Revision: Dec. 14, 2015, midnight
\t \t\tHB 1246-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2016 SESSION
\t16-2170
\t10/09
HOUSE BILL\t1246-FN
AN ACT\trelative to speech-language assistants.
SPONSORS:\tRep. C. McGuire, Merr. 29; Rep. Kotowski, Merr. 24; Rep. Moffett, Merr. 9; Rep. Saunderson, Merr. 9; Sen. Reagan, Dist 17
COMMITTEE:\tExecutive Departments and Administration
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ANALYSIS
\tThis bill exempts certain persons employed as speech language assistants from requirements for certification by the governing board of speech language pathologists.
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Explanation:\tMatter added to current law appears in bold italics.
\t\tMatter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
\t\tMatter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
\t16-2170
\t10/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Sixteen
AN ACT\trelative to speech-language assistants.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
\t1 Speech Language Pathology; Assistants; Exemptions. Amend RSA 326-F:2 to read as follows:
\t326-F:2 Exemptions.
\t\tI. [This chapter and RSA 328-F shall not apply to] The following persons are exempt from the licensure and certification requirements of this chapter and RSA 328-F:
\t\t\t(a) Speech-language specialists who are certified under rules adopted by the board of education pursuant to RSA 21-N:9, II(s), unless they are also licensed under this chapter.
\t\t\t(b) [Speech-language assistants employed by all public schools and schools approved by the department of education.
\t\tII. This chapter and RSA 328-F shall not apply to] Speech-language pathology students or their activities as students fulfilling their academic or supervised clinical practicum experience requirements [when their activities are] under the direction and supervision of a speech-language pathologist licensed in this state, provided that the students are designated by a title which clearly indicates their status as students.
\t\t\t(c) Individuals employed at a public school or nonpublic school approved by the department of education who do not act independently but work under the direction and supervision of a speech-language pathologist licensed under this chapter or a speech language assistant certified under this chapter, and who are not required to be certified by the board as a speech language assistant pursuant to rules adopted under RSA 326-F:5, VI.
\t\tII. A person exempt from licensure or certification under this section shall not be exempt from the requirements of RSA 326-F:8.
\t2 New Paragraph; Speech Language Assistants; Identification. Amend RSA 326-F:8 by inserting after paragraph III the following new paragraph:
\t\tIV. No person shall represent himself or herself by using the letters "SLA'' or "SLPA," or the words "speech-language assistant'', "speech assistant,'' or "speech therapy assistant,'' unless the person is certified by the board pursuant to rules adopted under RSA 326-F:5, VI.
\t3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t16-2170
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t11/12/15
1246-FN - FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT\trelative to speech-language assistants.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of Education states this bill, as introduced, may have an indeterminable impact on state revenue and local expenditures in FY 2016 and each year thereafter. There will be no fiscal impact on county and local revenue or state and county expenditures.
METHODOLOGY:
The Department of Education states this bill requires individuals who are currently performing the work of speech language assistants, in public schools and schools not approved by the Department, who do not hold a license, to work under the supervision of either a board certified speech language pathologist or a speech language assistant. The Department states this bill could require some schools to either hire additional certified speech language pathologists or speech language assistants which may increase local expenditures. The Department states that if additional candidates pay licensure fees to become certified speech language assistants then licensure fee revenue could increase. The Department is unable to estimate how many schools this bill may impact or how many additional licenses may be acquired.
The Office of Professional Licensure and Certification states this bill clarifies licensure exemptions for individuals providing speech-language pathology services and those individual who are assisting them within a public school or nonpublic school approved by the Department of Education. The Office of Professional Licensure and Certification states this bill will have no fiscal impact.