Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Oklahoma Legislature, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2 2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)
3 HOUSE BILL 3887 By: Cantrell
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6 AS INTRODUCED
7 An Act relating to professions and occupations;
amending 59 O.S. 2021, Section 887.17, as amended by
8 Section 1, Chapter 8, O.S.L. 2025 (59 O.S. Supp.
2025, Section 887.17), which relates to medical
9 professional referrals; removing thirty-day period
for referrals; and providing an effective date.
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12 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
13 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 59 O.S. 2021, Section 887.17, as
14 amended by Section 1, Chapter 8, O.S.L. 2025 (59 O.S. Supp. 2025,
15 Section 887.17), is amended to read as follows:
16 Section 887.17. A. 1. Except for workers' compensation
17 claims, any person licensed under the Physical Therapy Practice Act
18 as a physical therapist including, but not limited to, a licensed
19 physical therapist operating under a direct-to-employer contract,
20 may evaluate and treat human ailments by physical therapy on a
21 patient without a referral from a licensed health care practitioner
22 for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days. Treatment may be
23 provided by a physical therapist assistant under the supervision of
24 a physical therapist. Any treatment provided beyond the thirty-day
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1 period shall be only under the referral of a person licensed as a
2 physician or surgeon with unlimited license, or the physician
3 assistant of the person so licensed, and doctors of dentistry,
4 chiropractic, and podiatry and an Advanced Practice Registered
5 Nurse, with those referrals being limited to their respective areas
6 of training and practice.
7 2. A physical therapist may provide services within the scope
8 of physical therapy practice without a physician referral to
9 children who receive physical therapy services pursuant to the
10 Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, as
11 may be amended, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
12 as may be amended. Provided further, a plan of care developed by a
13 person authorized to provide services within the scope of the
14 Physical Therapy Practice Act shall be deemed to be a prescription
15 for purposes of providing services pursuant to the provisions of the
16 Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, as
17 may be amended, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
18 as may be amended.
19 3. Nothing in the Physical Therapy Practice Act shall prevent a
20 physical therapist from performing screening and educational
21 procedures within the scope of physical therapy practice without a
22 physician referral.
23 4. Nothing in the Physical Therapy Practice Act shall prevent a
24 physical therapist from performing services that are provided for
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1 the purpose of fitness, wellness, or prevention that is not related
2 to the treatment of an injury or ailment.
3 5. Nothing in the Physical Therapy Practice Act shall be
4 construed as authorization for a physical therapist or physical
5 therapist assistant to practice any branch of the healing art.
6 6. Any person violating the provisions of the Physical Therapy
7 Practice Act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor as per Section 887.16
8 of this title.
9 B. 1. The provisions of the Physical Therapy Practice Act are
10 not intended to limit the activities of persons legitimately engaged
11 in the nontherapeutic administration of baths, massage, and normal
12 exercise.
13 2. The Physical Therapy Practice Act shall not prohibit
14 students who are enrolled in schools of physical therapy approved by
15 the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision from performing
16 such work as is incidental to their course of study; nor shall it
17 prevent any student in any recognized school of the healing art in
18 carrying out prescribed courses of study, provided such school is a
19 recognized institution by the Oklahoma Statutes, and its
20 practitioners are duly licensed as prescribed by law.
21 3. Nothing in the Physical Therapy Practice Act shall apply to
22 any person employed by an agency, bureau, or division of the federal
23 government while in the discharge of official duties; however, if
24 such individual engages in the practice of physical therapy outside
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1 the line of official duty, the individual must be licensed as herein
2 provided.
3 SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2026.
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5 60-2-14206 TKR 01/14/26
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Req. No. 14206 Page 4Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.