Enrolled SB 75
LAWS OF ALASKA
2024
Source Chapter No.
CSSB 75(FIN) _______
AN ACT
Relating to an audiology and speech-language interstate compact; relating to the practice of
audiology and the practice of speech-language pathology; and providing for an effective date.
_______________
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
THE ACT FOLLOWS ON PAGE 1
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AN ACT
Relating to an audiology and speech-language interstate compact; relating to the practice of 1
audiology and the practice of speech-language pathology; and providing for an effective date. 2
_______________ 3
* Section 1. AS 08.11.010 is amended to read: 4
Sec. 08.11.010. Qualifications for audiologist license. The department shall 5
issue a license to practice audiology to an individual who 6
(1) is 18 years of age or older; 7
(2) applies on a form provided by the department; 8
(3) pays the fee required under AS 08.11.050; 9
(4) furnishes evidence satisfactory to the department that the person 10
(A) has not engaged in conduct that is a ground for imposing 11
disciplinary sanctions under AS 08.11.080; 12
(B) holds a master's degree or doctorate in audiology from an 13
accredited educational institution approved by the department; and either has 14
(i) a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology 15
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from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association or the 1
equivalent of the certificate; or 2
(ii) practiced audiology for two years as of January 1, 3
1986, or is in the process of completing the year of supervised clinical 4
experience required for the Certificate of Clinical Competence of the 5
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association; and 6
(5) has been fingerprinted and has provided the fees required by 7
the Department of Public Safety under AS 12.62.160 for criminal justice 8
information and a national criminal history record check; the fingerprints and 9
fees shall be forwarded to the Department of Public Safety to obtain a report of 10
criminal justice information under AS 12.62 and a national criminal history 11
record check under AS 12.62.400. 12
* Sec. 2. AS 08.11.015 is amended to read: 13
Sec. 08.11.015. Qualifications for speech-language pathologist license. The 14
department shall issue a license to practice speech-language pathology to an individual 15
who 16
(1) is 18 years of age or older; 17
(2) applies on a form provided by the department; 18
(3) pays the fee required under AS 08.11.050; 19
(4) has not engaged in conduct that is a ground for imposing 20
disciplinary sanctions under AS 08.11.085; [AND] 21
(5) furnishes evidence satisfactory to the department that the person 22
holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence in speech-language pathology from the 23
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association or the equivalent of the certificate; 24
and 25
(6) has been fingerprinted and has provided the fees required by 26
the Department of Public Safety under AS 12.62.160 for criminal justice 27
information and a national criminal history record check; the fingerprints and 28
fees shall be forwarded to the Department of Public Safety to obtain a report of 29
criminal justice information under AS 12.62 and a national criminal history 30
record check under AS 12.62.400. 31
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* Sec. 3. AS 08.11 is amended by adding a new section to read: 1
Sec. 08.11.017. Exemption from criminal justice information and criminal 2
history record check. An audiologist or speech-language pathologist holding a valid 3
license under this chapter on July 1, 2024, is exempt from the requirements of 4
AS 08.11.010(5) and 08.11.015(6), but is otherwise subject to this chapter. 5
* Sec. 4. AS 08.11.050 is amended to read: 6
Sec. 08.11.050. Fees. The department shall set fees under AS 08.01.065 for 7
each of the following: 8
(1) application; 9
(2) credential review; 10
(3) audiologist license and speech-language pathologist license; 11
(4) temporary license; 12
(5) renewal of license; 13
(6) delinquency; 14
(7) reinstatement; 15
(8) duplicate license; 16
(9) speech-language pathologist assistant registration application and 17
renewal; 18
(10) compact privilege. 19
* Sec. 5. AS 08.11.100 is amended to read: 20
Sec. 08.11.100. Prohibited acts. (a) Unless a person is licensed or granted a 21
compact privilege as an audiologist under this chapter, the person may not 22
(1) practice audiology; 23
(2) use a title indicating or representing that the person practices as an 24
audiologist; 25
(3) advertise that the person practices audiology. 26
(b) Unless a person is licensed or granted a compact privilege as a speech-27
language pathologist under this chapter, the person may not 28
(1) practice speech-language pathology; 29
(2) use a title indicating or representing that the person practices as a 30
speech-language pathologist; 31
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(3) advertise that the person practices speech-language pathology. 1
* Sec. 6. AS 08.11 is amended by adding a new section to read: 2
Article 2. Audiology and Speech-Language Interstate Compact. 3
Sec. 08.11.300. Audiology and speech-language interstate compact 4
enacted. The Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development 5
shall implement the audiology and speech-language interstate compact enacted under 6
this section. 7
SECTION 1. PURPOSE 8
The purpose of this Compact is to facilitate interstate practice of audiology and 9
speech-language pathology with the goal of improving public access to audiology and 10
speech-language pathology services. The practice of audiology and speech-language 11
pathology occurs in the state where the patient/client/student is located at the time of 12
the patient/client/student encounter. The Compact preserves the regulatory authority of 13
states to protect public health and safety through the current system of state licensure. 14
This Compact is designed to achieve the following objectives: 15
(1) Increase public access to audiology and speech-language pathology 16
services by providing for the mutual recognition of other member state licenses; 17
(2) Enhance the states' ability to protect the public's health and safety; 18
(3) Encourage the cooperation of member states in regulating 19
multistate audiology and speech-language pathology practice; 20
(4) Support spouses of relocating active duty military personnel; 21
(5) Enhance the exchange of licensure, investigative and disciplinary 22
information between member states; 23
(6) Allow a remote state to hold a provider of services with a compact 24
privilege in that state accountable to that state's practice standards; and 25
(7) Allow for the use of telehealth technology to facilitate increased 26
access to audiology and speech-language pathology services. 27
SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS 28
As used in this Compact, and except as otherwise provided, the following 29
definitions shall apply: 30
(1) "Active duty military" means full-time duty status in the active
31
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uniformed service of the United States, including members of the National Guard and 1
Reserve on active duty orders pursuant to 10 U.S.C. Chapter 1209 and 1211. 2
