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HR 387

SPEECH/PATH/AUDIO: Requests the Louisiana Board of Examiners for Speech-Language and Pathology and Audiology to study and report on current licensure and regulatory requirements for speech-language assistants in Louisiana

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Tehmi Chassion

Louisiana studies whether licensure rules for speech-language pathology assistants balance public safety with workforce access, especially in rural areas.

Taken by the Clerk of the House and presented to the Secretary of State in accordance with the Rules of the House.
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Bill Summary · HR 387

Legislative Summary: HR 387 (2026) – Louisiana

Purpose and intent

  • This House Resolution requests a formal study by the Louisiana Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (LBE-SLPA), in collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) and the Department of Education (DOE), with input from the Louisiana Speech-Language-Hearing Association (LSLHA).
  • The focus is to examine licensure and regulatory requirements for speech-language pathology assistants (SLPA) in Louisiana.
  • The goal is to evaluate whether current requirements adequately balance public protection with workforce accessibility, especially given shortages in speech-language pathology services in rural and underserved areas.

Key provisions and scope of the study

The resolution directs the study to cover, at minimum, the following areas:

  1. State licensure framework for SLPAs

    • Educational prerequisites (degrees, coursework)
    • Clinical practicum requirements and supervision
    • Licensure categories (including provisional licensure)
    • Continuing education and renewal standards

  2. Comparative analysis with other states

    • Clinical hour requirements
    • Supervision models
    • Alternative or expedited pathways into the workforce

  3. Professional and workforce outcomes

    • Workforce supply and demand trends
    • Access to services in rural and underserved areas
    • Retention and career advancement pathways
    • Impact of regulatory structures on service delivery capacity

  4. Regulatory burden

    • Identification of requirements that may unnecessarily limit entry or create barriers to licensure or practice

  5. Best practices and models

    • Evaluation of approaches that balance accessibility, professional rigor, and alignment with national standards

Recommended outcomes and potential actions

  • The report should include specific, actionable recommendations to:

    • Incentivize growth of the SLPA workforce
    • Reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens
    • Maintain or enhance professional quality, ethics, and patient outcomes
    • Improve Louisiana’s competitiveness in attracting and retaining qualified professionals
    • Propose statutory or regulatory changes, if warranted

  • The study should ensure proposed reforms do not dilute standards, preserve supervision and patient-safety safeguards, and reflect stakeholder consensus where feasible.

Procedural/timeline aspects

  • The Louisiana Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology must submit a written report of findings and recommendations to the House and Senate committees on health and welfare no later than February 1, 2027.
  • The resolution contemplates collaboration among state agencies and stakeholder groups, with liaison to the executive directors/secretaries of LDH and DOE, and with the LSLA.

Who/what is affected

  • Directly involves: Louisiana Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (regulatory body), LDH, DOE, and the Louisiana Speech-Language-Hearing Association (as a stakeholder group).
  • Indirectly impacts: current and prospective speech-language pathologists, speech-language pathology assistants (SLPAs) in Louisiana, educational institutions, health care providers delivering SLP services, and patients/clients (particularly in rural/underserved areas) who rely on SLPA-supported services.

Practical considerations

  • The bill does not change law itself but asks for a comprehensive study to inform potential future policy changes.
  • Final recommendations could lead to future statutory or regulatory amendments, should the legislature decide to pursue changes based on the study’s findings.

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

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