093_HB0278

 
                                     LRB093 04678 LCB 04734 b

 1        AN ACT concerning speech pathologists.

 2        Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
 3    represented in the General Assembly:

 4        Section  5.   The  Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and
 5    Audiology Practice Act is amended by changing Section 8.5  as
 6    follows:

 7        (225 ILCS 110/8.5)
 8        (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2008)
 9        Sec.    8.5.     Qualifications   for   licenses   as   a
10    speech-language pathology assistant.
11        (a)  A  person  is  qualified  to  be   licensed   as   a
12    speech-language   pathology  assistant  if  that  person  has
13    applied in writing on forms prescribed by the Department, has
14    paid the required fees,  and  meets  both  of  the  following
15    criteria:
16             (1)  Is  of  good  moral  character.  In determining
17        moral   character,   the   Department   may   take   into
18        consideration any felony conviction of the applicant, but
19        such a conviction shall not operate  automatically  as  a
20        complete bar to licensure.
21             (2)  Has   received   an  associate  degree  from  a
22        speech-language pathology assistant program that has been
23        approved by the Department and  that  meets  the  minimum
24        requirements set forth in Section 8.6.
25        (b)  Until January 1, 2004, a person holding a bachelor's
26    level  degree  in communication disorders who was employed to
27    assist a speech-language pathologist on the effective date of
28    this amendatory Act of the 92nd  General  Assembly  shall  be
29    eligible  to receive a license as a speech-language pathology
30    assistant  from  the  Department  upon  completion  of  forms
31    prescribed by the Department and the payment of the  required
 
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 1    fee.
 2        (c)  Until September 30, 2003, a person who has practiced
 3    for  a  minimum  of 5 years as a program assistant for speech
 4    and language in any public or private elementary or secondary
 5    school in Illinois shall be eligible to receive a license  as
 6    a  speech-language  pathology  assistant  from the Department
 7    upon completion of forms prescribed by the Department and the
 8    payment of the required fee.
 9    (Source: P.A. 92-510, eff. 6-1-02.)

10        Section 99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect  upon
11    becoming law.