(2) "Adverse action" means any administrative, civil, equitable or 3
criminal action permitted by a state's laws which is imposed by a licensing board or 4
other authority against an audiologist or speech-language pathologist, including 5
actions against an individual's license or privilege to practice such as revocation, 6
suspension, probation, monitoring of the licensee, or restriction on the licensee's 7
practice. 8
(3) "Alternative program" means a non-disciplinary monitoring 9
process approved by an audiology or speech-language pathology licensing board to 10
address impaired practitioners. 11
(4) "Audiologist" means an individual who is licensed by a state to 12
practice audiology. 13
(5) "Audiology" means the care and services provided by a licensed 14
audiologist as set forth in the member state's statutes and rules. 15
(6) "Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Compact 16
Commission" or "Commission" means the national administrative body whose 17
membership consists of all states that have enacted the Compact. 18
(7) "Audiology and speech-language pathology licensing board," 19
"audiology licensing board," "speech-language pathology licensing board," or 20
"licensing board" means the agency of a state that is responsible for the licensing and 21
regulation of audiologists and/or speech-language pathologists. 22
(8) "Compact privilege" means the authorization granted by a remote 23
state to allow a licensee from another member state to practice as an audiologist or 24
speech-language pathologist in the remote state under its laws and rules. The practice 25
of audiology or speech-language pathology occurs in the member state where the 26
patient/client/student is located at the time of the patient/client/student encounter. 27
(9) "Current significant investigative information" means investigative 28
information that a licensing board, after an inquiry or investigation that includes 29
notification and an opportunity for the audiologist or speech-language pathologist to 30
respond, if required by state law, has reason to believe is not
groundless and, if proved 31
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true, would indicate more than a minor infraction. 1
(10) "Data system" means a repository of information about licensees, 2
including, but not limited to, continuing education, examination, licensure, 3
investigative, compact privilege and adverse action. 4
(11) "Encumbered license" means a license in which an adverse action 5
restricts the practice of audiology or speech-language pathology by the licensee and 6
said adverse action has been reported to the National Practitioners Data Bank (NPDB). 7
(12) "Executive Committee" means a group of directors elected or 8
appointed to act on behalf of, and within the powers granted to them by, the 9
Commission. 10
(13) "Home state" means the member state that is the licensee's 11
primary state of residence. 12
(14) "Impaired practitioner" means individuals whose professional 13
practice is adversely affected by substance abuse, addiction, or other health-related 14
conditions. 15
(15) "Licensee" means an individual who currently holds an 16
authorization from the state licensing board to practice as an audiologist or speech-17
language pathologist. 18
(16) "Member state" means a state that has enacted the Compact. 19
(17) "Privilege to practice" means a legal authorization permitting the 20
practice of audiology or speech-language pathology in a remote state. 21
(18) "Remote state" means a member state other than the home state 22
where a licensee is exercising or seeking to exercise the compact privilege. 23
(19) "Rule" means a regulation, principle or directive promulgated by 24
the Commission that has the force of law. 25
(20) "Single-state license" means an audiology or speech-language 26
pathology license issued by a member state that authorizes practice only within the 27
issuing state and does not include a privilege to practice in any other member state. 28
(21) "Speech-language pathologist" means an individual who is 29
licensed by a state to practice speech-language pathology. 30
(22) "Speech-language pathology" means the care and services 31
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provided by a licensed speech-language pathologist as set forth in the member state's 1
statutes and rules. 2
(23) "State" means any state, commonwealth, district or territory of the 3
United States of America that regulates the practice of audiology and speech-language 4
pathology. 5
(24) "State practice laws" means a member state's laws, rules and 6
regulations that govern the practice of audiology or speech-language pathology, define 7
the scope of audiology or speech-language pathology practice, and create the methods 8
and grounds for imposing discipline. 9
(25) "Telehealth" means the application of telecommunication 10
technology to deliver audiology or speech-language pathology services at a distance 11
for assessment, intervention and/or consultation. 12
SECTION 3. STATE PARTICIPATION IN THE COMPACT 13
(a) A license issued to an audiologist or speech-language pathologist by a 14
home state to a resident in that state shall be recognized by each member state as 15
authorizing an audiologist or speech-language pathologist to practice audiology or 16
speech-language pathology, under a privilege to practice, in each member state. 17
(b) A state must implement or utilize procedures for considering the criminal 18
history records of applicants for initial privilege to practice. These procedures shall 19
include the submission of fingerprints or other biometric-based information by 20
applicants for the purpose of obtaining an applicant's criminal history record 21
information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the agency responsible for 22
retaining that state's criminal records. 23
(1) A member state must fully implement a criminal background check 24
requirement, within a time frame established by rule, by receiving the results of the 25
Federal Bureau of Investigation record search on criminal background checks and use 26
the results in making licensure decisions. 27
(2) Communication between a member state, the Commission and 28
among member states regarding the verification of eligibility for licensure through the 29
Compact shall not include any information received from the Federal Bureau of 30
Investigation relating to a federal criminal records check performed by a member state 31
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under Public Law 92-544. 1
(c) Upon application for a privilege to practice, the licensing board in the 2
issuing remote state shall ascertain, through the data system, whether the applicant has 3
ever held, or is the holder of, a license issued by any other state, whether there are any 4
encumbrances on any license or privilege to practice held by the applicant, whether 5
any adverse action has been taken against any license or privilege to practice held by 6
the applicant. 7
(d) Each member state shall require an applicant to obtain or retain a license in 8
the home state and meet the home state's qualifications for licensure or renewal of 9
licensure, as well as, all other applicable state laws. 10
(e) For an audiologist: 11
(1) Must meet one of the following educational requirements: 12
(A) On or before, Dec. 31, 2007, has graduated with a master's 13
degree or doctorate in audiology, or equivalent degree regardless of degree 14
