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An Act To Eliminate Dual Certification Requirements for Speech-language Pathologists
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §13011, sub-§11  is enacted to read:
 
11.  Certification of license holders as speech and language clinicians.     A person holding a valid license as a speech-language pathologist under Title 32, section 17301 meets the education and professional requirements established in rule adopted under subsection 1 for certification as a speech and language clinician. For the purposes of this subsection, "speech and language clinician" means an education specialist who provides speech and language assessments, speech and language services for students with disabilities and consultative assistance for the modification and adaptation of regular education programs based on speech and language development.
Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §17104, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §3 and affected by §5, is amended to read:
 
2. Individual holding valid and current certificate.   An individual who holds a valid and current credentialcertificate as a speech-languagespeech and language clinician or a hearing clinician, issued by the Department of Education, from providing services within a local educational agency or an individual employed as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist by the Federal Government, if the individual performs speech-language pathology or audiology services solely within the confines or under the jurisdiction of the organization by which that individual is employed. The individual may, without obtaining a license under this chapter, consult with or disseminate research findings and other scientific information to speech-language pathologists and audiologists outside the jurisdiction of the organization by which that individual is employed. The individual may also offer lectures to the public for a fee, monetary or other, without being licensed under this chapter. The individual may additionally elect to be subject to this chapter; or
Sec. 3. State Board of Education to revise rules. The State Board of Education shall revise rules adopted under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 13011 to be consistent with that section of this Act that enacts Title 20-A, section 13011, subsection 11. Revisions to Rule 05-071, Chapter 115: Certification, Authorization, and Approval of Education Personnel and any other rule revisions necessary to implement this Act are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A and must be in effect no later than December 1, 2011.
 
SUMMARY
This bill requires the State Board of Education to accept a speech-language pathologist licensed by the Board of Speech-language Pathology, Audiology and Hearing Aid Dealing and Fitting as meeting the education and professional requirements to work in schools as a speech and language clinician. It directs the State Board of Education to revise its rules establishing eligibility requirements for speech and language clinicians accordingly.