Missouri 2022 2022 Regular Session

Missouri House Bill HB2149 Substitute / Bill

Filed 04/12/2022

                    4028S.04F 
 1 
SENATE SUBSTITUTE 
FOR 
HOUSE BILL NO. 2149 
AN ACT 
To repeal sections 197.400, 197.445, 327.312, 
327.313, 327.314, 327.331, 334.036, 334.530, 334.655, 
345.015, and 345.050, RSMo, and to enact in lieu 
thereof sixteen new sections relating to professional 
licensing, with an emergency clause for a certain 
section. 
 
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows: 
     Section A.  Sections 197.400, 197.445, 327.312, 327.313, 1 
327.314, 327.331, 334.036, 334.530, 334.655, 345.015, and 2 
345.050, RSMo, are repealed and sixteen new sections enacted in 3 
lieu thereof, to be known as sections 197.400, 197.445, 324.005, 4 
327.312, 327.313, 327.314, 327.331, 332.325, 334.036, 334.530, 5 
334.655, 345.015, 345.022, 345.050, 345.052, and 345.085, to 6 
read as follows:7 
     197.400.  As used in sections 197.400 to 197.475, 1 
unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms 2 
mean: 3 
     (1)  "Council", the home health services advisory 4 
council created by sections 197.400 to 197.475; 5 
     (2)  "Department", the department of health and senior 6 
services; 7 
     (3)  "Home health agency", a public agency or private 8 
organization or a su bdivision or subunit of an agency or 9 
organization that provides two or more home health services 10 
at the residence of a patient according to a [physician's]  11 
written [and signed] plan of treatment signed by a  12 
physician, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or  13 
physician assistant; 14   
 2 
     (4)  "Home health services", any of the following items 15 
and services provided at the residence of the patient on a 16 
part-time or intermittent basis:  nursing, physical therapy, 17 
speech therapy, occupational thera py, home health aid, or 18 
medical social service; 19 
     (5)  "Nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist", a 20 
person recognized by the state board of nursing pursuant to 21 
the provisions of chapter 335 to practice in this state as a 22 
nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist; 23 
     (6)  "Part-time or intermittent basis", the providing 24 
of home health services in an interrupted interval sequence 25 
on the average of not to exceed three hours in any twenty - 26 
four-hour period; 27 
     [(6)] (7)  "Patient's residence", the actual place of 28 
residence of the person receiving home health services, 29 
including institutional residences as well as individual 30 
dwelling units; 31 
     [(7)] (8)  "Physician", a person licensed by the state 32 
board of registration for the heali ng arts pursuant to the 33 
provisions of chapter 334 to practice in this state as a 34 
physician and surgeon; 35 
     (9)  "Physician assistant", a person licensed by the 36 
state board of registration for the healing arts pursuant to 37 
the provisions of chapter 334 to practice in this state as a 38 
physician assistant; 39 
     [(8)] (10)  "Plan of treatment", a plan reviewed and 40 
signed as often as [medically] necessary by a physician 41 
[or], podiatrist, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse 42 
specialist, or a physician assis tant, not to exceed sixty 43 
days in duration, and reviewed by a physician at least once 44 
every six months, prescribing items and services for an 45 
individual patient's condition; 46   
 3 
     [(9)] (11)  "Podiatrist", a person licensed by the 47 
state board of podiatr y pursuant to the provisions of 48 
chapter 330 to practice in this state as a podiatrist; 49 
     [(10)] (12)  "Subunit" or "subdivision", any 50 
organizational unit of a larger organization which can be 51 
clearly defined as a separate entity within the larger 52 
structure, which can meet all of the requirements of 53 
sections 197.400 to 197.475 independent of the larger 54 
organization, which can be held accountable for the care of 55 
patients it is serving, and which provides to all patients 56 
care and services meeting th e standards and requirements of 57 
sections 197.400 to 197.475. 58 
     197.445.  1.  The department may adopt reasonable rules 1 
and standards necessary to carry out the provisions of 2 
sections 197.400 to 197.477.  The rules and standards 3 
adopted shall not be less than the standards established by 4 
the federal government for home health agencies under Title 5 
XVIII of the Federal Social Security Act.  The reasonable  6 
rules and standards shall be initially promulgated within 7 
one year of September 28, 1983. 8 
     2.  The rules and standards adopted by the department 9 
pursuant to the provisions of sections 197.400 to 197.477 10 
shall apply to all health services covered by sections 11 
197.400 to 197.477 rendered to any patient being served by a 12 
home health agency regardless of source of payment for the 13 
service, patient's condition, or place of residence, at 14 
which the home health services are ordered by the physician 15 
[or], podiatrist, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse 16 
specialist, or physician assista nt.  No rule or portion of a 17 
rule promulgated pursuant to the authority of sections 18 
197.400 to 197.477 shall become effective unless it has been 19 
promulgated pursuant to the provisions of section 536.024. 20   
 4 
     324.005.  1.  Notwithstanding any requirements for 1 
licensure for all professional boards, commissions, 2 
committees, and offices within the division of professional 3 
registration to the contrary, a professional who has a 4 
current license to practice from another state, 5 
commonwealth, territory, or the District of Columbia shall 6 
be exempt from the licensure requirements of his or her 7 
respective licensure board in this state if: 8 
     (1)  The professional is an active duty or reserve 9 
member of the Armed Forces of the United States, a member of  10 
the National Guard, a civilian employee of the United States 11 
Department of Defense, an authorized services contractor 12 
under 10 U.S.C. Section 1091, or a professional otherwise 13 
authorized by the United States Department of Defense; 14 
     (2)  The professional practices the same occupation or 15 
profession at the same practice level for which he or she 16 
holds a current license; and 17 
     (3)  The professional is engaged in the practice of a 18 
professional through a partnership with the federal 19 
Innovative Readiness Training program within the United 20 
States Department of Defense. 21 
     2.  The exemption provided in this section shall not 22 
permit a professional to engage in practice except as part 23 
of the federal Innovative Readiness Training program w ithin  24 
the United States Department of Defense.  The exemption  25 
shall only apply while: 26 
     (1)  The professional's practice is required by the 27 
program pursuant to military orders; and 28 
     (2)  The services provided by the professional are 29 
within the scope of practice for the individual's respective 30 
profession in this state. 31 
     327.312.  1.  Prior to January 1, 2024, any person may  1 
apply to the board for enrollment as a land surveyor -in- 2   
 5 
training who is a high school graduate, or who holds a  3 
Missouri certificate of high school equivalence (GED), and 4 
either: 5 
     (1)  Has graduated and received a baccalaureate degree 6 
in an approved curriculum as defined by board regulation 7 
which shall include at least twelve semester hours of 8 
approved surveying course work as defined by board 9 
regulation of which at least two semester hours shall be in 10 
the legal aspects of boundary surveying; or 11 
     (2)  Has passed at least sixty hours of college credit 12 
which shall include credit for at least tw enty semester  13 
hours of approved surveying course work as defined by board 14 
regulation of which at least two semester hours shall be in 15 
legal aspects of boundary surveying and present evidence 16 
satisfactory to the board that in addition thereto such 17 
person has at least one year of combined professional office 18 
and field experience in land surveying projects under the 19 
immediate personal supervision of a professional land 20 
surveyor; or 21 
     (3)  Has passed at least twelve semester hours of 22 
approved surveying course work as defined by board 23 
regulation of which at least two semester hours shall be in 24 
legal aspects of land surveying and in addition thereto has 25 
at least two years of combined professional office and field 26 
experience in land surveying projec ts under the immediate 27 
personal supervision of a professional land surveyor.   28 
Pursuant to this provision, not more than one year of 29 
satisfactory postsecondary education work shall count as 30 
equivalent years of satisfactory land surveying work as 31 
aforementioned. 32 
     2.  The board shall issue a certificate of completion 33 
to each applicant who satisfies the requirements of the 34 
aforementioned land surveyor -in-training program and passes 35   
 6 
such examination or examinations as shall be required by the 36 
board. 37 
     3.  Beginning January 1, 2024, any person may apply to 38 
the board for enrollment as a land surveyor -intern who is a  39 
high school graduate, or who holds a certificate of high 40 
school equivalence (GED), and has passed any examination 41 
required by the board pursuant to section 327.331. 42 
     327.313.  Applications for enrollment as a land 1 
[surveyor-in-training] surveyor-intern shall be typewritten 2 
on prescribed forms furnished to the applicant.  The  3 
application shall contain applicant's statements showing the 4 
applicant's education, experience, and such other pertinent 5 
information as the board may require.  Each application  6 
shall contain a statement that it is made under oath or 7 
affirmation and that the representations are true and 8 
correct to the best knowledge and belief of the applicant, 9 
subject to the penalties of making a false affidavit or 10 
declaration and shall be accompanied by the required fee. 11 
     327.314.  1.  Prior to January 1, 2024, any person may  1 
apply to the board for licensure as a professional land 2 
surveyor who has been enrolled as a land surveyor -in- 3 
training and has presented evidence to the satisfaction of 4 
the board that said person has acquired at least four years 5 
of satisfactory professional field and office experience in 6 
land surveying from the date of enrollment as a land 7 
surveyor-in-training.  This experience shall have been under 8 
the immediate personal supervision of a professional land 9 
surveyor. 10 
     2.  Beginning January 1, 2024, any person may apply to 11 
the board for licensure who presents evidence satisfactory 12 
to the board that the applicant has met the requirements as 13 
provided in this subsection: 14   
 7 
     (1)  An applicant shall be a high school graduate or 15 
hold a certificate of hig h school equivalence (GED), and 16 
either: 17 
     (a)  Has graduated and received a baccalaureate degree 18 
in an approved curriculum, as defined by the board, which 19 
shall include at least fifteen semester hours of approved 20 
surveying course work, as defined by the board, of which at 21 
least six semester hours shall be in the legal aspects of 22 
boundary surveying; or 23 
     (b)  Has passed at least sixty hours of college credit 24 
which shall include at least fifteen semester hours of 25 
approved surveying course work, as defined by the board, of 26 
which at least six semester hours shall be in legal aspects 27 
of boundary surveying; or 28 
     (c)  Has passed at least fifteen semester hours of 29 
