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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, Second Regular Session
speech-language pathologists; assistants
Purpose
Requires the Director of the Department of Health Services (DHS) to appoint an advisory committee to assist in examining applicants for a hearing aid dispenser's license and to assist the Director of DHS (Director) in disciplinary matters or any other duties. Modifies prescribed requirements for an audiologist license, a hearing aid dispenser license and a speech-language pathologist license.
Background
The
Bureau of Special Licensing under DHS issues more than 7,000 licenses for
speech and hearing professionals, midwives and group homes for individuals
living with developmental disabilities. Current statute requires the Director
to: 1) appoint an advisory committee to collaborate with and assist the director
with their duties; 2) inform the advisory committee regarding all disciplinary
actions; 3) supervise and administer qualifying examinations;
4) designate the time and place for holding examinations for a hearing aid
dispenser's license;
5) license people who meet the criteria for a hearing aids dispenser license,
an audiologist license, a speech-language pathologist license and a
speech-language pathologist assistant license; and
6) ensure the public's health and safety by adopting and enforcing qualification
standards for licensees and applicants for licensure (A.R.S.
§ 36-1902).
An audiologist is a person who engages in the practice of audiology, the nonmedical and nonsurgical application of principles, methods and procedures of measurement, testing, evaluation and prediction that are related to hearing, its disorders and related communication impairments for the purpose of nonmedical diagnosis, prevention, amelioration or modification of disorders and conditions. Similarly, speech-language pathology is the nonmedical and nonsurgical application of principles, methods and procedures of assessment, testing, evaluation and prediction related to speech and language and its disorders and related communication impairments for the nonmedical diagnosis, prevention, amelioration or modification of these disorders and conditions. A hearing aid dispenser means any person who engages in the practice of fitting and dispensing hearing aids (A.R.S. § 36-1901).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires the Director to appoint an advisory committee, rather than an examining committee, to assist in examining applicants for a hearing aid dispenser's license and to assist the Director in disciplinary matters or any other duties relating to hearing aid dispensers, audiologist and speech-language pathologists.
2. Removes the requirement that the Director informs the advisory committee regarding all disciplinary actions and eliminates the requirement that the advisory committee make recommendations to the Director on prescribed matters.
3. Modifies the advisory committee membership as follows:
a) permits the Director's designee to serve in place of the Director;
b) requires one of the two licensed speech-language pathologists to provide services in a school setting; and
c) adds two licensed speech-language pathology assistants.
4. Establishes that advisory committee member terms are two years.
5. Removes the requirement for a person who is licensed as a hearing aid dispenser in another state or who has a doctoral degree in audiology and who wishes to be licensed as an audiologist and a hearing aid dispenser to pass an ethics and jurisprudence examination for reciprocity in Arizona.
6. Requires DHS to create an awareness campaign for hearing aid dispensers and post prescribed educational materials on its website.
7. Eliminates the requirement that the Director notify a licensee's employer if there is disciplinary action initiated against the licensee.
8. Requires a person seeking an audiologist license or a hearing aid dispenser license to have a doctoral degree with an emphasis in audiology from an accredited program recognized by the Arizona Department of Education, rather than from a nationally or regionally accredited college in an accredited program consistent with the standards of Arizona's universities.
9. Removes the requirement for an applicant for an audiologist license or a hearing aid dispenser license to complete the prescribed examination within three years before the date of application for licensure.
10. Requires DHS to waive the education, clinical practicum and postgraduate professional experience requirements if an applicant meets certain criteria.
11. Requires DHS to waive the education, clinical rotation and audiology examination requirements if an applicant holds a certificate of clinical competence in audiology from a nationally recognized speech-language hearing association in the field for which the applicant is applying for licensure.
12. Allows a person seeking licensure as a speech-language pathology assistant to use a bachelor's degree as evidence they have completed an approved training program for speech-language pathology assistants.
13. Allows the Director to waive certain requirements for an applicant who holds certification as a speech-language pathology assistant from a nationally recognized speech-language hearing association approved by DHS in the field for which the applicant is applying for licensure.
14. Allows a licensed speech-language pathologist who supervises or directs the services provided by a speech-language pathology assistant to adjust the supervision requirements if the pathologist determines the assistant has met appropriate competencies and skill levels after the first 90 days of employment.
15. Establishes that advisory committee member terms are two years.
16. Repeals statute regarding bill of sale responsibilities for hearing aid dispensers and dispensing audiologists.
17. Repeals statute regarding corporations, partnerships, trusts, associations and similar organizations in relation to hearing aid dispensers, audiologists and speech-language pathologists.
18. Modifies the definition of direct supervision.
19. Makes technical and conforming changes.
20. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
HHS 1/30/20 DP 9-0-0-0
3rd Read 2/17/20 59-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 9, 2020
CRS/KS/kja