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Bill Summary · SB 1075

Summary — SB 1075 (2025): Audiologists & Speech‑Language Pathologists Compact (Arizona)

Status: Chaptered as Chapter 179. Introduced Feb 4, 2025; passed by legislature and signed by the Governor (signed May 13, 2025).

Purpose

SB 1075 creates an interstate compact to facilitate multistate practice by audiologists and speech‑language pathologists. The compact seeks to improve public access to services (including via telehealth), encourage cooperation among states in regulation and discipline, and support relocating military spouses. The compact preserves each state’s authority to regulate practice and protects public health and safety.

Key provisions

  • Adds Article 4.1 (Audiology and Speech‑Language Pathology Compact) to Title 36, Chapter 17, Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS 36‑1940.11).
  • Establishes the compact’s purposes and detailed definitions (home/remote state, compact privilege, encumbered license, data system, telehealth, etc.).
  • Mutual recognition: a license issued by a practitioner’s home (member) state may authorize that practitioner to practice in other member states via a “compact privilege” (practice is considered to occur in the state where the patient/client/student is located at the time of the encounter).
  • Requires member states to implement criminal background check procedures (including submission of fingerprints/biometrics to obtain FBI and state criminal history) for applicants seeking initial compact privileges.
  • Establishes a national compact administrative body (the Commission) to administer the compact, promulgate rules, operate a shared data system for licensure, continuing education, investigative and disciplinary information, and elect an executive committee.
  • Explicitly allows remote states to hold practitioners with a compact privilege accountable to that state’s practice standards.
  • Recognizes telehealth as a means to deliver audiology and speech‑language pathology services across state lines.
  • Amends existing Arizona licensing statutes (ARS 36‑1940 and 36‑1940.01) to require applicants who wish to obtain compact privileges to obtain a fingerprint clearance card pursuant to ARS §41‑1758.07. Also amends related Title 41 provisions concerning fingerprinting and criminal background checks.

Who is affected

  • Audiologists and speech‑language pathologists licensed in Arizona who seek to practice in other compact member states (and practitioners from other member states providing services to Arizona residents).
  • Arizona Department of Health and licensing boards (implementation, data reporting, disciplinary coordination).
  • Patients, schools and employers who may gain increased access to cross‑jurisdictional providers.
  • Military families and relocating spouses (facilitated mobility).

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Introduced in the Arizona Senate (Feb 4, 2025), moved through committee and floor actions, passed and transmitted to the Governor in May 2025, and chaptered as CH 179 after the Governor’s signature (May 13, 2025).
  • The enacted law amends ARS chapters noted above and requires administrative steps (rulemaking, Commission participation, data system implementation) before full operationalization.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Likely to increase access to audiology and speech‑language pathology services (notably via telehealth) for Arizona residents.
  • Imposes new procedural requirements on licensees pursuing compact privileges (fingerprint‑based background checks).
  • Requires state administrative resources to implement reporting, data sharing and to participate in the national Commission; potential costs and rulemaking obligations for licensing boards.
  • Preserves state authority over discipline and scope of practice while enabling interstate regulatory cooperation.

Note: the document package provided also included unrelated drafting text referencing an Illinois bill; the summary above reflects SB 1075 as enacted in Arizona (Chapter 179) establishing the Audiology and Speech‑Language Pathology Compact.

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

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