04/11/2000 01:55 PM Senate L&C

            HB 105-LICENSING SPEECH PATHOLOGY/AUDIOLOGY                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MS. PATTI  SWENSON, staff  to Representative  Con Bunde, stated  the                                                            
purpose  of CSHB 105(FIN)  is to  improve the  standards for  speech                                                            
pathologists within the  State.  Speech pathologists are required to                                                            
take  a  national  exam  and follow  national  clinical   competency                                                            
guidelines.   CSHB 105)FIN) is supported  at the State and  national                                                            
levels.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN MACKIE stated  a proposed Senate Labor & Commerce committee                                                            
substitute  (CS) has  been  drafted.   Some small  school  districts                                                            
expressed  concern that, because  of their  size, they must  rely on                                                            
contract services  to provide speech  pathology services.   They are                                                            
concerned  that  CSHB 105(FIN)  will  directly  increase  costs  and                                                            
further  restrict the  supply of  professionals  available to  serve                                                            
their needs.  The proposed  CS will exempt school district employees                                                            
and  contractors  who practice  speech  language  pathology  in  the                                                            
district from the new licensing  requirements (in Section 16 on page                                                            
8).  The qualification  standards for these individuals  will remain                                                            
under  the jurisdiction  of the  Department of  Education and  Early                                                            
Development (DOEED).                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MS. SWENSON stated Representative Bunde supports the CS.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  DONLEY  moved  to adopt  SCS  CSHB  105(L&C)  (Version  M).                                                            
Without objection, the motion carried.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR LEMAN asked if any changes would be made to the boards.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MS. SWENSON stated the  fiscal note combines fees from the 25 speech                                                            
language  pathologists  and 45 audiologists  to bring  the price  of                                                            
licensing down and they  will all be working under the same group of                                                            
people.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR LEMAN  asked if a  speech pathologist  will be added  to the                                                            
board.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MS. SWENSON answered "No."                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Catherine  Reardon,   Director  of  the  Division  of  Occupational                                                             
Licensing, Department of  Community and Economic Development, stated                                                            
support for the bill.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR LEMAN  moved SCS CSHB 105 (L&C) (Version M)  with individual                                                            
recommendations  and accompanying fiscal notes.  Without  objection,                                                            
the motion carried.