Introduced

Passed House

Passed Senate

Became law

Adjourned sine die. The bill was pending when the session ended, so it did not pass.

Last action · March 3, 2026

To Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations (H)

Introduced February 24, 2026

House

Adjourned Sine Die

2026 Regular Session

HB709

AN ACT relating to respiratory care.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 314A to allow an advanced practice respiratory therapist employed by a health facility to declare a patient death and sign the provisional report of death; repeal and reenact KRS 314A.010, 314A.110, and 314A.220 to define terms; create a new license category for advanced practice respiratory therapists; deem the practice credential a license instead of a mandatory certificate; replace the term "respiratory care practitioner" with "respiratory therapist" or "advanced…

Boards and Commissions Deaths Drugs and Medicines Health and Medical Services Health Care Professionals Hospitals And Health Facilities Licensing Occupations and Professions Physicians

Read the full text Kentucky Legislature LegiScan

AI-generated. Always verify with primary sources

Plain-language summary

Beta

This bill updates Kentucky law governing respiratory therapists by creating a new advanced practice respiratory therapist license category with expanded duties, including the ability to prescribe certain medications and declare patient deaths when working in a health facility. It also updates licensing, training, and reinstatement requirements for all respiratory therapists, and increases oversight powers for the Kentucky Board of Respiratory Care, including the ability to impose fines of up to $5,000 per violation. Who it may affect: respiratory therapists and respiratory therapy students working in Kentucky, patients receiving respiratory care, and health facilities that employ these professionals.

Open official bill text (PDF)·Report a problem with the summary