approved surveying coursework, as defined by the board, of 30 
which at least six seme ster hours shall be in legal aspects 31 
of land surveying; 32 
     (d)  An applicant meeting the requirements of paragraph 33 
(a) of this subdivision shall have acquired at least four 34 
years of satisfactory field and office experience in land 35 
surveying under the immediate personal supervision of a 36 
professional land surveyor; 37 
     (e)  An applicant meeting the requirements of paragraph 38 
(b) of this subdivision shall have acquired at least five 39 
years of satisfactory field and office experience in land 40 
surveying under the immediate personal supervision of a 41 
professional land surveyor; 42 
     (f)  An applicant meeting the requirements of paragraph 43 
(c) of this subdivision shall have acquired at least six 44 
years of satisfactory field and office experience in land 45 
surveying under the immediate personal supervision of a 46 
professional land surveyor.  Pursuant to this provision, up 47   
 8 
to one year of post-secondary education, approved by the 48 
board, may count as equivalent work experience; 49 
     (2)  An applicant shall pass any examinations required 50 
by the board pursuant to section 327.331; 51 
     (3)  Any person enrolled as a land surveyor -in-training  52 
prior to January 1, 2024, shall only be required to meet the 53 
requirements in place pursuant to their enrollment. 54 
     327.331.  1.  After it has been determined that an 1 
applicant possesses the qualifications entitling the 2 
applicant to be examined, each applicant for examination and 3 
enrollment as a land surveyor -in-training and for  4 
examination and licensure as a professional land surveyor in 5 
Missouri shall appear before the board or its 6 
representatives for examination at the time and place 7 
specified. 8 
     2.  The examination or examinations shall be of such 9 
form, content and duration as shall b e determined by the 10 
board to thoroughly test the qualifications of each 11 
applicant to become enrolled as a land [surveyor-in- 12 
training] surveyor-intern or to become licensed as a 13 
professional land surveyor in Missouri. 14 
     3.  Any applicant to be eligib le for enrollment or for 15 
license must make a grade on the applicable examination of 16 
at least seventy percent. 17 
     4.  Any person who passes the examination hereinabove 18 
specified shall be entitled to be enrolled as a land 19 
[surveyor-in-training] surveyor-intern or licensed as a  20 
professional land surveyor, as the case may be, in Missouri 21 
and shall receive a certificate of enrollment or a license, 22 
as the case may be. 23 
     332.325.  1.  The Missouri dental board may collaborate 1 
with the department of health and senior services and the 2 
office of dental health within the department of health and 3   
 9 
senior services to approve pilot projects designed to 4 
examine new methods of extending care to medically 5 
underserved populations, as defined in 42 U.S.C. Section  6 
300e-1(7).  These pilot projects may employ techniques or 7 
approaches to care that may necessitate a waiver of the 8 
requirements of this chapter and regulations promulgated 9 
thereunder; provided: 10 
     (1)  The project plan has a clearly stated objective of 11 
serving a specific underserved population that warrants, in 12 
the opinion of a majority of the board, granting approval 13 
for a pilot project; 14 
     (2)  The project has a finite start date and 15 
termination date; 16 
     (3)  The project clearly defines the new techniques or 17 
approaches it intends to examine to determine if it results 18 
in an improvement in access or quality of care; 19 
     (4)  The project plan identifies specific and limited 20 
locations and populations to participate in the pi lot  21 
project; 22 
     (5)  The project plan clearly establishes minimum 23 
guidelines and standards for the pilot project, including, 24 
but not limited to, provisions for protecting safety of 25 
participating patients; 26 
     (6)  The project plan clearly defines th e measurement  27 
criteria it will use to evaluate the outcomes of the pilot 28 
project on access and quality of care; and 29 
     (7)  The project plan identifies reporting intervals to 30 
communicate interim and final outcomes to the board. 31 
     2.  The board may promulgate rules and regulations to 32 
implement the provisions of this section.  Any rule or  33 
portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 34 
536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in 35 
this section shall become effective only if it co mplies with  36   
 10 
and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, 37 
if applicable, section 536.028.  This section and chapter 38 
536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with 39 
the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to 40 
delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule 41 
are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of 42 
rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after 43 
August 28, 2022, shall be invalid and void. 44 
     3.  The provisions of this sec tion shall expire on 45 
August 28, 2026.  The board shall provide a final report on 46 
approved projects and related data or findings to the 47 
general assembly on or before December 31, 2025.  The name,  48 
location, approval dates, and general description of an 49 
approved pilot project shall be deemed a public record 50 
pursuant to chapter 610. 51 
     334.036.  1.  For purposes of this section, the 1 
following terms shall mean: 2 
     (1)  "Assistant physician", any graduate of a medical  3 
school [graduate] accredited by the Liaison Committee on 4 
Medical Education, the Commission on Osteopathic College 5 
Accreditation, or the Educational Commission for Foreign 6 
Medical Graduates who: 7 
     (a)  Is a resident and citizen of the United States or 8 
is a legal resident alien; 9 
     (b)  Has successfully completed Step 2 of the United 10 
States Medical Licensing Examination or the equivalent of 11 
such step of any other board -approved medical licensing 12 
examination within the three -year period immediately 13 
preceding application for licensure as an assistant 14 
physician, or within three years after graduation from a 15 
medical college or osteopathic medical college, whichever is 16 
later; 17   
 11 
     (c)  Has not completed an approved postgraduate 18 
residency and has successfully comple ted Step 2 of the  19 
United States Medical Licensing Examination or the 20 
equivalent of such step of any other board -approved medical  21 
licensing examination within the immediately preceding three - 22 
year period unless when such three -year anniversary occurred 23 
he or she was serving as a resident physician in an 24 
accredited residency in the United States and continued to 25 
do so within thirty days prior to application for licensure 26 
as an assistant physician; and 27 
     (d)  Has proficiency in the English language. 28 
Any graduate of a medical school [graduate] who could have  29 
applied for licensure and complied with the provisions of 30 
this subdivision at any time between August 28, 2014, and 31 
August 28, 2017, may apply for licensure and shall be deemed 32 
in compliance with the provisions of this subdivision; 33 
     (2)  "Assistant physician collaborative practice 34 
arrangement", an agreement between a physician and an 35 
assistant physician that meets the requirements of this 36 
section and section 334.037 [; 37 
     (3)  "Medical school graduate", any person who has 38 
graduated from a medical college or osteopathic medical 39 
college described in section 334.031 ]. 40 
     2.  (1)  An assistant physician collaborative practice 41 
arrangement shall limit the assistant physician to providing 42 
only primary care services and only in medically underserved 43 
rural or urban areas of this state [or in any pilot project 44 
areas established in which assistant physicians may 45 
practice]. 46 
     (2)  For a physician-assistant physician team working 47 
in a rural health clinic under the federal Rural Health 48 
Clinic Services Act, P.L. 95 -210, as amended: 49   
 12 
     (a)  An assistant physician shall be considered a 50 
physician assistant for purposes of regulations of the 51 
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); and 52 
     (b)  No supervision requirements in addition to the 53 
minimum federal law shall be required. 54 
     3.  (1)  For purposes of this section, the licensure of 55 
assistant physicians shall take place within processes 56 
established by rules of the state boa rd of registration for 57 
the healing arts.  The board of healing arts is authorized 58 
to establish rules under chapter 536 establishing licensure 59 
and renewal procedures, supervision, collaborative practice 60 
arrangements, fees, and addressing such other matt ers as are  61 
necessary to protect the public and discipline the 62 
profession.  No licensure fee for an assistant physician 63 
shall exceed the amount of any licensure fee for a physician 64 
assistant.  An application for licensure may be denied or 65 
the licensure of an assistant physician may be suspended or 66 
revoked by the board in the same manner and for violation of 67 
the standards as set forth by section 334.100, or such other 68 
standards of conduct set by the board by rule.  No rule or  69 
regulation shall require an assistant physician to complete 70 
more hours of continuing medical education than that of a 71 
licensed physician. 72 
     (2)  Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is 73 
defined in section 536.010, that is created under the 74 
authority delegated in this section shall become effective 75 
only if it complies with and is subject to all of the 76 
provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 77 
536.028.  This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and 78 
if any of the powers vested with the general assembl y under  79 
chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to 80 
disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held 81 
unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and 82   
 13 
any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2014, shall be 83 
invalid and void. 84 
     (3)  Any rules or regulations regarding assistant 85 
physicians in effect as of the effective date of this 86 
section that conflict with the provisions of this section 87 
and section 334.037 shall be null and void as of the 88 
effective date of this sect ion. 89 
     4.  An assistant physician shall clearly identify 90 
himself or herself as an assistant physician and shall be 91 
permitted to use the terms "doctor", "Dr.", or "doc".  No  92 
assistant physician shall practice or attempt to practice 93 
without an assistant physician collaborative practice 94 
arrangement, except as otherwise provided in this section 95 
and in an emergency situation. 96 
     5.  The collaborating physician is responsible at all 97 
times for the oversight of the activities of and accepts 98 
responsibility for primary care services rendered by the 99 
assistant physician. 100 
     6.  The provisions of section 334.037 shall apply to 101 
all assistant physician collaborative practice 102 
arrangements.  Any renewal of licensure under this section 103 
shall include verific ation of actual practice under a 104 
collaborative practice arrangement in accordance with this 105 
subsection during the immediately preceding licensure period. 106 
     7.  Each health carrier or health benefit plan that 107 
