12-270-102. Legislative declaration

12-270-102. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that:

(a) Occupational therapy services are provided for the purpose of promoting health and wellness to those who have or are at risk for developing an illness, injury, disease, disorder, condition, impairment, disability, activity limitation, or participation restriction;

(b) Occupational therapy addresses the physical, cognitive, psychosocial, sensory, and other aspects of performance in a variety of contexts to support engagement in everyday life activities that affect health, well-being, and quality of life;

(c) Occupational therapy practice consists of client management, which includes occupational therapy diagnosis and prognosis to optimize occupational performance;

(d) Occupational therapy includes contributions to public health services that are intended to improve the health of the public;

(e) The professional scope of occupational therapy practice evolves in response to innovation, research, collaboration, and change in societal needs; and

(f) This article 270 is necessary to:

(I) Safeguard the public health, safety, and welfare; and

(II) Protect the public from incompetent, unethical, or unauthorized persons.

(2) The general assembly further determines that it is the purpose of this article 270 to regulate persons who are representing themselves as occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants and who are performing services that constitute occupational therapy.