As Amended
SEC. 73-23-43. Powers and duties of department; register of physical therapists.
(1) The department shall have the following general powers and duties:
(a) To examine and determine the qualifications and fitness of applicants for licenses to practice physical therapy and licenses to act as physical therapist assistants in this state and prepare or approve and conduct all examinations of applicants for licensure;
(b) To issue, renew, deny, suspend or revoke licenses to practice physical therapy and licenses to act as physical therapist assistants in this state or otherwise discipline licensed physical therapists and physical therapist assistants;
(c) To investigate alleged or suspected violations of the provisions of this chapter or other laws of this state pertaining to physical therapy and any rules and regulations adopted by the board; for this purpose, any authorized agents of the department shall have the power and right to enter and make reasonable inspections of any place where physical therapy is practiced, and may inspect and/or copy any records pertaining to clients or the practice of physical therapy under this chapter;
(d) To establish reasonable fees for application for examination, certificates of licensure and renewal, and other services provided by the department, with the advice of the council;
(e) To adopt, amend or repeal any rules or regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter and the duties and responsibilities of the department, with the advice of the council and the approval of the board, in accordance with Section 25-43-1 et seq.;
(f) To hire appropriate support personnel to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
The powers and duties enumerated above are granted for the purpose of enabling the department to safeguard the public health, safety and welfare against unqualified or incompetent practitioners of physical therapy and persons acting as physical therapist assistants, and are to be liberally construed to accomplish this objective;
(2) The department shall maintain a register listing the name of every physical therapist and physical therapist assistant licensed to practice in this state, his last known place of business and last known place of residence, and the date and number of his license. The department shall, at least once a year, compile a list of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed to practice in this state and such a list shall be available to any person upon application to the department and the payment of such charges as may be fixed by it.
SOURCES: Laws, 1980, ch. 543, Sec. 7; reenacted, 1988, ch. 331, Sec. 7; 1989, ch. 528, Sec. 5; 1990, ch. 501, Sec. 5, eff from and after July 1, 1990.