Legislature(2003 - 2004)
05/05/2004 04:22 PM House FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 365(FIN) An Act relating to the regulation of speech-language pathologist assistants; and providing for an effective date. JANE ALBERTS, STAFF TO SENATOR BUNDE, introduced the bill. LAURA YOUNG CAMPBELL, SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST, MAT-SU SCHOOL DISTRICT, explained that the bill establishes the regulation of speech-language pathologist assistants. The speech-language assistants would enroll in a two-year program at Prince William Sound Community College, a distance-learning program taught by licensed speech-language pathologists. The students would also gain one hundred clinically supervised hours, to emerge from the program with an assistant's degree. This would affect assistants in all job settings, not just the schools. She explained that in the remote rural regions of the State, a speech pathologist is sometimes only available a few days a month, while having a properly trained assistant would allow the consumer on- going treatment. An assistant in the schools would handle clerical, non-student activities to allow the speech pathologist more time to work with students in smaller groups. Outside of the schools, the assistant would benefit the treatment of all ages of people with communication disorders. Co-Chair Harris asked if she supported Amendment #1. Ms. Young Campbell affirmed that the Alaska Speech Language Hearing Association supports it. Representative Chenault asked her level of education and if other degree programs would be available for an assistant to advance and replace her when she retires. Ms. Young Campbell explained that a Masters degree, national board certification, and an internship are required. Following the two-year program, a person could work toward a Bachelors or a Masters degree. Currently Alaska doesn't have a Bachelor's program, but a distance delivery Master's program is starting up. Co-Chair Harris MOVED to ADOPT Amendment #1. Co-Chair Williams OBJECTED for purposes of discussion. Amendment #1 reads: Delete all language on page 4, lines 25-27 [" (3) appears to the department to suffer from no mental illness or chemical or alcohol dependency that would interfere with the applicant's ability to perform safely as a speech-language pathologist assistant."] RICK URION, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING, DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT stated that the bill relates to a good program, but the Department found a problem area on page 4, lines 25-27. He felt that none of his dedicated employees is qualified to determine if someone is mentally ill or chemically dependent. Co-Chair Williams WITHDREW his OBJECTION. Amendment #1 was adopted. Representative Foster MOVED to report HCS CSSB 365(FIN) out of Committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. HCS CSSB 365(FIN) was REPORTED out of Committee with a "do pass" recommendation and one previously published fiscal impact note.
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