name, from a program that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized 15
by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, or its successor, or by the 16
United States Department of Education and operated by a college or university 17
accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization recognized by the 18
board; or 19
(B) On or after, Jan. 1, 2008, has graduated with a Doctoral 20
degree in audiology, or equivalent degree, regardless of degree name, from a 21
program that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the Council 22
for Higher Education Accreditation, or its successor, or by the United States 23
Department of Education and operated by a college or university accredited by 24
a regional or national accrediting organization recognized by the board; or 25
(C) Has graduated from an audiology program that is housed in 26
an institution of higher education outside of the United States 27
(i) for which the program and institution have been 28
approved by the authorized accrediting body in the applicable country; 29
and 30
(ii) the degree program has been verified by an 31
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independent credentials review agency to be comparable to a state 1
licensing board-approved program. 2
(2) Has completed a supervised clinical practicum experience from an 3
accredited educational institution or its cooperating programs as required by the 4
Commission; 5
(3) Has successfully passed a national examination approved by the 6
Commission; 7
(4) Holds an active, unencumbered license; 8
(5) Has not been convicted or found guilty, and has not entered into an 9
agreed disposition, of a felony related to the practice of audiology, under applicable 10
state or federal criminal law; 11
(6) Has a valid United States Social Security or National Practitioner 12
Identification number. 13
(f) For a speech-language pathologist: 14
(1) Must meet one of the following educational requirements: 15
(A) Has graduated with a master's degree from a speech-16
language pathology program that is accredited by an organization recognized 17
by the United States Department of Education and operated by a college or 18
university accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization 19
recognized by the board; or 20
(B) Has graduated from a speech-language pathology program 21
that is housed in an institution of higher education outside of the United States 22
(a) for which the program and institution have been approved by the authorized 23
accrediting body in the applicable country and (b) the degree program has been 24
verified by an independent credentials review agency to be comparable to a 25
state licensing board-approved program. 26
(2) Has completed a supervised clinical practicum experience from an 27
educational institution or its cooperating programs as required by the Commission; 28
(3) Has completed a supervised postgraduate professional experience 29
as required by the Commission; 30
(4) Has successfully passed a national examination approved by the 31
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Commission; 1
(5) Holds an active, unencumbered license; 2
(6) Has not been convicted or found guilty, and has not entered into an 3
agreed disposition, of a felony related to the practice of speech-language pathology, 4
under applicable state or federal criminal law; 5
(7) Has a valid United States Social Security or National Practitioner 6
Identification number. 7
(g) The privilege to practice is derived from the home state license. 8
(h) An audiologist or speech-language pathologist practicing in a member 9
state must comply with the state practice laws of the state in which the client is located 10
at the time service is provided. The practice of audiology and speech-language 11
pathology shall include all audiology and speech-language pathology practice as 12
defined by the state practice laws of the member state in which the client is located. 13
The practice of audiology and speech-language pathology in a member state under a 14
privilege to practice shall subject an audiologist or speech-language pathologist to the 15
jurisdiction of the licensing board, the courts and the laws of the member state in 16
which the client is located at the time service is provided. 17
(i) Individuals not residing in a member state shall continue to be able to apply 18
for a member state's single-state license as provided under the laws of each member 19
state. However, the single-state license granted to these individuals shall not be 20
recognized as granting the privilege to practice audiology or speech-language 21
pathology in any other member state. Nothing in this Compact shall affect the 22
requirements established by a member state for the issuance of a single-state license. 23
(j) Member states may charge a fee for granting a compact privilege. 24
(k) Member states must comply with the bylaws and rules and regulations of 25
the Commission. 26
SECTION 4. COMPACT PRIVILEGE 27
(a) To exercise the compact privilege under the terms and provisions of the 28
Compact, the audiologist or speech-language pathologist shall: 29
(1) Hold an active license in the home state; 30
(2) Have no encumbrance on any state license; 31
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(3) Be eligible for a compact privilege in any member state in 1
accordance with Section 3; 2
(4) Have not had any adverse action against any license or compact 3
privilege within the previous 2 years from date of application; 4
(5) Notify the Commission that the licensee is seeking the compact 5
privilege within a remote state(s); 6
(6) Pay any applicable fees, including any state fee, for the compact 7
privilege; 8
(7) Report to the Commission adverse action taken by any non-9
member state within 30 days from the date the adverse action is taken. 10
(b) For the purposes of the compact privilege, an audiologist or speech-11
language pathologist shall only hold one home state license at a time. 12
(c) Except as provided in Section 6, if an audiologist or speech-language 13
pathologist changes primary state of residence by moving between two member states, 14
the audiologist or speech-language pathologist must apply for licensure in the new 15
home state, and the license issued by the prior home state shall be deactivated in 16
accordance with applicable rules adopted by the Commission. 17
(d) The audiologist or speech-language pathologist may apply for licensure in 18
advance of a change in primary state of residence. 19
(e) A license shall not be issued by the new home state until the audiologist or 20
speech-language pathologist provides satisfactory evidence of a change in primary 21
state of residence to the new home state and satisfies all applicable requirements to 22
obtain a license from the new home state. 23
(f) If an audiologist or speech-language pathologist changes primary state of 24
residence by moving from a member state to a non-member state, the license issued by 25
the prior home state shall convert to a single-state license, valid only in the former 26
home state. 27
(g) The compact privilege is valid until the expiration date of the home state 28
license. The licensee must comply with the requirements of Section 4(a) to maintain 29
the compact privilege in the remote state. 30