offers or issues health benefit plans that are delivered,  108 
issued for delivery, continued, or renewed in this state 109 
shall reimburse an assistant physician for the diagnosis, 110 
consultation, or treatment of an insured or enrollee on the 111 
same basis that the health carrier or health benefit plan 112 
covers the service when it is delivered by another 113 
comparable mid-level health care provider including, but not 114 
limited to, a physician assistant. 115   
 14 
     334.530.  1.  A candidate for license to practice as a 1 
physical therapist shall furnish evidence of such person's 2 
educational qualifications by submitting satisfactory 3 
evidence of completion of a program of physical therapy 4 
education approved as reputable by the board or eligibility  5 
to graduate from such a program within ninety days .  A  6 
candidate who presents satisfactory evidence of the person's 7 
graduation from a school of physical therapy approved as 8 
reputable by the American Medical Association or, if 9 
graduated before 1936, by the American Physical Therapy 10 
Association, or if gradu ated after 1988, the Commission on 11 
Accreditation for Physical Therapy Education or its 12 
successor, is deemed to have complied with the educational 13 
qualifications of this subsection. 14 
     2.  Persons desiring to practice as physical therapists 15 
in this state shall appear before the board at such time and 16 
place as the board may direct and be examined as to their 17 
fitness to engage in such practice.  Applicants shall meet 18 
the qualifying standards for such examinations, including 19 
any requirements establish ed by any entity contracted by the 20 
board to administer the board -approved examination.   21 
Applications for examination shall be in writing, on a form 22 
furnished by the board and shall include evidence 23 
satisfactory to the board that the applicant possesses the  24 
qualifications set forth in subsection 1 of this section and  25 
meets the requirements established to qualify for 26 
examination.  Each application shall contain a statement 27 
that it is made under oath or affirmation and that its 28 
representations are tru e and correct to the best knowledge 29 
and belief of the applicant, subject to the penalties of 30 
making a false affidavit or declaration. 31 
     3.  The examination of qualified candidates for 32 
licenses to practice physical therapy shall test entry -level  33   
 15 
competence as related to physical therapy theory, 34 
examination and evaluation, physical therapy diagnosis, 35 
prognosis, treatment, intervention, prevention, and 36 
consultation. 37 
     4.  The examination shall embrace, in relation to the 38 
human being, the subjects of anatomy, chemistry, 39 
kinesiology, pathology, physics, physiology, psychology, 40 
physical therapy theory and procedures as related to 41 
medicine, surgery and psychiatry, and such other subjects, 42 
including medical ethics, as the board deems useful to test  43 
the fitness of the candidate to practice physical therapy. 44 
     5.  No person who has failed on six or more occasions  45 
to achieve a passing score on the examination required by  46 
this section shall be eligible for licensure by examination  47 
under this section. 48 
     6.  The applicant shall pass a test administered by the  49 
board on the laws and rules related to the practice of  50 
physical therapy in Missouri. 51 
     334.655.  1.  A candidate for licensure to practice as 1 
a physical therapist assis tant shall furnish evidence of the 2 
person's educational qualifications.  The educational  3 
requirements for licensure as a physical therapist assistant 4 
are: 5 
     (1)  A certificate of graduation from an accredited 6 
high school or its equivalent; and 7 
     (2)  Satisfactory evidence of completion of an 8 
associate degree program of physical therapy education 9 
accredited by the commission on accreditation of physical 10 
therapy education or eligibility to graduate from such a 11 
program within ninety days . 12 
     2.  Persons desiring to practice as a physical 13 
therapist assistant in this state shall appear before the 14 
board at such time and place as the board may direct and be 15   
 16 
examined as to the person's fitness to engage in such 16 
practice.  Applicants shall meet th e qualifying standards 17 
for such examinations, including any requirements 18 
established by any entity contracted by the board to 19 
administer the board -approved examination.  Applications for  20 
examination shall be on a form furnished by the board and 21 
shall include evidence satisfactory to the board that the 22 
applicant possesses the qualifications provided in 23 
subsection 1 of this section and meets the requirements 24 
established to qualify for examination .  Each application  25 
shall contain a statement that the statement is made under 26 
oath of affirmation and that its representations are true 27 
and correct to the best knowledge and belief of the person 28 
signing the statement, subject to the penalties of making a 29 
false affidavit or declaration. 30 
     3.  The examination of qualified candidates for 31 
licensure to practice as physical therapist assistants shall 32 
embrace an examination which shall cover the curriculum 33 
taught in accredited associate degree programs of physical 34 
therapy assistant education.  Such examination shall be  35 
sufficient to test the qualification of the candidates as 36 
practitioners. 37 
     4.  The examination shall include, as related to the 38 
human body, the subjects of anatomy, kinesiology, pathology, 39 
physiology, psychology, physical therapy theor y and  40 
procedures as related to medicine and such other subjects, 41 
including medical ethics, as the board deems useful to test 42 
the fitness of the candidate to practice as a physical 43 
therapist assistant. 44 
     5.  No person who has failed on six or more occasions  45 
to achieve a passing score on the examination required by  46 
this section shall be eligible for licensure by examination  47 
under this section. 48   
 17 
     6.  The applicant shall pass a test administered by the  49 
board on the laws and rules related to the practice as a  50 
physical therapist assistant in this state. 51 
     [6.] 7.  The board shall license without examination 52 
any legally qualified person who is a resident of this state 53 
and who was actively engaged in practice as a physical 54 
therapist assistant on August 28, 1993.  The board may  55 
license such person pursuant to this subsection until ninety 56 
days after the effective date of this section. 57 
     [7.] 8.  A candidate to practice as a physical 58 
therapist assistant who does not meet the educational 59 
qualifications may submit to the board an application for 60 
examination if such person can furnish written evidence to 61 
the board that the person has been employed in this state 62 
for at least three of the last five years under the 63 
supervision of a licensed phys ical therapist and such person 64 
possesses the knowledge and training equivalent to that 65 
obtained in an accredited school.  The board may license 66 
such persons pursuant to this subsection until ninety days 67 
after rules developed by the state board of heali ng arts  68 
regarding physical therapist assistant licensing become 69 
effective. 70 
     345.015.  As used in sections 345.010 to 345.080, the 1 
following terms mean: 2 
     (1)  "Audiologist", a person who is licensed as an 3 
audiologist pursuant to sections 345.010 to 345.080 to 4 
practice audiology; 5 
     (2)  "Audiology aide", a person who is registered as an 6 
audiology aide by the board, who does not act independently 7 
but works under the direction and supervision of a licensed 8 
audiologist.  Such person assists the audiologist with 9 
activities which require an understanding of audiology but 10 
do not require formal training in the relevant academics.   11   
 18 
To be eligible for registration by the board, each applicant 12 
shall submit a registration fee and: 13 
    (a)  Be at least eighteen years of age; 14 
     (b)  Furnish evidence of the person's educational 15 
qualifications which shall be at a minimum: 16 
     a.  Certification of graduation from an accredited high 17 
school or its equivalent; and 18 
     b.  On-the-job training; 19 
     (c)  Be employed in a setting in which direct and 20 
indirect supervision are provided on a regular and 21 
systematic basis by a licensed audiologist. 22 
However, the aide shall not administer or interpret hearing 23 
screening or diagnostic tests, fi t or dispense hearing 24 
instruments, make ear impressions, make diagnostic 25 
statements, determine case selection, present written 26 
reports to anyone other than the supervisor without the 27 
signature of the supervisor, make referrals to other 28 
professionals or agencies, use a title other than audiology 29 
aide, develop or modify treatment plans, discharge clients 30 
from treatment or terminate treatment, disclose clinical 31 
information, either orally or in writing, to anyone other 32 
than the supervising audiologist, or perform any procedure 33 
for which he or she is not qualified, has not been 34 
adequately trained or both; 35 
     (3)  "Board", the state board of registration for the 36 
healing arts; 37 
     (4)  "Clinical fellowship", the supervised professional 38 
employment period following completion of the academic and 39 
practicum requirements of an accredited training program 40 
under this chapter; 41 
     (5)  "Commission", the advisory commission for speech - 42 
language pathologists and audiologists; 43   
 19 
     [(5)] (6)  "Hearing instrument" or "hearing aid", any 44 
wearable device or instrument designed for or offered for 45 
the purpose of aiding or compensating for impaired human 46 
hearing and any parts, attachments or accessories, including 47 
ear molds, but excluding batteries, cords, recei vers and  48 
repairs; 49 
     [(6)] (7)  "Person", any individual, organization, or 50 
corporate body, except that only individuals may be licensed 51 
pursuant to sections 345.010 to 345.080; 52 
     [(7)] (8)  "Practice of audiology": 53 
     (a)  The application of acce pted audiologic principles, 54 
methods and procedures for the measurement, testing, 55 
interpretation, appraisal and prediction related to 56 
disorders of the auditory system, balance system or related 57 
structures and systems; 58 
     (b)  Provides consultation or counseling to the  59 
patient, client, student, their family or interested parties; 60 
     (c)  Provides academic, social and medical referrals 61 
when appropriate; 62 
     (d)  Provides for establishing goals, implementing 63 
strategies, methods and techniques, for h abilitation,  64 
rehabilitation or aural rehabilitation, related to disorders 65 
of the auditory system, balance system or related structures 66 
and systems; 67 
     (e)  Provides for involvement in related research, 68 
teaching or public education; 69 
     (f)  Provides for rendering of services or participates 70 
in the planning, directing or conducting of programs which 71 
are designed to modify audition, communicative, balance or 72 
cognitive disorder, which may involve speech and language or 73 
education issues; 74 
     (g)  Provides and interprets behavioral and 75 
neurophysiologic measurements of auditory balance, cognitive 76   
 20 
processing and related functions, including intraoperative 77 
monitoring; 78 
     (h)  Provides involvement in any tasks, procedures, 79 
acts or practices that are necessary for evaluation of 80 
audition, hearing, training in the use of amplification or 81 
