1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to health-related licensing; clarifying athletic trainer scope of practice;
1.3 	amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 148.7802, by adding a subdivision; 
1.4 	148.7806; 148.7807; 148.7814; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 
1.5 	148.7802, subdivisions 4, 5.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 148.7802, is amended by adding a subdivision 
1.8 	to read:
1.9 		Subd. 6a.Athletic training. For the purpose of treating emergent, acute, and chronic 
1.10 	injuries and nonorthopedic conditions, "athletic training" means the following actions when 
1.11 	performed within the training and experience of the athletic trainer pursuant to section 
1.12 	148.7806, paragraph (c):
1.13 	(1) prevention and wellness promotion;
1.14 	(2) risk management;
1.15 	(3) immediate and emergency care;
1.16 	(4) examination, assessment, and diagnosis of a condition for which treatment is included 
1.17 	in the training and experience of the athletic trainer as required in section 148.7806, paragraph 
1.18 	(c);
1.19 	(5) therapeutic interventions, rehabilitation, and reconditioning;
1.20 	(6) clinical decision-making to determine if a consultation or referral is necessary;
1.21 	(7) health care administration; and
2.1 	(8) maintenance of professional responsibility.

2.2 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 148.7806, is amended to read:
2.3 	148.7806 ATHLETIC TRAINING.
2.4 	Athletic training by a licensed athletic trainer under section 148.7808 includes the 
2.5 	activities described in paragraphs (a) to (e).
2.6 	(a) An athletic trainer shall: perform athletic training, as defined in section 148.7802, 
2.7 	subdivision 6a, under the direction of, on the prescription of, or in collaboration with a 
2.8 	primary physician who is licensed in Minnesota to practice medicine, as defined in section 
2.9 	147.081, and whose license is in good standing.
2.10 	(1) prevent, recognize, and evaluate athletic injuries;
2.11 	(2) give emergency care and first aid;
2.12 	(3) manage and treat athletic injuries; and
2.13 	(4) rehabilitate and physically recondition athletic injuries.
2.14 	The (b) An athletic trainer may use modalities such as cold, heat, light, sound, electricity, 
2.15 	exercise, and mechanical devices must use therapeutic interventions within the training and 
2.16 	experience of the athletic trainer pursuant to paragraph (c) for treatment and rehabilitation 
2.17 	of athletic injuries to athletes in the primary employment site a patient.
2.18 	(b) (c) The primary physician shall establish evaluation and treatment protocols to be 
2.19 	used by the athletic trainer. The primary physician shall record the protocols on a form 
2.20 	prescribed by the board. The protocol form must be updated yearly at the athletic trainer's 
2.21 	license renewal time and kept on file by the athletic trainer.
2.22 	(c) (d) At the primary employment site, except in a corporate setting, an athletic trainer 
2.23 	may evaluate and treat an athlete for an athletic injury a patient not previously diagnosed 
2.24 	for not more than 30 days, or a period of time as designated by the primary physician on 
2.25 	the protocol form, from the date of the initial evaluation and treatment. Preventative care 
2.26 	after resolution of the injury is Prevention, wellness, education, exercise, and reconditioning 
2.27 	are not considered treatment. This paragraph does not apply to a person who is referred for 
2.28 	treatment by a person licensed in this state to practice medicine as defined in section 147.081,;
2.29 	to practice chiropractic as defined in section 148.01,; to practice physical therapy as defined 
2.30 	in section 148.65, except as provided under paragraph (f); to practice podiatry as defined 
2.31 	in section 153.01,; or to practice dentistry as defined in section 150A.05, and whose license 
2.32 	is in good standing.
3.1 	(d) (e) An athletic trainer may:
3.2 	(1) organize and administer an athletic training program, including, but not limited to,
3.3 	educating and counseling athletes patients;
3.4 	(2) monitor the signs, symptoms, general behavior, and general physical response of an 
3.5 	athlete a patient to treatment and rehabilitation, including, but not limited to, whether the 
3.6 	signs, symptoms, reactions, behavior, or general response show abnormal characteristics
3.7 	that require a change in the plan of care or a referral; and
3.8 	(3) make suggestions to the primary physician or other treating provider for a modification 
3.9 	in the treatment and rehabilitation of an injured athlete a patient based on the indicators in 
3.10 	clause (2).
3.11 	(e) (f) In a clinical, corporate, and physical therapy setting, when the service provided 
3.12 	is, or is represented as being, physical therapy, an athletic trainer may work only under the 
3.13 	direct supervision of a physical therapist as defined in section 148.65.

3.14 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 148.7807, is amended to read:
3.15 	148.7807 LIMITATIONS ON PRACTICE.
3.16 	(a) An athletic trainer must not practice or claim to practice medicine as defined in 
3.17 	section 147.081; acupuncture as defined in section 147B.01; chiropractic as defined in 
3.18 	section 148.01; physical therapy as defined in section 148.65, except as provided under 
3.19 	section 148.7806, paragraph (f); podiatry as defined in section 153.01; occupational therapy 
3.20 	as defined in section 148.6404; or any other licensed or registered health care profession, 
3.21 	unless the athletic trainer also holds the appropriate license or registration to practice that 
3.22 	profession.
3.23 	(b) If an athletic trainer determines that a patient's medical condition is beyond outside
3.24 	the scope of practice of that athletic trainer, the athletic trainer must refer the patient to a 
3.25 	person licensed in this state to practice medicine as defined in section 147.081,; to practice 
3.26 	chiropractic as defined in section 148.01,; to practice physical therapy as defined in section 
3.27 	148.65, except as provided under section 148.7806, paragraph (f); to practice podiatry as 
3.28 	defined in section 153.01,; or to practice dentistry as defined in section 150A.05, and whose 
3.29 	license is in good standing and in accordance with established evaluation and treatment 
3.30 	protocols. An athletic trainer shall modify or terminate treatment of a patient that is not 
3.31 	beneficial to the patient, or that is not tolerated by the patient.

4.1 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 148.7814, is amended to read:
4.2 	148.7814 APPLICABILITY.
4.3 	Sections 148.7801 to 148.7815 do not apply to persons who are certified as an athletic 
4.4 	trainers trainer who is in Minnesota temporarily with an individual or group that is 
4.5 	participating in a specific athletic event or series of athletic events if the athletic trainer is 
4.6 	licensed, certified, or registered by another state or county, or is certified as an athletic 
4.7 	trainer by the Board of Certification or the board's recognized successor and come into 
4.8 	Minnesota for a specific athletic event or series of athletic events with an individual or 
4.9 	group.

4.10 	Sec. 5. REPEALER.
 4.11 	Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 148.7802, subdivisions 4 and 5, are repealed.

APPENDIX 

Repealed Minnesota Statutes: 25-01796 

148.7802 DEFINITIONS.Subd. 4.Athlete. 
"Athlete" means a person participating in exercises, sports, games, or recreation requiring physical strength, agility, flexibility, range of motion, speed, or stamina. 

Subd. 5.Athletic injury. 
"Athletic injury" means an injury sustained by a person as a result of the person's participation in exercises, sports, games, or recreation requiring physical strength, agility, flexibility, range of motion, speed, or stamina.