(h) A licensee providing audiology or speech-language pathology services in a 31
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remote state under the compact privilege shall function within the laws and regulations 1
of the remote state. 2
(i) A licensee providing audiology or speech-language pathology services in a 3
remote state is subject to that state's regulatory authority. A remote state may, in 4
accordance with due process and that state's laws, remove a licensee's compact 5
privilege in the remote state for a specific period of time, impose fines, and/or take any 6
other necessary actions to protect the health and safety of its citizens. 7
(j) If a home state license is encumbered, the licensee shall lose the compact 8
privilege in any remote state until the following occur: 9
(1) The home state license is no longer encumbered; and 10
(2) Two years have elapsed from the date of the adverse action. 11
(k) Once an encumbered license in the home state is restored to good standing, 12
the licensee must meet the requirements of Section 4(a) to obtain a compact privilege 13
in any remote state. 14
(l) Once the requirements of Section 4(j) have been met, the licensee must 15
meet the requirements in Section 4(a) to obtain a compact privilege in a remote state. 16
SECTION 5. COMPACT PRIVILEGE TO PRACTICE TELEHEALTH 17
Member states shall recognize the right of an audiologist or speech-language 18
pathologist, licensed by a home state in accordance with Section 3 and under rules 19
promulgated by the Commission, to practice audiology or speech-language pathology 20
in any member state via telehealth under a privilege to practice as provided in the 21
Compact and rules promulgated by the Commission. 22
SECTION 6. ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL OR THEIR SPOUSES 23
Active duty military personnel, or their spouse, shall designate a home state 24
where the individual has a current license in good standing. The individual may retain 25
the home state designation during the period the service member is on active duty. 26
Subsequent to designating a home state, the individual shall only change their home 27
state through application for licensure in the new state. 28
SECTION 7. ADVERSE ACTIONS 29
(a) In addition to the other powers conferred by state law, a remote state shall 30
have the authority, in accordance with existing state due process law, to: 31
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(1) Take adverse action against an audiologist's or speech-language 1
pathologist's privilege to practice within that member state. 2
(2) Issue subpoenas for both hearings and investigations that require 3
the attendance and testimony of witnesses as well as the production of evidence. 4
Subpoenas issued by a licensing board in a member state for the attendance and 5
testimony of witnesses or the production of evidence from another member state shall 6
be enforced in the latter state by any court of competent jurisdiction, according to the 7
practice and procedure of that court applicable to subpoenas issued in proceedings 8
pending before it. The issuing authority shall pay any witness fees, travel expenses, 9
mileage and other fees required by the service statutes of the state in which the 10
witnesses or evidence are located. 11
(3) Only the home state shall have the power to take adverse action 12
against an audiologist's or speech-language pathologist's license issued by the home 13
state. 14
(b) For purposes of taking adverse action, the home state shall give the same 15
priority and effect to reported conduct received from a member state as it would if the 16
conduct had occurred within the home state. In so doing, the home state shall apply its 17
own state laws to determine appropriate action. 18
(c) The home state shall complete any pending investigations of an audiologist 19
or speech-language pathologist who changes primary state of residence during the 20
course of the investigations. The home state shall also have the authority to take 21
appropriate action(s) and shall promptly report the conclusions of the investigations to 22
the administrator of the data system. The administrator of the coordinated licensure 23
information system shall promptly notify the new home state of any adverse actions. 24
(d) If otherwise permitted by state law, the member state may recover from the 25
affected audiologist or speech-language pathologist the costs of investigations and 26
disposition of cases resulting from any adverse action taken against that audiologist or 27
speech-language pathologist. 28
(e) The member state may take adverse action based on the factual findings of 29
the remote state, provided that the member state follows the member state's own 30
procedures for taking the adverse action. 31
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(f) Joint Investigations 1
(1) In addition to the authority granted to a member state by its 2
respective audiology or speech-language pathology practice act or other applicable 3
state law, any member state may participate with other member states in joint 4
investigations of licensees. 5
(2) Member states shall share any investigative, litigation, or 6
compliance materials in furtherance of any joint or individual investigation initiated 7
under the Compact. 8
(g) If adverse action is taken by the home state against an audiologist's or 9
speech-language pathologist's license, the audiologist's or speech-language 10
pathologist's privilege to practice in all other member states shall be deactivated until 11
all encumbrances have been removed from the state license. All home state 12
disciplinary orders that impose adverse action against an audiologist's or speech-13
language pathologist's license shall include a statement that the audiologist's or 14
speech-language pathologist's privilege to practice is deactivated in all member states 15
during the pendency of the order. 16
(h) If a member state takes adverse action, it shall promptly notify the 17
administrator of the data system. The administrator of the data system shall promptly 18
notify the home state of any adverse actions by remote states. 19
(i) Nothing in this Compact shall override a member state's decision that 20
participation in an alternative program may be used in lieu of adverse action. 21
SECTION 8. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE AUDIOLOGY AND SPEECH-22
LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY COMPACT COMMISSION 23
(a) The Compact member states hereby create and establish a joint public 24
agency known as the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Compact 25
Commission: 26
(1) The Commission is an instrumentality of the Compact states. 27
(2) Venue is proper and judicial proceedings by or against the 28
Commission shall be brought solely and exclusively in a court of competent 29
jurisdiction where the principal office of the Commission is located. The Commission 30
may waive venue and jurisdictional defenses to the extent it adopts or consents to 31
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participate in alternative dispute resolution proceedings. 1
(3) Nothing in this Compact shall be construed to be a waiver of 2
sovereign immunity. 3
(b) Membership, Voting and Meetings 4
(1) Each member state shall have two (2) delegates selected by that 5
member state's licensing board. The delegates shall be current members of the 6