assistive listening devices; 82 
     (i)  Provides selection, assessment, fitting, 83 
programming, and dispensing of hearing instruments, 84 
assistive listening devices, and other amplification systems; 85 
     (j)  Provides for taking impressions of the ear, making 86 
custom ear molds, ear plugs, swim molds and industrial noise 87 
protectors; 88 
     (k)  Provides assessment of external ear and cerumen 89 
management; 90 
     (l)  Provides advising, fitting, mapping assessment of 91 
implantable devices such as cochlear or auditory brain stem 92 
devices; 93 
     (m)  Provides information in noise control and hearing 94 
conservation including education, equipment selection, 95 
equipment calibration, site evaluation and employee 96 
evaluation; 97 
     (n)  Provides performing basic speech -language  98 
screening test; 99 
     (o)  Provides involvement in social aspects of 100 
communication, including challenging behavior and 101 
ineffective social skills, lack of communicat ion  102 
opportunities; 103 
     (p)  Provides support and training of family members 104 
and other communication partners for the individual with 105 
auditory balance, cognitive and communication disorders; 106 
     (q)  Provides aural rehabilitation and related services 107 
to individuals with hearing loss and their families; 108   
 21 
     (r)  Evaluates, collaborates and manages audition 109 
problems in the assessment of the central auditory 110 
processing disorders and providing intervention for 111 
individuals with central auditory processi ng disorders; 112 
     (s)  Develops and manages academic and clinical 113 
problems in communication sciences and disorders; 114 
     (t)  Conducts, disseminates and applies research in 115 
communication sciences and disorders; 116 
     [(8)] (9)  "Practice of speech-language pathology": 117 
     (a)  Provides screening, identification, assessment, 118 
diagnosis, treatment, intervention, including but not 119 
limited to prevention, restoration, amelioration and 120 
compensation, and follow -up services for disorders of: 121 
     a.  Speech:  articulation, fluency, voice, including 122 
respiration, phonation and resonance; 123 
     b.  Language, involving the parameters of phonology, 124 
morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatic; and including 125 
disorders of receptive and expressive communication in ora l,  126 
written, graphic and manual modalities; 127 
     c.  Oral, pharyngeal, cervical esophageal and related 128 
functions, such as dysphagia, including disorders of 129 
swallowing and oral functions for feeding; orofacial 130 
myofunctional disorders; 131 
     d.  Cognitive aspects of communication, including 132 
communication disability and other functional disabilities 133 
associated with cognitive impairment; 134 
     e.  Social aspects of communication, including 135 
challenging behavior, ineffective social skills, lack of 136 
communication opportunities; 137 
     (b)  Provides consultation and counseling and makes 138 
referrals when appropriate; 139   
 22 
     (c)  Trains and supports family members and other 140 
communication partners of individuals with speech, voice, 141 
language, communication and swallowi ng disabilities; 142 
     (d)  Develops and establishes effective augmentative 143 
and alternative communication techniques and strategies, 144 
including selecting, prescribing and dispensing of 145 
augmentative aids and devices; and the training of 146 
individuals, their families and other communication partners 147 
in their use; 148 
     (e)  Selects, fits and establishes effective use of 149 
appropriate prosthetic/adaptive devices for speaking and 150 
swallowing, such as tracheoesophageal valves, 151 
electrolarynges, or speaking valves ; 152 
     (f)  Uses instrumental technology to diagnose and treat 153 
disorders of communication and swallowing, such as 154 
videofluoroscopy, nasendoscopy, ultrasonography and 155 
stroboscopy; 156 
     (g)  Provides aural rehabilitative and related 157 
counseling services t o individuals with hearing loss and to 158 
their families; 159 
     (h)  Collaborates in the assessment of central auditory 160 
processing disorders in cases in which there is evidence of 161 
speech, language or other cognitive communication disorders; 162 
provides intervention for individuals with central auditory 163 
processing disorders; 164 
     (i)  Conducts pure-tone air conduction hearing 165 
screening and screening tympanometry for the purpose of the 166 
initial identification or referral; 167 
     (j)  Enhances speech and language proficiency and  168 
communication effectiveness, including but not limited to 169 
accent reduction, collaboration with teachers of English as 170 
a second language and improvement of voice, performance and 171 
singing; 172   
 23 
     (k)  Trains and supervises support personne l; 173 
     (l)  Develops and manages academic and clinical 174 
programs in communication sciences and disorders; 175 
     (m)  Conducts, disseminates and applies research in 176 
communication sciences and disorders; 177 
     (n)  Measures outcomes of treatment and conducts  178 
continuous evaluation of the effectiveness of practices and 179 
programs to improve and maintain quality of services; 180 
     [(9)] (10)  "Speech-language pathologist", a person who 181 
is licensed as a speech -language pathologist pursuant to 182 
sections 345.010 to 345.080; who engages in the practice of 183 
speech-language pathology as defined in sections 345.010 to 184 
345.080; 185 
     [(10)] (11)  "Speech-language pathology aide", a person 186 
who is registered as a speech -language aide by the board, 187 
who does not act indepe ndently but works under the direction 188 
and supervision of a licensed speech -language pathologist.   189 
Such person assists the speech -language pathologist with 190 
activities which require an understanding of speech -language  191 
pathology but do not require formal training in the relevant 192 
academics.  To be eligible for registration by the board, 193 
each applicant shall submit a registration fee and: 194 
     (a)  Be at least eighteen years of age; 195 
     (b)  Furnish evidence of the person's educational 196 
qualifications which shall be at a minimum: 197 
     a.  Certification of graduation from an accredited high 198 
school or its equivalent; and 199 
     b.  On-the-job training; 200 
     (c)  Be employed in a setting in which direct and 201 
indirect supervision is provided on a regular and sy stematic  202 
basis by a licensed speech -language pathologist. 203 
However, the aide shall not administer or interpret hearing 204 
screening or diagnostic tests, fit or dispense hearing 205   
 24 
instruments, make ear impressions, make diagnostic 206 
statements, determine case s election, present written 207 
reports to anyone other than the supervisor without the 208 
signature of the supervisor, make referrals to other 209 
professionals or agencies, use a title other than speech - 210 
language pathology aide, develop or modify treatment plans, 211 
discharge clients from treatment or terminate treatment, 212 
disclose clinical information, either orally or in writing, 213 
to anyone other than the supervising speech -language  214 
pathologist, or perform any procedure for which he or she is 215 
not qualified, has n ot been adequately trained or both; 216 
     [(11)] (12)  "Speech-language pathology assistant", a 217 
person who is registered as a speech -language pathology 218 
assistant by the board, who does not act independently but 219 
works under the direction and supervision o f a licensed  220 
speech-language pathologist practicing for at least one year 221 
or speech-language pathologist practicing under subdivision 222 
(1) or (6) of subsection 1 of section 345.025 for at least 223 
one year and whose activities require both academic and 224 
practical training in the field of speech -language pathology 225 
although less training than those established by sections 226 
345.010 to 345.080 as necessary for licensing as a speech - 227 
language pathologist.  To be eligible for registration by 228 
the board, each applicant shall submit the registration fee, 229 
supervising speech-language pathologist information if 230 
employment is confirmed, if not such information shall be 231 
provided after registration, and furnish evidence of the 232 
person's educational qualifications whic h meet the following: 233 
     (a)  Hold a bachelor's level degree from an institution 234 
accredited or approved by a regional accrediting body 235 
recognized by the United States Department of Education or 236 
its equivalent; and 237   
 25 
     (b)  Submit official transcripts from one or more  238 
accredited colleges or universities presenting evidence of 239 
the completion of bachelor's level course work and 240 
requirements in the field of speech -language pathology as 241 
established by the board through rules and regulations; 242 
     (c)  Submit proof of completion of the number and type 243 
of clinical hours as established by the board through rules 244 
and regulations. 245 
     345.022.  1.  Any person in the person's clinical 1 
fellowship shall hold a provisional license to practice  2 
speech-language pathology or audiology.  The board may issue 3 
a provisional license to an applicant who: 4 
     (1)  Has met the requirements for practicum and 5 
academic requirements from an accredited training program 6 
under this chapter; 7 
     (2)  Submits an application to the board on a form 8 
prescribed by the board.  Such form shall include a plan for 9 
the content and supervision of the clinical fellowship, as 10 
well as evidence of good moral and ethical character; and 11 
     (3)  Submits to the board an a pplication fee, as set by 12 
the board, for the provisional license. 13 
     2.  A provisional license is effective for one year and 14 
may be extended for an additional twelve months only for 15 
purposes of completing the postgraduate clinical experience 16 
portion of the clinical fellowship; provided, that the 17 
applicant has passed the national examination and shall hold 18 
a master's degree from an approved training program in his 19 
or her area of application. 20 
     3.  Within twelve months of issuance of the provision al  21 
license, the applicant shall pass an examination promulgated 22 
or approved by the board. 23 
     4.  Within twelve months of issuance of a provisional 24 
license, the applicant shall complete the requirements for 25   
 26 
the master's or doctoral degree from a progr am accredited by  26 
the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech - 27 
Language-Hearing Association or other accrediting agency 28 
approved by the board in the area in which licensure is 29 
sought. 30 
     345.050.  [1.]  To be eligible for licensure by the 1 
board by examination, each applicant shall submit the 2 
application fee and shall furnish evidence of such person's 3 
current competence and shall: 4 
     (1)  Hold a master's or a doctoral degree from a 5 
program that was awarded "accredit ation candidate" status or 6 
is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation of 7 
the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association or other 8 
accrediting agency approved by the board in the area in 9 
which licensure is sought; 10 
     (2)  Submit official transcripts from one or more 11 
accredited colleges or universities presenting evidence of 12 
the completion of course work and clinical practicum 13 
requirements equivalent to that required by the Council on 14 
