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Bill

LC 3376

Authorize speech-language pathology aides and audiology aides

2025 Regular Session

Authorizes trained speech-language pathology and audiology aides to perform designated tasks under supervision, expanding access to services with a regulatory framework.

(LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
#professionsandoccupationsgenerally #rulemaking #schoolsandeducation
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Bill Summary · LC 3376

Summary of LC 3376 — Authorize Speech-Language Pathology Aides and Audiology Aides

Note: The full text of the bill is not provided here. The following summary reflects the bill’s stated purpose and the typical provisions such bills include. Details should be confirmed with the enacted text when available.

Overview

  • Bill number: LC 3376
  • Title: Authorize speech-language pathology aides and audiology aides
  • Subject: Professions and Occupations; Rule Making; Schools and Education
  • Introduced: December 14, 2024
  • Status: LC Draft delivered to requester; multiple drafts in February 2025 (final drafter review and assembly draft stages noted)
  • Purpose (as indicated by the title): Create authorization for aides to perform certain tasks in speech-language pathology (SLP) and audiology under supervision and subject to regulatory rules.

Purpose and Intent

  • Expand the workforce that supports SLPs and audiologists by permitting trained aides to perform designated tasks.
  • Improve efficiency and service delivery in settings such as schools and clinics, particularly where licensed professionals are in high demand.
  • Establish a regulatory framework to ensure safe and appropriate use of aides.

Key Provisions to Anticipate (to be confirmed in the full text)

  • Scope of Practice for Aides
    • Tasks that aides may perform under supervision (e.g., data collection, administrative support, clerical aspects of therapy, assisting with activities prescribed by the licensed clinician).
    • Prohibitions on tasks reserved for licensed professionals (e.g., formal diagnoses, development of treatment plans, autonomous clinical decision-making).
  • Supervision Requirements
    • Level and frequency of supervision by licensed SLPs or audiologists (e.g., direct or indirect supervision, caseload limits, required oversight activities).
  • Qualifications and Training
    • Required education, certificates, or credentialing for aides.
    • Training standards, competency verification, and ongoing education or CE requirements.
  • Settings and Deployment
    • Authorized practice environments (e.g., public and private schools, clinics, hospitals) and any setting-specific rules.
  • Documentation and Accountability
    • Documentation requirements (progress notes, treatment documentation) and recordkeeping.
    • Reporting obligations and oversight mechanisms for the supervising licensed professionals.
  • Regulatory Framework
    • Authority for rulemaking (likely reference to the relevant licensing board or state health/professions department).
    • Compliance, enforcement provisions, and penalties for violations.
  • Fiscal and Administrative Provisions
    • Potential funding mechanisms, program implementation costs, and any impact on reimbursement structures.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Licensed speech-language pathologists and audiologists who supervise aides.
  • Schools, clinics, hospitals, and other settings employing SLPs/audiologists.
  • Individuals receiving SLP or audiology services (via expanded access and potentially reduced wait times).
  • Educational and healthcare administrators responsible for staffing, compliance, and budgeting.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Draft activity indicates ongoing drafting and review in early 2025, with multiple draft statuses (e.g., input/proofing, legal review, Assembly draft).
  • Drafters assigned on December 14, 2024; on-hold status and subsequent drafting steps suggest continued refinement before formal introductions or committee consideration.

Potential Impacts to Watch

  • Access to SLP and audiology services, particularly in educational settings.
  • Administrative and training costs for districts and providers to implement the new aide roles.
  • Requirements on supervision could influence staffing models and appointment types.
  • Regulatory compliance burden for the licensing/credentialing bodies.

Next Steps for Readers

  • Obtain the full bill text to verify exact definitions, scope, and requirements.
  • Monitor committee hearings and amendments to track changes in supervision ratios, qualification standards, and permissible duties.
  • Assess fiscal notes or impact statements (if issued) for cost implications.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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