licensing board. One shall be an audiologist and one shall be a speech-language 7
pathologist. 8
(2) An additional five (5) delegates, who are either a public member or 9
board administrator from a state licensing board, shall be chosen by the Executive 10
Committee from a pool of nominees provided by the Commission at Large. 11
(3) Any delegate may be removed or suspended from office as 12
provided by the law of the state from which the delegate is appointed. 13
(4) The member state board shall fill any vacancy occurring on the 14
Commission, within 90 days. 15
(5) Each delegate shall be entitled to one (1) vote with regard to the 16
promulgation of rules and creation of bylaws and shall otherwise have an opportunity 17
to participate in the business and affairs of the Commission. 18
(6) A delegate shall vote in person or by other means as provided in 19
the bylaws. The bylaws may provide for delegates' participation in meetings by 20
telephone or other means of communication. 21
(7) The Commission shall meet at least once during each calendar 22
year. Additional meetings shall be held as set forth in the bylaws. 23
(c) The Commission shall have the following powers and duties: 24
(1) Establish the fiscal year of the Commission; 25
(2) Establish bylaws; 26
(3) Establish a Code of Ethics; 27
(4) Maintain its financial records in accordance with the bylaws; 28
(5) Meet and take actions as are consistent with the provisions of this 29
Compact and the bylaws; 30
(6) Promulgate uniform rules to facilitate and coordinate 31
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implementation and administration of this Compact. The rules shall have the force and 1
effect of law and shall be binding in all member states; 2
(7) Bring and prosecute legal proceedings or actions in the name of the 3
Commission, provided that the standing of any state audiology or speech-language 4
pathology licensing board to sue or be sued under applicable law shall not be affected; 5
(8) Purchase and maintain insurance and bonds; 6
(9) Borrow, accept, or contract for services of personnel, including, but 7
not limited to, employees of a member state; 8
(10) Hire employees, elect or appoint officers, fix compensation, 9
define duties, grant individuals appropriate authority to carry out the purposes of the 10
Compact, and to establish the Commission's personnel policies and programs relating 11
to conflicts of interest, qualifications of personnel, and other related personnel matters; 12
(11) Accept any and all appropriate donations and grants of money, 13
equipment, supplies, materials and services, and to receive, utilize and dispose of the 14
same; provided that at all times the Commission shall avoid any appearance of 15
impropriety and/or conflict of interest; 16
(12) Lease, purchase, accept appropriate gifts or donations of, or 17
otherwise to own, hold, improve or use, any property, real, personal or mixed; 18
provided that at all times the Commission shall avoid any appearance of impropriety; 19
(13) Sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange, abandon, or 20
otherwise dispose of any property, real, personal, or mixed; 21
(14) Establish a budget and make expenditures; 22
(15) Borrow money; 23
(16) Appoint committees, including standing committees composed of 24
members, and other interested persons as may be designated in this Compact and the 25
bylaws; 26
(17) Provide and receive information from, and cooperate with, law 27
enforcement agencies; 28
(18) Establish and elect an Executive Committee; and 29
(19) Perform other functions as may be necessary or appropriate to 30
achieve the purposes of this Compact consistent with the state regulation of audiology
31
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and speech-language pathology licensure and practice. 1
(d) The Executive Committee 2
(1) The Executive Committee shall have the power to act on behalf of 3
the Commission according to the terms of this Compact; 4
(2) The Executive Committee shall be composed of 10 members: 5
(A) Seven voting members who are elected by the Commission 6
from the current membership of the Commission; 7
(B) Two ex-officios, consisting of one nonvoting member from 8
a recognized national audiology professional association and one nonvoting 9
member from a recognized national speech-language pathology association; 10
and 11
(C) One ex-officio, nonvoting member from the recognized 12
membership organization of the audiology and speech-language pathology 13
licensing boards. 14
(e) The ex-officio members shall be selected by their respective organizations. 15
(1) The Commission may remove any member of the Executive 16
Committee as provided in bylaws. 17
(2) The Executive Committee shall meet at least annually. 18
(3) The Executive Committee shall have the following duties and 19
responsibilities: 20
(A) Recommend to the entire Commission changes to the rules 21
or bylaws, changes to this Compact legislation, fees paid by Compact member 22
states such as annual dues, and any commission Compact fee charged to 23
licensees for the compact privilege; 24
(B) Ensure Compact administration services are appropriately 25
provided, contractual or otherwise; 26
(C) Prepare and recommend the budget; 27
(D) Maintain financial records on behalf of the Commission; 28
(E) Monitor Compact compliance of member states and 29
provide compliance reports to the Commission; 30
(F) Establish additional committees as necessary; and 31
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(G) Other duties as provided in rules or bylaws. 1
(4) Meetings of the Commission. All meetings shall be open to the 2
public, and public notice of meetings shall be given in the same manner as required 3
under the rulemaking provisions in Section 10. 4
(5) The Commission or the Executive Committee or other committees 5
of the Commission may convene in a closed, non-public meeting if the Commission or 6
Executive Committee or other committees of the Commission must discuss: 7
(A) Non-compliance of a member state with its obligations 8
under the Compact; 9
(B) The employment, compensation, discipline or other 10
matters, practices or procedures related to specific employees or other matters 11
related to the Commission's internal personnel practices and procedures; 12
(C) Current, threatened, or reasonably anticipated litigation; 13
(D) Negotiation of contracts for the purchase, lease, or sale of 14
goods, services, or real estate; 15
(E) Accusing any person of a crime or formally censuring any 16
person; 17
(F) Disclosure of trade secrets or commercial or financial 18
information that is privileged or confidential; 19
(G) Disclosure of information of a personal nature where 20
disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy; 21
(H) Disclosure of investigative records compiled for law 22
enforcement purposes; 23
(I) Disclosure of information related to any investigative 24
reports prepared by or on behalf of or for use of the Commission or other 25
committee charged with responsibility of investigation or determination of 26
compliance issues pursuant to the Compact; or 27
(J) Matters specifically exempted from disclosure by federal or 28
member state statute. 29
(6) If a meeting, or portion of a meeting, is closed pursuant to this 30
provision, the Commission's legal counsel or designee shall certify that the meeting 31
