. 402, Pt. L, §7, is repealed.
Sec. 14. 32 MRSA §2283, sub-§2-A is enacted to read:
Sec. 15. 32 MRSA §2283, sub-§3, as amended by PL 1991, c. 509, §17, is repealed.
Sec. 16. 32 MRSA §2284, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 294, §11, is repealed.
Sec. 17. 32 MRSA §2285, as repealed and replaced by PL 2007, c. 402, Pt. L, §10 and amended by PL 2011, c. 286, Pt. B, §5, is further amended to read:
§ 2285. Fees
The Director of the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation within the department director may establish by rule fees for purposes authorized under this chapter in amounts that are reasonable and necessary for their respective purposes, except that the fee for any one purpose may not exceed $120. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 18. Maine Revised Statutes headnote amended; revision clause. In the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 32, chapter 32, in the chapter headnote, the words "occupational therapists" are amended to read "occupational therapy practice" and the Revisor of Statutes shall implement this revision when updating, publishing or republishing the statutes.
summary
This bill updates language in the laws governing occupational therapy practice, including occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants, establishes an inactive license status for licensees and repeals the continuing education requirement for licensees. The bill also repeals a residency provision for applicants and the character reference requirement for foreign-trained applicants.