h_hie_2016a_2016-05-05t13:36:07z3 Hearing Summary

Date: 05/05/2016

05:09 PM -- SB 16-161



Representative Primavera, bill sponsor, presented Senate Bill 16-161. The reengrossed bill requires athletic trainers to be registered with the Division of Professions and Occupations (DPO) in the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), and reinstates the Athletic Trainer Practice Act as it existed prior to its 2015 repeal, by:

• specifying educational background, certifications, and examination requirements;
• providing DORA with the ability to set fees and schedule renewals of registrations;
• establishing the grounds for disciplinary proceedings and authorizing the DPO director to take disciplinary actions; and
• establishing a class 2 misdemeanor for conviction of the offense of practicing without an active registration, and a class 1 misdemeanor for a subsequent offense.

In addition, the bill makes some changes to the act, including recodification, terminology modifications, and the following substantive changes:

• adding title protection for the abbreviation A.T.C. (athletic trainer certified) to limit its use to registered athletic trainers;
• requiring evidence of current national certification at registration and, if required by the DPO director, at renewal; and
• adding as grounds for discipline the failure of an athletic trainer to practice pursuant to the direction of a Colorado-licensed or otherwise lawfully practicing health care professional and the failure to practice in a manner that meets generally accepted standards of athletic training practice.

Entities involved with youth sports teams are not required to employ an athletic trainer and school coaches are not required to be athletic trainers. The bill repeals on September 1, 2026, following a sunset review.



05:14 PM



Representative Primavera answered questions from the committee.



05:16 PM -- Jim Turk, University of Northern Colorado and the Colorado Athletic Trainer Association, testified in support of the bill.



05:19 PM -- Mark Peters, Colorado Athletic Trainer Association, testified in support of the bill. He provided a handout (Attachment G) to the committee. Mr. Peters answered questions from the committee.



160505 AttachG.pdf



05:26 PM



Mr. Turk answered questions from the committee.



05:28 PM -- Bridget Younger, Colorado Athletic Trainer Association and Children's Hospital Colorado, testified in support of the bill. She provided a handout to the committee (Attachment H). Ms. Younger answered questions from the committee.



160505 AttachH.pdf



05:33 PM



Representative Primavera made concluding remarks on the bill. Committee members made comments about the bill.

05:38 PM



The committee adjourned.