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may be closed and shall reference each relevant exempting provision. 1
(7) The Commission shall keep minutes that fully and clearly describe 2
all matters discussed in a meeting and shall provide a full and accurate summary of 3
actions taken, and the reasons therefore, including a description of the views 4
expressed. All documents considered in connection with an action shall be identified 5
in minutes. All minutes and documents of a closed meeting shall remain under seal, 6
subject to release by a majority vote of the Commission or order of a court of 7
competent jurisdiction. 8
(8) Financing of the Commission 9
(A) The Commission shall pay, or provide for the payment of, 10
the reasonable expenses of its establishment, organization, and ongoing 11
activities. 12
(B) The Commission may accept any and all appropriate 13
revenue sources, donations, and grants of money, equipment, supplies, 14
materials, and services. 15
(C) The Commission may levy on and collect an annual 16
assessment from each member state or impose fees on other parties to cover 17
the cost of the operations and activities of the Commission and its staff, which 18
must be in a total amount sufficient to cover its annual budget as approved 19
each year for which revenue is not provided by other sources. The aggregate 20
annual assessment amount shall be allocated based upon a formula to be 21
determined by the Commission, which shall promulgate a rule binding upon all 22
member states. 23
(9) The Commission shall not incur obligations of any kind prior to 24
securing the funds adequate to meet the same; nor shall the Commission pledge the 25
credit of any of the member states, except by and with the authority of the member 26
state. 27
(10) The Commission shall keep accurate accounts of all receipts and 28
disbursements. The receipts and disbursements of the Commission shall be subject to 29
the audit and accounting procedures established under its bylaws. However, all 30
receipts and disbursements of funds handled by the Commission shall be audited 31
Enrolled SB 75 -20-
yearly by a certified or licensed public accountant, and the report of the audit shall be 1
included in and become part of the annual report of the Commission. 2
(f) Qualified Immunity, Defense, and Indemnification 3
(1) The members, officers, executive director, employees and 4
representatives of the Commission shall be immune from suit and liability, either 5
personally or in their official capacity, for any claim for damage to or loss of property 6
or personal injury or other civil liability caused by or arising out of any actual or 7
alleged act, error or omission that occurred, or that the person against whom the claim 8
is made had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of Commission 9
employment, duties or responsibilities; provided that nothing in this paragraph shall be 10
construed to protect any person from suit and/or liability for any damage, loss, injury, 11
or liability caused by the intentional or willful or wanton misconduct of that person. 12
(2) The Commission shall defend any member, officer, executive 13
director, employee or representative of the Commission in any civil action seeking to 14
impose liability arising out of any actual or alleged act, error, or omission that 15
occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, or 16
that the person against whom the claim is made had a reasonable basis for believing 17
occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities; 18
provided that nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit that person from retaining 19
his or her own counsel; and provided further, that the actual or alleged act, error, or 20
omission did not result from that person's intentional or willful or wanton misconduct. 21
(3) The Commission shall indemnify and hold harmless any member, 22
officer, executive director, employee, or representative of the Commission for the 23
amount of any settlement or judgment obtained against that person arising out of any 24
actual or alleged act, error or omission that occurred within the scope of Commission 25
employment, duties, or responsibilities, or that person had a reasonable basis for 26
believing occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties, or 27
responsibilities, provided that the actual or alleged act, error, or omission did not result 28
from the intentional or willful or wanton misconduct of that person. 29
SECTION 9. DATA SYSTEM 30
(a) The Commission shall provide for the development, maintenance, and 31
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utilization of a coordinated database and reporting system containing licensure, 1
adverse action, and investigative information on all licensed individuals in member 2
states. 3
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of state law to the contrary, a member 4
state shall submit a uniform data set to the data system on all individuals to whom this 5
Compact is applicable as required by the rules of the Commission, including: 6
(1) Identifying information; 7
(2) Licensure data; 8
(3) Adverse actions against a license or compact privilege; 9
(4) Non-confidential information related to alternative program 10
participation; 11
(5) Any denial of application for licensure, and the reason(s) for 12
denial; and 13
(6) Other information that may facilitate the administration of this 14
Compact, as determined by the rules of the Commission. 15
(c) Investigative information pertaining to a licensee in any member state shall 16
only be available to other member states. 17
(d) The Commission shall promptly notify all member states of any adverse 18
action taken against a licensee or an individual applying for a license. Adverse action 19
information pertaining to a licensee in any member state shall be available to any other 20
member state. 21
(e) Member states contributing information to the data system may designate 22
information that may not be shared with the public without the express permission of 23
the contributing state. 24
(f) Any information submitted to the data system that is subsequently required 25
to be expunged by the laws of the member state contributing the information shall be 26
removed from the data system. 27
SECTION 10. RULEMAKING 28
(a) The Commission shall exercise its rulemaking powers pursuant to the 29
criteria set forth in this Section and the rules adopted thereunder. Rules and 30
amendments shall become binding as of the date specified in each rule or amendment. 31
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(b) If a majority of the legislatures of the member states rejects a rule, by 1
enactment of a statute or resolution in the same manner used to adopt the Compact 2
within 4 years of the date of adoption of the rule, the rule shall have no further force 3
and effect in any member state. 4
(c) Rules or amendments to the rules shall be adopted at a regular or special 5
meeting of the Commission. 6
(d) Prior to promulgation and adoption of a final rule or rules by the 7
Commission, and at least thirty days in advance of the meeting at which the rule shall 8
be considered and voted upon, the Commission shall file a Notice of Proposed 9
Rulemaking: 10
(1) On the website of the Commission or other publicly accessible 11
platform; and 12
(2) On the website of each member state audiology or speech-language 13
