Athletic Trainers - As enacted, authorizes athletic trainers to use dry needling to carry out the practice of prevention, recognition, evaluation, management, disposition, treatment, or rehabilitation of athletic injurie, the official text

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~tate of utennessee

                          PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 76

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 62

                                              By Representative Cepicky

                                        Substituted for: Senate Bill No. 224

                                              By Senators Taylor, Watson

          AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49 and Title 63, relative to athletic
trainers.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

          SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-24-101 (2), is amended by deleting
the subdivision and substituting:

                    (2) "Athletic trainer" means a person with specific qualifications as set forth in this
          chapter, who, upon the advice, consent, and oral or written prescription or referral of a
          physician licensed under this title, carries out the practice of prevention, recognition,
          evaluation, management, disposition, treatment, or rehabilitation of athletic injuries; and

          SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63, Chapter 24, is amended by adding
the following as a new section:

                    (a) An athletic trainer may use dry needling, as defined in § 63-13-103, and
          physical modalities, such as heat, light, sound, cold, electricity, or mechanical devices,
          for the prevention, recognition, evaluation, management, disposition, rehabilitation, and
          treatment of athletic injuries.

                    (b) An athletic trainer shall only practice in those areas in which an athletic trainer
          is competent by reason of training or experience that can be substantiated by records or
          other evidence found acceptable by the board in the exercise of the board's considered
          discretion.

                    (c) An athletic trainer shall obtain such training and certification in the practice of
          dry needling as the board may require by rule. The practice of dry needling by an athletic
          trainer under this chapter does not constitute the practice of acupuncture under chapter
          6, part 10 of this title.

                    (d) The board is authorized to promulgate rules to effectuate this section. The
          rules must be promulgated in accor{jance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures
          Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5.

          SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-24-111 (a), is amended by adding
the following as a new subdivision:

                     (7) Establish minimum competency requirements that an athletic trainer must
          demonstrate in order to practice dry needling;

          SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-24-111, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection (b) and redesignating the existing subsection (b) accordingly:

                     (b)

                               (1) The minimum competency requirements, as described in subdivision
                     (a)(7), must include:

                                         (A) At least fifty (50) hours of instruction, which must include each
                               of the following areas:
HB62
                                                  (i) Musculoskeletal and neuromuscular systems;
                                                  (ii) Anatomical basis of pain mechanisms, chronic pain,

                                        and referral pain;
                                                  (iii) Trigger points; and
                                                  (iv) Universal precaution; and

                                        (8) At least twenty-four (24) hours of dry needling specific
                              instruction, which must include each of the following areas:

                                                   (i) Dry needling technique;
                                                   (ii) Dry needling indications and contraindications;
                                                   (iii) Dry needling documentation;
                                                   (iv) Management of adverse effects;
                                                   (v) Practical psychomotor competency; and
                                                   (vi) Bloodborne pathogens protocol.
                               (2) The board shall approve the schools and organizations that provide
                    sufficient instruction to satisfy this subsection (b).
          SECTION 5. For the purpose of promulgating rules, this act takes effect upon becoming
a law, the public welfare requiring it. For all other purposes, this act takes effect September 1,
2025, the public welfare requiring it.

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                         - - - - HOUSE BILL NO. 62

PASSED:  March 17, 2025

                                 CAMElfflN SEXTON, SPEAKER
                                 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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                                 - - -· -           • i777T1'E  V     .......

                                 ' ~ - - RANDYM, _
                                      SPEAKER OF THE SENATE

:J.6f1:-. APPROVED this  day of  (V\o,v:ch                      2025

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BILL LEE, GOVERNOR