(1) There is hereby established a Board of Physical Therapy which shall consist of seven (7) members who shall be appointed by the Governor as follows:
- (a) One (1) board member shall be a resident of Kentucky who is not affiliated with or does not have more than five percent (5%) financial interest in any health care profession or business; and
- (b) All other board members shall: 1. Be residents of Kentucky; 2. Have engaged in the practice of physical therapy in Kentucky for the past five (5) years; and 3. Not have been disciplined by the board, or have been under any disciplinary action, in the past five (5) years.
- (2) All vacancies shall be filled by the Governor from a list of at least three (3) persons submitted by the American Physical Therapy Association Kentucky Chapter or as provided by KRS 12.070.
- (3) Appointments to the board shall be for a term of four (4) years. All members shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualify. No member shall serve for more than two (2) consecutive terms.
- (4) The Governor may remove any member of the board for misconduct, incompetence, or neglect of duty.
- (5) The board may request the removal of a board member by the Governor.
- (6) The board shall annually elect a chair and chair-elect.
- (7) The board shall provide orientation to all new board members regarding the duties of the board.
- (8) The board may employ an executive director and other personnel and may purchase materials and supplies it deems necessary for the proper discharge of its duties.
- (9) There shall be no liability on the part of, and no action for damages against, any current or former board member, representative, agent, or employee of the board, when the person is functioning within the scope of board duties, acting without malice and with the reasonable belief that the actions taken by him or her are warranted by law.
- (10) The board may purchase professional liability insurance for its members, staff, investigators, general counsel, consultants, agents, and employees. The purchase of or failure to purchase insurance shall not be deemed a waiver of any immunity already conferred on the board, its members, staff, investigators, general counsel, consultants, agents, and employees.
- (11) Each board member shall receive, in addition to travel, lodging, and other actual and necessary expenses, a per diem not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for each day the member is actually engaged in the discharge of official duties approved by the board. The board shall, by promulgation of administrative regulations, set the amount of the per diem.
- (12) The board may utilize the Attorney General's pool of hearing officers in accordance with KRS 13B.030. However, if the Attorney General's office cannot provide a hearing officer, the board may employ or contract with a hearing officer of its choice.
- (13) With the approval of the board, the executive director may hire additional officers and other personnel necessary for the proper functioning of the board, fix their salaries, and prescribe their duties. Any person employed under this section shall not be subject to the provisions of KRS Chapter 18A.
Effective: July 15, 2026
History: Amended 2026 Ky. Acts ch. 36, sec. 5, effective July 15, 2026. -- Amended 2008 Ky. Acts ch. 54, sec. 2, effective July 15, 2008. -- Amended 2000 Ky. Acts ch. 313, sec. 3, effective July 14, 2000. -- Amended 1980 Ky. Acts ch. 53, sec. 3, effective July 15, 1980. -- Amended 1976 Ky. Acts ch. 206, sec. 23. -- Amended 1970 Ky. Acts ch. 115, sec. 3. -- Created 1958 Ky. Acts ch. 27, sec. 3, effective June 19, 1958.