pathology licensing board or other publicly accessible platform or the publication in 14
which each state would otherwise publish proposed rules. 15
(e) The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking shall include: 16
(1) The proposed time, date, and location of the meeting in which the 17
rule shall be considered and voted upon; 18
(2) The text of the proposed rule or amendment and the reason for the 19
proposed rule; 20
(3) A request for comments on the proposed rule from any interested 21
person; and 22
(4) The manner in which interested persons may submit notice to the 23
Commission of their intention to attend the public hearing and any written comments. 24
(f) Prior to the adoption of a proposed rule, the Commission shall allow 25
persons to submit written data, facts, opinions and arguments, which shall be made 26
available to the public. 27
(g) The Commission shall grant an opportunity for a public hearing before it 28
adopts a rule or amendment if a hearing is requested by: 29
(1) At least twenty-five (25) persons; 30
(2) A state or federal governmental subdivision or agency; or 31
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(3) An association having at least twenty-five (25) members. 1
(h) If a hearing is held on the proposed rule or amendment, the Commission 2
shall publish the place, time, and date of the scheduled public hearing. If the hearing is 3
held via electronic means, the Commission shall publish the mechanism for access to 4
the electronic hearing. 5
(1) All persons wishing to be heard at the hearing shall notify the 6
executive director of the Commission or other designated member in writing of their 7
desire to appear and testify at the hearing not less than five (5) business days before 8
the scheduled date of the hearing. 9
(2) Hearings shall be conducted in a manner providing each person 10
who wishes to comment a fair and reasonable opportunity to comment orally or in 11
writing. 12
(3) All hearings shall be recorded. A copy of the recording shall be 13
made available on request. 14
(4) Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring a separate 15
hearing on each rule. Rules may be grouped for the convenience of the Commission at 16
hearings required by this section. 17
(i) Following the scheduled hearing date, or by the close of business on the 18
scheduled hearing date if the hearing was not held, the Commission shall consider all 19
written and oral comments received. 20
(j) If no written notice of intent to attend the public hearing by interested 21
parties is received, the Commission may proceed with promulgation of the proposed 22
rule without a public hearing. 23
(k) The Commission shall, by majority vote of all members, take final action 24
on the proposed rule and shall determine the effective date of the rule, if any, based on 25
the rulemaking record and the full text of the rule. 26
(l) Upon determination that an emergency exists, the Commission may 27
consider and adopt an emergency rule without prior notice, opportunity for comment, 28
or hearing, provided that the usual rulemaking procedures provided in the Compact 29
and in this section shall be retroactively applied to the rule as soon as reasonably 30
possible, in no event later than ninety (90) days after the effective date of the rule. For 31
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the purposes of this provision, an emergency rule is one that must be adopted 1
immediately in order to: 2
(1) Meet an imminent threat to public health, safety, or welfare; 3
(2) Prevent a loss of Commission or member state funds; or 4
(3) Meet a deadline for the promulgation of an administrative rule that 5
is established by federal law or rule. 6
(m) The Commission or an authorized committee of the Commission may 7
direct revisions to a previously adopted rule or amendment for purposes of correcting 8
typographical errors, errors in format, errors in consistency, or grammatical errors. 9
Public notice of any revisions shall be posted on the website of the Commission. The 10
revision shall be subject to challenge by any person for a period of thirty (30) days 11
after posting. The revision may be challenged only on grounds that the revision results 12
in a material change to a rule. A challenge shall be made in writing and delivered to 13
the chair of the Commission prior to the end of the notice period. If no challenge is 14
made, the revision shall take effect without further action. If the revision is challenged, 15
the revision may not take effect without the approval of the Commission. 16
SECTION 11. OVERSIGHT, DISPUTE RESOLUTION, AND ENFORCEMENT 17
(a) Dispute Resolution 18
(1) Upon request by a member state, the Commission shall attempt to 19
resolve disputes related to the Compact that arise among member states and between 20
member and non-member states. 21
(2) The Commission shall promulgate a rule providing for both 22
mediation and binding dispute resolution for disputes as appropriate. 23
(b) Enforcement 24
(1) The Commission, in the reasonable exercise of its discretion, shall 25
enforce the provisions and rules of this Compact. 26
(2) By majority vote, the Commission may initiate legal action in the 27
United States District Court for the District of Columbia or the federal district where 28
the Commission has its principal offices against a member state in default to enforce 29
compliance with the provisions of the Compact and its promulgated rules and bylaws. 30
The relief sought may include both injunctive relief and damages. In the event judicial 31
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enforcement is necessary, the prevailing member shall be awarded all costs of 1
litigation, including reasonable attorney's fees. 2
(3) The remedies herein shall not be the exclusive remedies of the 3
Commission. The Commission may pursue any other remedies available under federal 4
or state law. 5
SECTION 12. DATE OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INTERSTATE 6
COMMISSION FOR AUDIOLOGY AND SPEECH-LANGUAGE 7
PATHOLOGY PRACTICE AND ASSOCIATED RULES, WITHDRAWAL, 8
AND AMENDMENT 9
(a) The Compact shall come into effect on the date on which the Compact 10
statute is enacted into law in the 10th member state. The provisions, which become 11
effective at that time, shall be limited to the powers granted to the Commission 12
relating to assembly and the promulgation of rules. Thereafter, the Commission shall 13
meet and exercise rulemaking powers necessary to the implementation and 14
administration of the Compact. 15
(b) Any state that joins the Compact subsequent to the Commission's initial 16
adoption of the rules shall be subject to the rules as they exist on the date on which the 17
Compact becomes law in that state. Any rule that has been previously adopted by the 18
Commission shall have the full force and effect of law on the day the Compact 19
becomes law in that state. 20
(c) Any member state may withdraw from this Compact by enacting a statute 21
repealing the same. 22
(1) A member state's withdrawal shall not take effect until six (6) 23
months after enactment of the repealing statute. 24
(2) Withdrawal shall not affect the continuing requirement of the 25
withdrawing state's audiology or speech-language pathology licensing board to 26
comply with the investigative and adverse action reporting requirements of this act 27
prior to the effective date of withdrawal. 28
