House perfects compact to allow multi‑state practice for athletic trainers; some members warn about interstate rulemaking
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
House perfected House Bill 18‑44 to join an interstate athletic‑trainer compact. Supporters said the compact increases mobility and access to care; at least one member expressed concern about ceding rulemaking to an interstate commission and possible assessments on member states.
On Feb. 18 the House perfected House Bill 18‑44, a measure to adopt an interstate compact enabling athletic trainers licensed in a participating state to practice in other member states without separate licensing.
The lady from Cass, sponsor, said the compact complements existing Missouri health compacts and reduces barriers for licensed professionals while retaining Missouri law for in‑state practice. She said participating practitioners must hold appropriate certification and pass background checks.
Supporters — including licensed athletic trainers in the chamber — argued the compact improves access to care and workforce mobility, particularly for military families and professionals who move across state lines. One member, however, voiced concerns about interstate compacts generally: Representative 13 warned that compact commissions can develop rules that "have the force of law" in member states and that centralized databases, biometric record sharing and potential annual assessments for member states create privacy and fiscal questions not fully scoped in the bill.
The House adopted the title and perfected the bill for printing.
What's next: HB 18‑44 has been perfected and printed; if passed it would require at least seven states to enact similar language for the compact to form and for the commission and shared systems to become operational.