SB2395 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB093 19749 AMC 45490 b

93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2003 and 2004
SB2395

Introduced 2/3/2004, by M. Maggie Crotty

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/14-1.09b
105 ILCS 5/14-6.04
225 ILCS 110/8.1
225 ILCS 110/8.5

Amends the School Code. Provides that a speech-language pathologist who provides speech-language pathology services pursuant to a contract may hold a valid temporary license under the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act as an alternative to holding a speech-language pathology license. Adds a reference to the Section concerning obtaining a temporary license under the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act to provisions concerning speech-language pathologists. Amends the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act. Extends to July 1, 2005 the period until which a person holding a bachelor's level degree in communication disorders who was employed to assist a speech-language pathologist on a specified date shall be eligible to receive a license as a speech-language pathology assistant without meeting all of the regular licensure criteria. Provides that, on and after July 1, 2005 (rather than January 1, 2004), a person who intends to undertake supervised professional experience as a speech-language pathologist must first obtain a temporary license from the Department of Professional Regulation. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning professional regulation.

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

Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Sections 14-1.09b and 14-6.04 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/14-1.09b)

Sec. 14-1.09b. Speech-language pathologist.

(a) For purposes of supervision of a speech-language pathology assistant, "speech-language pathologist" means a person who has received a license pursuant to the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act to engage in the practice of speech-language pathology.

(b) The School Service Personnel Certificate with a speech-language endorsement shall be issued under Section 21-25 of this Code to a speech-language pathologist who meets all of the following requirements:

(1) Holds (A) a regular license as a speech-language pathologist pursuant to the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act, (B) a current Certificate of Clinical Competence in speech-language pathology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and a regular license in speech-language pathology from another state or territory or the District of Columbia and has applied for a regular license as a speech-language pathologist pursuant to the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act, or (C) a temporary license pursuant to Section 8.1 of the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act and has completed an approved program.

(2) Holds a master's or doctoral degree with a major emphasis in speech-language pathology from an institution whose course of study was approved or program was accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association or its predecessor.

(3) Either (i) has completed a program of study before July 1, 2002 that includes course work and supervised clinical experience sufficient in breadth and depth to demonstrate knowledge and skills related to the specific problems, methods and procedures applicable to students with disabilities in a school setting serving ages 3 through 21 or (ii) meets the content area standards for speech-language pathologists adopted by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teachers Certification Board.

(4) Has successfully completed the required Illinois certification tests.

(5) Has paid the application fee required for certification.

The provisions of this subsection (b) do not preclude the issuance of a teaching certificate to a speech-language pathologist who qualifies for such a certificate.

(Source: P.A. 92-510, eff. 6-1-02; 93-112, eff. 1-1-04.)

(105 ILCS 5/14-6.04)

Sec. 14-6.04. Contracting for speech-language pathology services.

(a) For purposes of this Section:

"Reasonable efforts" means performing all of the following:

(1) placing at least 3 employment advertisements for a speech-language pathologist published in the newspaper of widest distribution within the school district or cooperative;

(2) placing one employment listing in the placement bulletin of a college or university that has a speech-language pathology curriculum that is located in the geographic area of the school district or cooperative, if any; and

(3) posting the position for speech-language pathologist on the Illinois Association of School Administrators' job placement service for at least 30 days.

"Speech-language pathologist" means a person who:

(1) holds a master's or doctoral degree with a major emphasis in speech-language pathology from an institution whose course of study was approved or program was accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association or its predecessor; and

(2) either (i) has completed a program of study prior to July 1, 2002 that includes course work and supervised clinical experience sufficient in breadth and depth to demonstrate knowledge and skills related to the specific problems, methods, and procedures applicable to students with disabilities in a school setting serving ages 3 to 21 or (ii) meets the content-area standards for speech-language pathologists adopted by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.

"Speech-language pathology services" means the application of methods and procedures for identifying, measuring, testing, appraising, predicting, and modifying communication development and disorders or disabilities of speech, language, voice, swallowing, and other speech, language, and voice-related disorders for the purpose of counseling, consulting, and rendering services or participating in the planning, directing, or conducting of programs that are designed to modify communicative disorders and conditions in individuals or groups of individuals involving speech, language, voice, and swallowing functions.

(b) A school district or a cooperative must make reasonable efforts to employ a speech-language pathologist. While making those reasonable efforts or after unsuccessful reasonable efforts have been made, or both, a school district or cooperative may contract for speech-language pathology services with a speech-language pathologist or an entity that employs speech-language pathologists. A speech-language pathologist who provides speech-language pathology services pursuant to a contract must hold:

(1) a speech-language pathology license under the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act or a valid temporary license issued under Section 8.1 of that Act; and

(2) a certificate under this Code with an endorsement in speech-language pathology.

(Source: P.A. 93-110, eff. 7-8-03.)

Section 10. The Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act is amended by changing Sections 8.1 and 8.5 as follows:

(225 ILCS 110/8.1)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2008)

Sec. 8.1. Temporary license. On and after July 1, 2005 January 1, 2004, a person who has met the requirements of items (a) through (e) of Section 8 and intends to undertake supervised professional experience as a speech-language pathologist, as required by subsection (f) of Section 8 and the rules adopted by the Department, must first obtain a temporary license from the Department. A temporary license may be issued by the Department only to an applicant pursuing licensure as a speech-language pathologist in this State. A temporary license shall be issued to an applicant upon receipt of the required fee as set forth by rule and documentation on forms prescribed by the Department demonstrating that a licensed speech-language pathologist has agreed to supervise the professional experience of the applicant. A temporary license shall be issued for a period of 12 months and may be renewed only once for good cause shown.

(Source: P.A. 93-112, eff. 1-1-04.)

(225 ILCS 110/8.5)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2008)

Sec. 8.5. Qualifications for licenses as a speech-language pathology assistant.

(a) A person is qualified to be licensed as a speech-language pathology assistant if that person has applied in writing on forms prescribed by the Department, has paid the required fees, and meets both of the following criteria:

(1) Is of good moral character. In determining moral character, the Department may take into consideration any felony conviction of the applicant, but such a conviction shall not operate automatically as a complete bar to licensure.

(2) Has received an associate degree from a speech-language pathology assistant program that has been approved by the Department and that meets the minimum requirements set forth in Section 8.6.

(b) Until January 1, 2005 2004, a person holding a bachelor's level degree in communication disorders who was employed to assist a speech-language pathologist on June 1, 2002 (the effective date of P.A. 92-510) the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly shall be eligible to receive a license as a speech-language pathology assistant from the Department upon completion of forms prescribed by the Department and the payment of the required fee.

(Source: P.A. 92-510, eff. 6-1-02.)

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