Academic Accreditation of the American Speech -Language- 15 
Hearing Association or other accrediting agency approved by 16 
the board; [and] 17 
     (3)  Present written evidence of completion of a 18 
clinical fellowship from supervisors.  The experience  19 
required by this subdivision shall follow the completion of 20 
the requirements of subdivisions (1) and (2) of this 21 
subsection.  This period of employment shall be under the 22 
direct supervision of a person who is licensed by the state 23 
of Missouri in the profession in which the applicant seeks 24 
to be licensed.  Persons applying with an audiology clinical 25 
doctoral degree are exempt from this provision; and 26   
 27 
     (4)  Pass an examination promulgated or approved by the 27 
board.  The board shall determine the subject and scope of 28 
the examinations. 29 
     [2.  To be eligible for licensure by the board without 30 
examination, each applicant shall make application on forms 31 
prescribed by the board, submit the application fee, submit 32 
an activity statement and meet one of the following 33 
requirements: 34 
     (1)  The board shall issue a license to any speech - 35 
language pathologist or audiologist who is licensed in 36 
another country and who has had no violations, suspension or 37 
revocations of a license to practice speech -language  38 
pathology or audiology in any jurisdiction; provided that, 39 
such person is licensed in a country whose requirements are 40 
substantially equal to, or greater than, Missouri at the 41 
time the applicant applies for licensure; or 42 
     (2)  Hold the certificate of clinical competence issued 43 
by the American Speech -Language-Hearing Association in the 44 
area in which licensure is sought. ] 45 
     345.052.  1.  For purposes of this section, the 1 
following terms mean: 2 
     (1)  "Board", the Missouri board of registration for 3 
the healing arts; 4 
     (2)  "Commission", the advisory commission for speech - 5 
language pathologists and audiologists; 6 
     (3)  "License", a license, certificate, registration, 7 
permit, accreditation, or military occupational specialty 8 
that enables a person to legally practice an occupation or  9 
profession in a particular jurisdiction; 10 
     (4)  "Military", the Armed Forces of the United States 11 
including the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, 12 
Navy, Space Force, National Guard, and any other military 13 
branch that is designated by Congr ess as part of the Armed 14   
 28 
Forces of the United States, and all reserve components and 15 
auxiliaries.  Such term also includes the military reserves 16 
and militia of the United States territory or state; 17 
     (5)  "Nonresident military spouse", a nonresident 18 
spouse of an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the 19 
United States who has been transferred or is scheduled to be 20 
transferred to an adjacent state and is or will be domiciled 21 
in the state of Missouri, or has moved to the state of 22 
Missouri on a permanent change-of-station basis; 23 
     (6)  "Resident military spouse", a spouse of an active 24 
duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States who has 25 
been transferred or is scheduled to be transferred to the 26 
state of Missouri, who is domiciled in t he state of  27 
Missouri, or who has Missouri as his or her home of record. 28 
     2.  Any person who holds a valid current speech - 29 
language pathologist or audiologist license issued by 30 
another state, a branch or unit of the military, a territory 31 
of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and who 32 
has been licensed for at least one year in the other 33 
jurisdiction, may submit an application for a speech - 34 
language pathologist or audiologist license in Missouri 35 
along with proof of current licensure and p roof of licensure  36 
for at least one year in the other jurisdiction, to the 37 
board. 38 
     3.  The board shall: 39 
     (1)  Within six months of receiving an application 40 
described in subsection 2 of this section, waive any 41 
examination, educational, or experie nce requirements for 42 
licensure in this state for the applicant if it determines 43 
that there were minimum education requirements and, if 44 
applicable, work experience and clinical supervision 45 
requirements in effect and the other state verifies that the 46 
person met those requirements in order to be licensed or 47   
 29 
certified in that state.  The board may require an applicant 48 
to take and pass an examination specific to the laws of this 49 
state; or 50 
     (2)  Within thirty days of receiving an application 51 
describe in subsection 2 of this section from a nonresident 52 
military spouse or a resident military spouse, waive any 53 
examination, educational, or experience requirements for 54 
licensure in this state for the applicant and issue such 55 
applicant a license under thi s section if such applicant 56 
otherwise meets the requirements of this section. 57 
     4.  (1)  The board shall not waive any examination, 58 
educational, or experience requirements for any applicant 59 
who has had his or her license revoked by a board outside 60 
the state; who is currently under investigation, who has a 61 
complaint pending, or who is currently under disciplinary 62 
action, except as provided in subdivision (2) of this 63 
subsection, with a board outside the state; who does not 64 
hold a license in good st anding with a board outside the 65 
state; who has a criminal record that would disqualify him 66 
or her for licensure in Missouri; or who does not hold a 67 
valid current license in the other jurisdiction on the date 68 
the board receives his or her application un der this section. 69 
     (2)  If another jurisdiction has taken disciplinary 70 
action against an applicant, the board shall determine if 71 
the cause for the action was corrected and the matter 72 
resolved.  If the matter has not been resolved by that 73 
jurisdiction, the board may deny a license until the matter 74 
is resolved. 75 
     5.  Nothing in this section shall prohibit the board 76 
from denying a license to an applicant under this section 77 
for any reason described in section 345.065. 78 
     6.  Any person who is li censed under the provisions of 79 
this section shall be subject to the board's jurisdiction 80   
 30 
and all rules and regulations pertaining to the practice as 81 
a speech-language pathologist or audiologist in this state. 82 
     7.  This section shall not be construed to waive any  83 
requirement for an applicant to pay any fees. 84 
     345.085.  SECTION 1.  PURPOSE 1 
     The purpose of this Compact is to facilitate interstate 2 
practice of audiology and speech -language pathology with the 3 
goal of improving pu blic access to audiology and speech - 4 
language pathology services.  The practice of audiology and 5 
speech-language pathology occurs in the state where the 6 
patient/client/student is located at the time of the 7 
patient/client/student encounter.  The Compact preserves the  8 
regulatory authority of states to protect public health and 9 
safety through the current system of state licensure. 10 
     This Compact is designed to achieve the following 11 
objectives: 12 
     1.  Increase public access to audiology and speech - 13 
language pathology services by providing for the mutual 14 
recognition of other member state licenses; 15 
     2.  Enhance the states' ability to protect the public's 16 
health and safety; 17 
     3.  Encourage the cooperation of member states in 18 
regulating multistate audiology and speech -language  19 
pathology practice; 20 
     4.  Support spouses of relocating active duty military 21 
personnel; 22 
     5.  Enhance the exchange of licensure, investigative 23 
and disciplinary information between member states; 24 
     6.  Allow a remote state to hold a provider of services 25 
with a compact privilege in that state accountable to that 26 
state's practice standards; and 27   
 31 
     7.  Allow for the use of telehealth technology to 28 
facilitate increased access to audiology and speech -language  29 
pathology services. 30 
     SECTION 2.  DEFINITIONS 31 
     As used in this Compact, and except as otherwise 32 
provided, the following definitions shall apply: 33 
     A.  "Active duty military" means full -time duty status  34 
in the active uniformed service of the United States,  35 
including members of the National Guard and Reserve on 36 
active duty orders pursuant to 10 U.S.C. Chapter 1209 and 37 
1211. 38 
     B.  "Adverse action" means any administrative, civil, 39 
equitable or criminal action permitted by a state's laws 40 
which is imposed by a licensing board or other authority 41 
against an audiologist or speech -language pathologist, 42 
including actions against an individual's license or 43 
privilege to practice such as revocation, suspension, 44 
probation, monitoring of the licensee, o r restriction on the 45 
licensee's practice. 46 
     C.  "Alternative program" means a non -disciplinary  47 
monitoring process approved by an audiology or speech - 48 
language pathology licensing board to address impaired 49 
practitioners. 50 
     D.  "Audiologist" means a n individual who is licensed 51 
by a state to practice audiology. 52 
     E.  "Audiology" means the care and services provided by 53 
a licensed audiologist as set forth in the member state's 54 
statutes and rules. 55 
     F.  "Audiology and Speech -Language Pathology C ompact  56 
Commission" or "Commission" means the national 57 
administrative body whose membership consists of all states 58 
that have enacted the Compact. 59   
 32 
     G.  "Audiology and speech -language pathology licensing 60 
board," "audiology licensing board," "speech -language  61 
pathology licensing board," or "licensing board" means the 62 
agency of a state that is responsible for the licensing and 63 
regulation of audiologists and/or speech -language  64 
pathologists. 65 
     H.  "Compact privilege" means the authorization granted 66 
by a remote state to allow a licensee from another member 67 
state to practice as an audiologist or speech -language  68 
pathologist in the remote state under its laws and rules.   69 
The practice of audiology or speech -language pathology 70 
occurs in the member stat e where the patient/client/student 71 
is located at the time of the patient/client/student 72 
encounter. 73 
     I.  "Current significant investigative information" 74 
means investigative information that a licensing board, 75 
after an inquiry or investigation that i ncludes notification 76 
and an opportunity for the audiologist or speech -language  77 
pathologist to respond, if required by state law, has reason 78 
to believe is not groundless and, if proved true, would 79 
indicate more than a minor infraction. 80 
     J.  "Data system" means a repository of information 81 
about licensees, including, but not limited to, continuing 82 
education, examination, licensure, investigative, compact 83 
privilege and adverse action. 84 
     K.  "Encumbered license" means a license in which an 85 
adverse action restricts the practice of audiology or speech - 86 
language pathology by the licensee and said adverse action 87 
has been reported to the National Practitioners Data Bank 88 
(NPDB). 89 
     L.  "Executive Committee" means a group of directors 90 
elected or appointed to act on behalf of, and within the 91 
powers granted to them by, the Commission. 92   
 33 
     M.  "Home state" means the member state that is the 93 
licensee's primary state of residence. 94 
     N.  "Impaired practitioner" means individuals whose 95 