(d) Nothing contained in this Compact shall be construed to invalidate or 29
prevent any audiology or speech-language pathology licensure agreement or other 30
cooperative arrangement between a member state and a non-member state that does 31
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not conflict with the provisions of this Compact. 1
(e) This Compact may be amended by the member states. No amendment to 2
this Compact shall become effective and binding upon any member state until it is 3
enacted into the laws of all member states. 4
SECTION 13. CONSTRUCTION AND SEVERABILITY 5
This Compact shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate the purposes 6
thereof. The provisions of this Compact shall be severable and if any phrase, clause, 7
sentence or provision of this Compact is declared to be contrary to the constitution of 8
any member state or of the United States or the applicability thereof to any 9
government, agency, person or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the 10
remainder of this Compact and the applicability thereof to any government, agency, 11
person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If this Compact shall be held 12
contrary to the constitution of any member state, the Compact shall remain in full 13
force and effect as to the remaining member states and in full force and effect as to the 14
member state affected as to all severable matters. 15
SECTION 14. BINDING EFFECT OF COMPACT AND OTHER LAWS 16
(a) Nothing herein prevents the enforcement of any other law of a member 17
state that is not inconsistent with the Compact. 18
(b) All laws in a member state in conflict with the Compact are superseded to 19
the extent of the conflict. 20
(c) All lawful actions of the Commission, including all rules and bylaws 21
promulgated by the Commission, are binding upon the member states. 22
(d) All agreements between the Commission and the member states are 23
binding in accordance with their terms. 24
(e) In the event any provision of the Compact exceeds the constitutional limits 25
imposed on the legislature of any member state, the provision shall be ineffective to 26
the extent of the conflict with the constitutional provision in question in that member 27
state. 28
* Sec. 7. AS 12.62.400(a) is amended to read: 29
(a) To obtain a national criminal history record check for determining a 30
person's qualifications for a license, permit, registration, employment, or position, a 31
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person shall submit the person's fingerprints to the department with the fee established 1
by AS 12.62.160. The department may submit the fingerprints to the Federal Bureau 2
of Investigation to obtain a national criminal history record check of the person for the 3
purpose of evaluating a person's qualifications for 4
(1) a license or conditional contractor's permit to manufacture, sell, 5
offer for sale, possess for sale or barter, traffic in, or barter an alcoholic beverage 6
under AS 04.09; 7
(2) licensure as a mortgage lender, a mortgage broker, or a mortgage 8
loan originator under AS 06.60; 9
(3) admission to the Alaska Bar Association under AS 08.08; 10
(4) licensure as a collection agency operator under AS 08.24; 11
(5) a certificate of fitness to handle explosives under AS 08.52; 12
(6) licensure as a massage therapist under AS 08.61; 13
(7) licensure to practice nursing or certification as a nurse aide under 14
AS 08.68; 15
(8) certification as a real estate appraiser under AS 08.87; 16
(9) a position involving supervisory or disciplinary power over a minor 17
or dependent adult for which criminal justice information may be released under 18
AS 12.62.160(b)(9); 19
(10) a teacher certificate under AS 14.20; 20
(11) a registration or license to operate a marijuana establishment 21
under AS 17.38; 22
(12) admittance to a police training program under AS 18.65.230 or for 23
certification as a police officer under AS 18.65.240 if that person's prospective 24
employer does not have access to a criminal justice information system; 25
(13) licensure as a security guard under AS 18.65.400 - 18.65.490; 26
(14) a concealed handgun permit under AS 18.65.700 - 18.65.790; 27
(15) licensure as an insurance producer, managing general agent, 28
reinsurance intermediary broker, reinsurance intermediary manager, surplus lines 29
broker, or independent adjuster under AS 21.27; 30
(16) serving and executing process issued by a court by a person 31
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designated under AS 22.20.130; 1
(17) a school bus driver license under AS 28.15.046; 2
(18) licensure as an operator or an instructor for a commercial driver 3
training school under AS 28.17; 4
(19) registration as a broker-dealer, agent, investment adviser 5
representative, or investment adviser under AS 45.56.300 - 45.56.350; 6
(20) licensure, license renewal, certification, certification renewal, or 7
payment from the Department of Health of an individual and an entity subject to the 8
requirements for a criminal history check under AS 47.05.310, including 9
(A) a public home care provider described in AS 47.05.017; 10
(B) a provider of home and community-based waiver services 11
financed under AS 47.07.030(c); 12
(C) a case manager to coordinate community mental health 13
services under AS 47.30.530; 14
(D) an entity listed in AS 47.32.010(b) and (c), including an 15
owner, officer, director, member, partner, employee, volunteer, or contractor of 16
an entity; or 17
(E) an individual or entity not described in (A) - (D) of this 18
paragraph that is required by statute or regulation to be licensed or certified by 19
the Department of Health or that is eligible to receive payments, in whole or in 20
part, from the Department of Health to provide for the health, safety, and 21
welfare of persons who are served by the programs administered by the 22
Department of Health; 23
(21) employment as a village public safety officer under AS 18.65.672 24
or certification as a village public safety officer under AS 18.65.682; 25
(22) licensure, license renewal, certification, or certification renewal 26
by the Department of Family and Community Services of an individual or entity, or 27
payment from the Department of Family and Community Services to an individual or 28
entity, subject to the requirements for a criminal history check under AS 47.05.310 for 29
a foster home, child placement agency, and runaway shelter listed in AS 47.32.010(c), 30
including an owner, officer, director, member, partner, employee, volunteer, or 31
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contractor of an entity; 1
(23) licensure as a pharmacist or pharmacy technician under AS 08.80; 2
(24) licensure to practice audiology or speech-language pathology 3
under AS 08.11. 4
* Sec. 8. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 5
read: 6
TRANSITION: REGULATIONS. The Department of Commerce, Community, and 7
Economic Development may adopt regulations necessary to implement the changes made by 8
this Act. The regulations take effect under AS 44.62 (Administrative Procedure Act), but not 9
before the effective date of the law implemented by the regulation. 10
* Sec. 9. Section 8 of this Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c). 11
* Sec. 10. Except as provided in sec. 9 of this Act, this Act takes effect July 1, 2024. 12