Senate bill NO. 300

INTRODUCED BY E. McClafferty, D. Salomon, R. Lynch, W. Curdy, M. Dunwell, J. Ellis, D. Hayman, K. Kelker, C. Pope, S. Webber, F. Anderson, E. Boldman, S. Morigeau, J. Gross, P. Flowers, M. Fox, S. O'Brien, J. Lynch

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT REVISING LAWS RELATED TO SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS AND AUDIOLOGISTS; REVISING QUALIFICATIONS FOR LICENSURE AS A SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY ASSISTANT OR AUDIOLOGY ASSISTANT; AMENDING SECTION 37-15-303, MCA; AND PROVIDING A DELAYED EFFECTIVE DATE.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

Section 1. Section 37-15-303, MCA, is amended to read:

"37-15-303. Qualifications. (1) To be eligible for licensing by the board as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist, the applicant:

(a)        must meet the current academic, supervised clinical practicum, and supervised professional experience requirements as defined by board rule; and

(b)        shall pass an examination approved by the board.

(2)        (a) To be eligible for licensing by the board as a speech-language pathology assistant or an audiology assistant, the applicant:

(i)         must meet have completed the current academic, supervised clinical practicum, and supervised professional experience requirement, as each is requirements as defined by board rule, and pass the examination approved by the board; or

(ii)         shall provide evidence to the board that the applicant:

(A)  served as an unlicensed speech-language pathology assistant or an unlicensed audiology assistant sufficient to meet current academic, supervised clinical practicum, and supervised professional experience similar to those defined under the requirements in subsection (2)(a)(i) for a period prior to October 1, 2021; and for a period prior to January 1, 2024.

(B) passed the examination approved by the board.

(b)        The board shall provide by rule the type of evidence and conditions, plus the length of the period required under subsection (2)(a)(ii), to meet equivalency for current academic, supervised clinical practicum, and supervised professional experience prior to October 1, 2021.

(3) The board shall determine the subject and scope of any examination.

(4)(3)     The standards defined by the board must be equal to or greater than the standards generally accepted as the national norm."

Section 2. Effective date. [This act] is effective January 1, 2024.