professional practice is adversely affected by substance 96 
abuse, addiction, or other health -related conditions. 97 
     O.  "Licensee" means an individual who currently holds 98 
an authorization from the state licensing board to practice 99 
as an audiologist or speech -language pathologist. 100 
     P.  "Member state" means a state that has enacted the 101 
Compact. 102 
     Q.  "Privilege to practice" means a legal authorization 103 
permitting the practice of audiology or speech -language  104 
pathology in a remote state. 105 
     R.  "Remote state" means a member state other than the 106 
home state where a licensee is exercising or seeking to 107 
exercise the compact privilege. 108 
     S.  "Rule" means a regulation, principle or directive 109 
promulgated by the Commission that has the force of law. 110 
     T.  "Single-state license" means an audiology or speech - 111 
language pathology license issued by a member state that 112 
authorizes practice only within the issuing state and does 113 
not include a privilege to practice in any other member 114 
state. 115 
     U.  "Speech-language pathologist" means an individual 116 
who is licensed by a state to practice speech -language  117 
pathology. 118 
     V.  "Speech-language pathology" means the care and 119 
services provided by a licensed speech -language pathologist 120 
as set forth in the member state's sta tutes and rules. 121 
     W.  "State" means any state, commonwealth, district or 122 
territory of the United States of America that regulates the 123 
practice of audiology and speech -language pathology. 124   
 34 
     X.  "State practice laws" means a member state's laws, 125 
rules and regulations that govern the practice of audiology 126 
or speech-language pathology, define the scope of audiology 127 
or speech-language pathology practice, and create the 128 
methods and grounds for imposing discipline. 129 
     Y.  "Telehealth" means the appl ication of  130 
telecommunication technology to deliver audiology or speech - 131 
language pathology services at a distance for assessment, 132 
intervention and/or consultation. 133 
     SECTION 3. STATE PARTICIPATION IN THE COMPACT 134 
     A.  A license issued to an audiolo gist or speech- 135 
language pathologist by a home state to a resident in that 136 
state shall be recognized by each member state as 137 
authorizing an audiologist or speech -language pathologist to 138 
practice audiology or speech -language pathology, under a 139 
privilege to practice, in each member state. 140 
     B.  A state must implement or utilize procedures for 141 
considering the criminal history records of applicants for 142 
initial privilege to practice.  These procedures shall 143 
include the submission of fingerprints or oth er biometric- 144 
based information by applicants for the purpose of obtaining 145 
an applicant's criminal history record information from the 146 
Federal Bureau of Investigation and the agency responsible 147 
for retaining that state's criminal records. 148 
     1.  A member state must fully implement a criminal 149 
background check requirement, within a time frame 150 
established by rule, by receiving the results of the Federal 151 
Bureau of Investigation record search on criminal background 152 
checks and use the results in making l icensure decisions. 153 
     2.  Communication between a member state, the 154 
Commission and among member states regarding the 155 
verification of eligibility for licensure through the 156 
Compact shall not include any information received from the 157   
 35 
Federal Bureau of Investigation relating to a federal 158 
criminal records check performed by a member state under 159 
Public Law 92-544. 160 
     C.  Upon application for a privilege to practice, the 161 
licensing board in the issuing remote state shall ascertain, 162 
through the data sys tem, whether the applicant has ever 163 
held, or is the holder of, a license issued by any other 164 
state, whether there are any encumbrances on any license or 165 
privilege to practice held by the applicant, whether any 166 
adverse action has been taken against any license or  167 
privilege to practice held by the applicant. 168 
     D.  Each member state shall require an applicant to 169 
obtain or retain a license in the home state and meet the 170 
home state's qualifications for licensure or renewal of 171 
licensure, as well as, al l other applicable state laws. 172 
     E.  For an audiologist: 173 
     1.  Must meet one of the following educational 174 
requirements: 175 
     a.  On or before, Dec. 31, 2007, has graduated with a 176 
master's degree or doctorate in audiology, or equivalent 177 
degree regardless of degree name, from a program that is 178 
accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the 179 
Council for Higher Education Accreditation, or its 180 
successor, or by the United States Department of Education 181 
and operated by a college or university ac credited by a  182 
regional or national accrediting organization recognized by 183 
the board; or 184 
     b.  On or after, Jan. 1, 2008, has graduated with a 185 
Doctoral degree in audiology, or equivalent degree, 186 
regardless of degree name, from a program that is accre dited  187 
by an accrediting agency recognized by the Council for 188 
Higher Education Accreditation, or its successor, or by the 189 
United States Department of Education and operated by a 190   
 36 
college or university accredited by a regional or national 191 
accrediting organization recognized by the board; or 192 
     c.  Has graduated from an audiology program that is 193 
housed in an institution of higher education outside of the 194 
United States (a) for which the program and institution have 195 
been approved by the authorized accre diting body in the 196 
applicable country and (b) the degree program has been 197 
verified by an independent credentials review agency to be 198 
comparable to a state licensing board -approved program. 199 
     2.  Has completed a supervised clinical practicum 200 
experience from an accredited educational institution or its 201 
cooperating programs as required by the Commission; 202 
     3.  Has successfully passed a national examination 203 
approved by the Commission; 204 
     4.  Holds an active, unencumbered license; 205 
     5.  Has not been convicted or found guilty, and has not 206 
entered into an agreed disposition, of a felony related to 207 
the practice of audiology, under applicable state or federal 208 
criminal law; 209 
     6.  Has a valid United States Social Security or 210 
National Practitione r Identification number. 211 
     F.  For a speech-language pathologist: 212 
     1.  Must meet one of the following educational 213 
requirements: 214 
     a.  Has graduated with a master's degree from a speech - 215 
language pathology program that is accredited by an 216 
organization recognized by the United States Department of 217 
Education and operated by a college or university accredited 218 
by a regional or national accrediting organization 219 
recognized by the board; or 220 
     b.  Has graduated from a speech -language pathology 221 
program that is housed in an institution of higher education 222 
outside of the United States (a) for which the program and 223   
 37 
institution have been approved by the authorized accrediting 224 
body in the applicable country and (b) the degree program 225 
has been verified by an independent credentials review 226 
agency to be comparable to a state licensing board -approved  227 
program. 228 
     2.  Has completed a supervised clinical practicum 229 
experience from an educational institution or its 230 
cooperating programs as required by the Commission; 231 
     3.  Has completed a supervised postgraduate 232 
professional experience as required by the Commission; 233 
     4.  Has successfully passed a national examination 234 
approved by the Commission; 235 
     5.  Holds an active, unencumbered license; 236 
     6.  Has not been convicted or found guilty, and has not 237 
entered into an agreed disposition, of a felony related to 238 
the practice of speech -language pathology, under applicable 239 
state or federal criminal law; 240 
     7.  Has a valid United States Social Secur ity or  241 
National Practitioner Identification number. 242 
     G.  The privilege to practice is derived from the home 243 
state license. 244 
     H.  An audiologist or speech -language pathologist 245 
practicing in a member state must comply with the state 246 
practice laws of the state in which the client is located at 247 
the time service is provided.  The practice of audiology and 248 
speech-language pathology shall include all audiology and 249 
speech-language pathology practice as defined by the state 250 
practice laws of the member state in which the client is 251 
located.  The practice of audiology and speech -language  252 
pathology in a member state under a privilege to practice 253 
shall subject an audiologist or speech -language pathologist 254 
to the jurisdiction of the licensing board, the courts and  255   
 38 
the laws of the member state in which the client is located 256 
at the time service is provided. 257 
     I.  Individuals not residing in a member state shall 258 
continue to be able to apply for a member state's single - 259 
state license as provided under t he laws of each member 260 
state.  However, the single-state license granted to these 261 
individuals shall not be recognized as granting the 262 
privilege to practice audiology or speech -language pathology 263 
in any other member state.  Nothing in this Compact shall  264 
affect the requirements established by a member state for 265 
the issuance of a single -state license. 266 
     J.  Member states may charge a fee for granting a 267 
compact privilege. 268 
     K.  Member states must comply with the bylaws and rules 269 
and regulations of the Commission. 270 
     SECTION 4.  COMPACT PRIVILEGE 271 
     A.  To exercise the compact privilege under the terms 272 
and provisions of the Compact, the audiologist or speech - 273 
language pathologist shall: 274 
     1.  Hold an active license in the home state; 275 
     2.  Have no encumbrance on any state license; 276 
     3.  Be eligible for a compact privilege in any member 277 
state in accordance with Section 3; 278 
     4.  Have not had any adverse action against any license 279 
or compact privilege within the previous 2 years from date  280 
of application; 281 
     5.  Notify the Commission that the licensee is seeking 282 
the compact privilege within a remote state(s); 283 
     6.  Pay any applicable fees, including any state fee, 284 
for the compact privilege; 285 
     7.  Report to the Commission adve rse action taken by 286 
any non-member state within 30 days from the date the 287 
adverse action is taken. 288   
 39 
     B.  For the purposes of the compact privilege, an 289 
audiologist or speech -language pathologist shall only hold 290 
one home state license at a time. 291 
     C.  Except as provided in Section 6, if an audiologist 292 
or speech-language pathologist changes primary state of 293 
residence by moving between two -member states, the 294 
audiologist or speech -language pathologist must apply for 295 
licensure in the new home state, and the license issued by 296 
the prior home state shall be deactivated in accordance with 297 
applicable rules adopted by the Commission. 298 
     D.  The audiologist or speech -language pathologist may 299 
apply for licensure in advance of a change in primary state 300 
of residence. 301 
