SB 365-SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST ASSISTANTS    CHAIR CON BUNDE announced SB 365 to be up for consideration and said that it was introduced on the behalf of the Alaska Speech Pathologists. There is currently a shortage of speech and language pathologists in Alaska and this bill aims to give credentials and supervisory authority to speech and language pathologist assistants. The use of an assistant does not replace the work of a pathologist, but rather extends it. MS. LAURA YOUNG-CAMPBELL, Mat-Su Speech Pathologist, said she is also on the executive board of the Alaska Speech and Hearing Association and that there is a nationwide shortage of language and speech pathologists. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics, 34,000 additional language and speech pathologists will be needed nationwide to fill the demand between 2000 to 2010, a 39 percent increase. Alaska is experiencing a shortage in schools, private practice and hospitals and has been trying to deal with the shortage for years. The Alaska Speech and Hearing Association has been working with the University of Alaska and other organizations to bring up programs or develop training opportunities specific to our unique needs. The Prince William Sound Community College offers a Speech Pathology Assistant Program where students graduate with an associate degree, which includes appropriate course work specific to speech language pathology and practical experience in a variety of employment settings. One of the larger needs for speech and language pathologists is in schools. When a speech pathologist is absent or needs to attend a meeting, usually speech therapy is cancelled. Having an assistant would facilitate consistent and ongoing therapy treatment. Having an assistant would allow students to work in smaller groups and receive more individual instruction. In a majority of cases, with consistent and enhanced services, students will complete their goals in less time. SB 365 will allow speech pathology assistants to be recognized for their training while providing them with a scope of practice, which is under the supervision of a licensed or certified speech language pathologist. Due to the forecast of long-term shortages, I feel that SB 365 does support these services to all Alaskans. I urge you to pass this bill. CHAIR BUNDE asked if this bill runs counter to any federal requirements in the area of special education. MS. CAMPBELL replied no and that it would meet the professional standards in the No Child Left Behind Act. CHAIR BUNDE asked if the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) had taken a position on this bill. MS. CAMPBELL replied that ASHA drafted guidelines in March and 31 states currently recognize the use of support personnel. Twenty-two of those use registration and the others use licensure. CHAIR BUNDE indicated there were no further questions for her. MS. PATRICIA OLMSTEAD said she is a life-long Alaskan and returned in 1979 to practice as a certified speech language pathologist. She has been traveling mostly remote regions since that time, both in school district capacities and with the early intervention network. She is the official legislative counselor for the Alaska Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists Association, representing them at the American Speech Language Hearing Association where she was applauded when she announced these initiatives were taking place in Alaska. She said there is a tremendous shortage because there is more demand in schools, hospitals and private settings. She supported previous testimony on how use of assistants will help services to be extended. Practically speaking, she relies almost exclusively on third-party payment. She will be able to bill for an assistant if he or she is appropriately trained and certified by her. MS. DIXIE ALMS said she has been a public speech pathologist in Juneau for 29 years. She urged the committee's support of SB 365. She is currently split between Riverbend and Gastineau Elementary Schools. She has about 22 kids at Riverbend, but her caseload at Gastineau is 30 and climbing. She has formally written a complaint to both of her principals and the school district to document the challenges she is experiencing at Gastineau because she can't do her job. If she had a trained assistant, her kids would receive better and more competent and complete services than she can provide half-time. MS. NANCY LOVERING, President, Alaska Speech and Hearing Association, said she is also a licensed speech language pathologist in private practice in Anchorage for the past 14 years. She supported SB 365. Many of these assistants would receive their training from a program offered through Prince William Sound Community College and the University of Alaska Anchorage. She explained that the program includes courses such as Introduction to Communication Disorders, Voice and Diction, Communication Disorders for Adults and Children, Therapy Techniques, Early Childhood Communication Disorders and two 100- hour practicums - one being in a generalized special education arena and the other in specific speech and language services. DR. MARJORIE KASSIER, Director of Training, Center for Human Development, UAA, said this program was started by a request from the Alaska Speech Language and Hearing Association. All of the course work and training has been developed with the cooperation of speech language pathologists. Currently, about 60 students are working towards the assistant degree at the associate level. More than two-thirds of them are in small bush and rural hub communities. The program is distance delivered, which allows training for potential assistants all over the state. The Mental Health Trust Authority has provided substantial scholarships and grants have been received from the federal Department of Education and the Department of Labor. CHAIR BUNDE asked if a speech language pathologist assistant would be analogous to a teaching assistant at the elementary level of a public school. DR. KASSIER replied, "Absolutely. In fact, that's a very good way of describing what they would do...." CHAIR BUNDE also pointed out that becoming an assistant would lead the way to becoming a fully certified pathologist. DR. KASSIER agreed and said that although the program is only three years old, it already has 10 graduates. That doesn't sound like much, but most of the students already have full time jobs and families. They are extremely motivated and competent. This suggests to her that they may go on and get bachelor degrees. SENATOR SEEKINS moved to pass SB 365 and attached fiscal note with individual recommendations. Senators Bettye Davis, Ralph Seekins, Hollis French and Chair Con Bunde voted yea; and SB 365 moved from committee.