     E.  A license shall not be issued by the new home state 302 
until the audiologist or speech -language pathologist 303 
provides satisfactory evidence of a change in primary state 304 
of residence to the new home state and satisfies all 305 
applicable requirements to obtain a license from the new 306 
home state. 307 
     F.  If an audiologist or speech -language pathologist 308 
changes primary state of residence by moving from a member 309 
state to a non-member state, the license issued by the prior 310 
home state shall convert to a single-state license, valid 311 
only in the former home state. 312 
     G.  The compact privilege is valid until the expiration 313 
date of the home state license.  The licensee must comply 314 
with the requirements of Section 4A to maintain the compact 315 
privilege in the remote state. 316 
     H.  A licensee providing audiology or speech -language  317 
pathology services in a remote state under the compact 318 
privilege shall function within the laws and regulations of 319 
the remote state. 320   
 40 
     I.  A licensee providing audiology or speech-language  321 
pathology services in a remote state is subject to that 322 
state's regulatory authority.  A remote state may, in 323 
accordance with due process and that state's laws, remove a 324 
licensee's compact privilege in the remote state for a  325 
specific period of time, impose fines, and/or take any other 326 
necessary actions to protect the health and safety of its 327 
citizens. 328 
     J.  If a home state license is encumbered, the licensee 329 
shall lose the compact privilege in any remote state until 330 
the following occur: 331 
     1.  The home state license is no longer encumbered; and 332 
     2.  Two years have elapsed from the date of the adverse 333 
action. 334 
     K.  Once an encumbered license in the home state is 335 
restored to good standing, the licensee must m eet the  336 
requirements of Section 4A to obtain a compact privilege in 337 
any remote state. 338 
     L.  Once the requirements of Section 4J have been met, 339 
the licensee must meet the requirements in Section 4A to 340 
obtain a compact privilege in a remote state. 341 
    SECTION 5.  COMPACT PRIVILEGE TO PRACTICE TELEHEALTH 342 
     Member states shall recognize the right of an 343 
audiologist or speech -language pathologist, licensed by a 344 
home state in accordance with Section 3 and under rules 345 
promulgated by the Commission, to practice audiology or 346 
speech-language pathology in any member state via telehealth 347 
under a privilege to practice as provided in the Compact and 348 
rules promulgated by the Commission. 349 
     SECTION 6.  ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL OR THEIR 350 
SPOUSES 351 
     Active duty military personnel, or their spouse, shall 352 
designate a home state where the individual has a current 353   
 41 
license in good standing.  The individual may retain the 354 
home state designation during the period the service member 355 
is on active duty.  Subsequent to designating a home state, 356 
the individual shall only change their home state through 357 
application for licensure in the new state. 358 
     SECTION 7.  ADVERSE ACTIONS 359 
     A.  In addition to the other powers conferred by state 360 
law, a remote state shall have the authority, in accordance 361 
with existing state due process law, to: 362 
     1.  Take adverse action against an audiologist's or 363 
speech-language pathologist's privilege to practice within 364 
that member state. 365 
     2.  Issue subpoenas for both hea rings and  366 
investigations that require the attendance and testimony of 367 
witnesses as well as the production of evidence.  Subpoenas  368 
issued by a licensing board in a member state for the 369 
attendance and testimony of witnesses or the production of 370 
evidence from another member state shall be enforced in the 371 
latter state by any court of competent jurisdiction, 372 
according to the practice and procedure of that court 373 
applicable to subpoenas issued in proceedings pending before 374 
it.  The issuing authority shall pay any witness fees, 375 
travel expenses, mileage and other fees required by the 376 
service statutes of the state in which the witnesses or 377 
evidence are located. 378 
     3.  Only the home state shall have the power to take 379 
adverse action against a audiologist' s or speech-language  380 
pathologist's license issued by the home state. 381 
     B.  For purposes of taking adverse action, the home 382 
state shall give the same priority and effect to reported 383 
conduct received from a member state as it would if the 384 
conduct had occurred within the home state.  In so doing,  385   
 42 
the home state shall apply its own state laws to determine 386 
appropriate action. 387 
     C.  The home state shall complete any pending 388 
investigations of an audiologist or speech -language  389 
pathologist who changes primary state of residence during 390 
the course of the investigations.  The home state shall also 391 
have the authority to take appropriate action(s) and shall 392 
promptly report the conclusions of the investigations to the 393 
administrator of the data system.  The administrator of the 394 
coordinated licensure information system shall promptly 395 
notify the new home state of any adverse actions. 396 
     D.  If otherwise permitted by state law, the member 397 
state may recover from the affected audiologist or speech - 398 
language pathologist the costs of investigations and 399 
disposition of cases resulting from any adverse action taken 400 
against that audiologist or speech -language pathologist. 401 
     E.  The member state may take adverse action based on 402 
the factual findings of the rem ote state, provided that the 403 
member state follows the member state's own procedures for 404 
taking the adverse action. 405 
     F.  Joint Investigations: 406 
     1.  In addition to the authority granted to a member 407 
state by its respective audiology or speech -language  408 
pathology practice act or other applicable state law, any 409 
member state may participate with other member states in 410 
joint investigations of licensees. 411 
     2.  Member states shall share any investigative, 412 
litigation, or compliance materials in furth erance of any  413 
joint or individual investigation initiated under the 414 
Compact. 415 
     G.  If adverse action is taken by the home state 416 
against an audiologist's or speech -language pathologist's 417 
license, the audiologist's or speech -language pathologist's 418   
 43 
privilege to practice in all other member states shall be 419 
deactivated until all encumbrances have been removed from 420 
the state license.  All home state disciplinary orders that 421 
impose adverse action against an audiologist's or speech - 422 
language pathologist' s license shall include a statement 423 
that the audiologist's or speech -language pathologist's 424 
privilege to practice is deactivated in all member states 425 
during the pendency of the order. 426 
     H.  If a member state takes adverse action, it shall 427 
promptly notify the administrator of the data system.  The  428 
administrator of the data system shall promptly notify the 429 
home state of any adverse actions by remote states. 430 
     I.  Nothing in this Compact shall override a member 431 
state's decision that participation in an alternative  432 
program may be used in lieu of adverse action. 433 
     SECTION 8.  ESTABLISHMENT OF THE AUDIOLOGY AND SPEECH - 434 
LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY COMPACT COMMISSION 435 
     A.  The Compact member states hereby create and 436 
establish a joint public agency known as the Audiology and 437 
Speech-Language Pathology Compact Commission: 438 
     1.  The Commission is an instrumentality of the Compact 439 
states. 440 
     2.  Venue is proper and judicial proceedings by or 441 
against the Commission shall be brought solely and 442 
exclusively in a court of competent jurisdiction where the 443 
principal office of the Commission is located.  The  444 
Commission may waive venue and jurisdictional defenses to 445 
the extent it adopts or consents to participate in 446 
alternative dispute resolution proceeding s. 447 
     3.  Nothing in this Compact shall be construed to be a 448 
waiver of sovereign immunity. 449 
     B.  Membership, Voting and Meetings: 450   
 44 
     1.  Each member state shall have two (2) delegates 451 
selected by that member state's licensing board.  The  452 
delegates shall be current members of the licensing board. 453 
One shall be an audiologist and one shall be a speech - 454 
language pathologist. 455 
     2.  An additional five (5) delegates, who are either a 456 
public member or board administrator from a state licensing 457 
board, shall be chosen by the Executive Committee from a 458 
pool of nominees provided by the Commission at Large. 459 
     3.  Any delegate may be removed or suspended from 460 
office as provided by the law of the state from which the 461 
delegate is appointed. 462 
     4.  The member state board shall fill any vacancy 463 
occurring on the Commission, within 90 days. 464 
     5.  Each delegate shall be entitled to one (1) vote 465 
with regard to the promulgation of rules and creation of 466 
bylaws and shall otherwise have an opportunity to 467 
participate in the business and affairs of the Commission. 468 
     6.  A delegate shall vote in person or by other means 469 
as provided in the bylaws.  The bylaws may provide for 470 
delegates' participation in meetings by telephone or other 471 
means of communicati on. 472 
     7.  The Commission shall meet at least once during each 473 
calendar year. Additional meetings shall be held as set 474 
forth in the bylaws. 475 
     C.  The Commission shall have the following powers and 476 
duties: 477 
     1.  Establish the fiscal year of the C ommission; 478 
     2.  Establish bylaws; 479 
     3.  Establish a Code of Ethics; 480 
     4.  Maintain its financial records in accordance with 481 
the bylaws; 482   
 45 
     5.  Meet and take actions as are consistent with the 483 
provisions of this Compact and the bylaws; 484 
     6.  Promulgate uniform rules to facilitate and 485 
coordinate implementation and administration of this 486 
Compact.  The rules shall have the force and effect of law 487 
and shall be binding in all member states; 488 
     7.  Bring and prosecute legal proceedings or act ions in  489 
the name of the Commission, provided that the standing of 490 
any state audiology or speech -language pathology licensing 491 
board to sue or be sued under applicable law shall not be 492 
affected; 493 
     8.  Purchase and maintain insurance and bonds; 494 
     9.  Borrow, accept, or contract for services of 495 
personnel, including, but not limited to, employees of a 496 
member state; 497 
     10.  Hire employees, elect or appoint officers, fix 498 
compensation, define duties, grant individuals appropriate 499 
authority to carry out the purposes of the Compact, and to 500 
establish the Commission's personnel policies and programs 501 
relating to conflicts of interest, qualifications of 502 
personnel, and other related personnel matters; 503 
     11.  Accept any and all appropriate donations an d  504 
grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials and 505 
services, and to receive, utilize and dispose of the same; 506 
provided that at all times the Commission shall avoid any 507 
appearance of impropriety and/or conflict of interest; 508 
     12.  Lease, purchase, accept appropriate gifts or 509 
donations of, or otherwise to own, hold, improve or use, any 510 
property, real, personal or mixed; provided that at all 511 
times the Commission shall avoid any appearance of 512 
impropriety; 513   
 46 
     13.  Sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange,  514 
abandon, or otherwise dispose of any property real, 515 
personal, or mixed; 516 
     14.  Establish a budget and make expenditures; 517 
     15.  Borrow money; 518 
     16.  Appoint committees, including standing committees 519 
composed of members, and oth er interested persons as may be 520 
designated in this Compact and the bylaws; 521 
     17.  Provide and receive information from, and 522 
cooperate with, law enforcement agencies; 523 
     18.  Establish and elect an Executive Committee; and 524 
     19.  Perform other functions as may be necessary or 525 
appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Compact 526 
consistent with the state regulation of audiology and speech - 527 
language pathology licensure and practice. 528 
     D.  The Executive Committee 529 
     The Executive Committee shall have the power to act on 530 
behalf of the Commission according to the terms of this 531 
Compact: 532 
     1.  The Executive Committee shall be composed of ten 533 
(10) members: 534 
     a.  Seven (7) voting members who are elected by the 535 
Commission from the current memb ership of the Commission; 536 
     b.  Two (2) ex-officios, consisting of one nonvoting 537 
member from a recognized national audiology professional 538 
association and one nonvoting member from a recognized 539 
national speech-language pathology association; and 540 
     c.  One (1) ex-officio, nonvoting member from the 541 
recognized membership organization of the audiology and 542 
speech-language pathology licensing boards. 543 
     E.  The ex-officio members shall be selected by their 544 
respective organizations. 545   
 47 
     1.  The Commission may remove any member of the 546 
Executive Committee as provided in bylaws. 547 
     2.  The Executive Committee shall meet at least 548 
annually. 549 
     3.  The Executive Committee shall have the following 550 
duties and responsibilities: 551 
     a.  Recommend to the entire Commission changes to the 552 
rules or bylaws, changes to this Compact legislation, fees 553 
paid by Compact member states such as annual dues, and any 554 
commission Compact fee charged to licensees for the compact 555 
privilege; 556 
     b.  Ensure Compact admin istration services are 557 
appropriately provided, contractual or otherwise; 558 
     c.  Prepare and recommend the budget; 559 
     d.  Maintain financial records on behalf of the 560 
Commission; 561 
     e.  Monitor Compact compliance of member states and 562 
provide compliance reports to the Commission; 563 
     f.  Establish additional committees as necessary; and 564 
     g.  Other duties as provided in rules or bylaws. 565 
     4.  Meetings of the Commission 566 
     All meetings shall be open to the public, and public 567 
notice of meetings shall be given in the same manner as 568 
required under the rulemaking provisions in Section 10. 569 
     5.  The Commission or the Executive Committee or other 570 
committees of the Commission may convene in a closed, non - 571 
public meeting if the Commission or Exec utive Committee or 572 
other committees of the Commission must discuss: 573 
     a.  Non-compliance of a member state with its 574 
obligations under the Compact; 575 
     b.  The employment, compensation, discipline or other 576 
matters, practices or procedures related to specific  577   
 48 
employees or other matters related to the Commission's 578 
internal personnel practices and procedures; 579 
     c.  Current, threatened, or reasonably anticipated 580 
litigation; 581 
     d.  Negotiation of contracts for the purchase, lease, 582 
or sale of goods, services, or real estate; 583 
     e.  Accusing any person of a crime or formally 584 
censuring any person; 585 
     f.  Disclosure of trade secrets or commercial or 586 
financial information that is privileged or confidential; 587 
     g.  Disclosure of information of a personal nature  588 
where disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted 589 
invasion of personal privacy; 590 
     h.  Disclosure of investigative records compiled for 591 
law enforcement purposes; 592 
     i.  Disclosure of information related to any 593 
investigative reports prepared by or on behalf of or for use 594 
of the Commission or other committee charged with 595 
responsibility of investigation or determination of 596 
compliance issues pursuant to the Compact; or 597 
     j.  Matters specifically exempted from disclosure by 598 
federal or member state statute. 599 
     6.  If a meeting, or portion of a meeting, is closed 600 
pursuant to this provision, the Commission's legal counsel 601 
or designee shall certify that the meeting may be closed and 602 
shall reference each relevant exempting pro vision. 603 
     7.  The Commission shall keep minutes that fully and 604 
clearly describe all matters discussed in a meeting and 605 
shall provide a full and accurate summary of actions taken, 606 
and the reasons therefore, including a description of the 607 
views expressed.  All documents considered in connection 608 
with an action shall be identified in minutes.  All minutes  609 
and documents of a closed meeting shall remain under seal, 610   
 49 
subject to release by a majority vote of the Commission or 611 
order of a court of competent jurisdiction. 612 
     8.  Financing of the Commission: 613 
     a.  The Commission shall pay, or provide for the 614 
payment of, the reasonable expenses of its establishment, 615 
organization, and ongoing activities. 616 
     b.  The Commission may accept any and all appr opriate  617 
revenue sources, donations, and grants of money, equipment, 618 
supplies, materials, and services. 619 
     c.  The Commission may levy on and collect an annual 620 
assessment from each member state or impose fees on other 621 
parties to cover the cost of the operations and activities 622 
of the Commission and its staff, which must be in a total 623 
amount sufficient to cover its annual budget as approved 624 
each year for which revenue is not provided by other 625 
sources.  The aggregate annual assessment amount shall be 626 
allocated based upon a formula to be determined by the 627 
Commission, which shall promulgate a rule binding upon all 628 
member states. 629 
     9.  The Commission shall not incur obligations of any 630 
kind prior to securing the funds adequate to meet the same; 631 
nor shall the Commission pledge the credit of any of the 632 
member states, except by and with the authority of the 633 
member state. 634 
     10.  The Commission shall keep accurate accounts of all 635 
receipts and disbursements.  The receipts and disbursements 636 
of the Commission shall be subject to the audit and 637 
accounting procedures established under its bylaws.   638 
However, all receipts and disbursements of funds handled by 639 
the Commission shall be audited yearly by a certified or 640 
licensed public accountant, and the re port of the audit  641 
shall be included in and become part of the annual report of 642 
the Commission. 643   
 50 
     F.  Qualified Immunity, Defense, and Indemnification: 644 
     1.  The members, officers, executive director, 645 
employees and representatives of the Commission shall be  646 
immune from suit and liability, either personally or in 647 
their official capacity, for any claim for damage to or loss 648 
of property or personal injury or other civil liability 649 
caused by or arising out of any actual or alleged act, error 650 
or omission that occurred, or that the person against whom 651 
the claim is made had a reasonable basis for believing 652 
occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties 653 
or responsibilities; provided that nothing in this paragraph 654 
shall be construed to pro tect any person from suit and/or 655 
liability for any damage, loss, injury, or liability caused 656 
by the intentional or willful or wanton misconduct of that 657 
person. 658 
     2.  The Commission shall defend any member, officer, 659 
executive director, employee or re presentative of the 660 
Commission in any civil action seeking to impose liability 661 
arising out of any actual or alleged act, error, or omission 662 
that occurred within the scope of Commission employment, 663 
duties, or responsibilities, or that the person against whom  664 
the claim is made had a reasonable basis for believing 665 
occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties, 666 
or responsibilities; provided that nothing herein shall be 667 
construed to prohibit that person from retaining his or her 668 
own counsel; and provided further, that the actual or 669 
alleged act, error, or omission did not result from that 670 
person's intentional or willful or wanton misconduct. 671 
     3.  The Commission shall indemnify and hold harmless 672 
any member, officer, executive director, employee, or  673 
representative of the Commission for the amount of any 674 
settlement or judgment obtained against that person arising 675 
out of any actual or alleged act, error or omission that 676   
 51 
occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties, 677 
or responsibilities, or that person had a reasonable basis 678 
for believing occurred within the scope of Commission 679 
employment, duties, or responsibilities, provided that the 680 
actual or alleged act, error, or omission did not result 681 
from the intentional or willf ul or wanton misconduct of that 682 
person. 683 
     SECTION 9.  DATA SYSTEM 684 
     A.  The Commission shall provide for the development, 685 
maintenance, and utilization of a coordinated database and 686 
reporting system containing licensure, adverse action, and 687 
investigative information on all licensed individuals in 688 
member states. 689 
     B. Notwithstanding any other provision of state law to 690 
the contrary, a member state shall submit a uniform data set 691 
to the data system on all individuals to whom this Compact 692 
is applicable as required by the rules of the Commission, 693 
including: 694 
     1.  Identifying information; 695 
     2.  Licensure data; 696 
     3.  Adverse actions against a license or compact 697 
privilege; 698 
     4.  Non-confidential information related to alternative 699 
program participation; 700 
     5.  Any denial of application for licensure, and the 701 
reason(s) for denial; and 702 
     6.  Other information that may facilitate the 703 
administration of this Compact, as determined by the rules 704 
of the Commission. 705 
     C.  Investigative information pertaining to a licensee 706 
in any member state shall only be available to other member 707 
states. 708   
 52 
     D.  The Commission shall promptly notify all member 709 
states of any adverse action taken against a licensee or an 710 
individual applying for a lic ense.  Adverse action  711 
information pertaining to a licensee in any member state 712 
shall be available to any other member state. 713 
     E.  Member states contributing information to the data 714 
system may designate information that may not be shared with 715 
the public without the express permission of the 716 
contributing state. 717 
     F.  Any information submitted to the data system that 718 
is subsequently required to be expunged by the laws of the 719 
member state contributing the information shall be removed 720 
from the data system. 721 
     SECTION 10.  RULEMAKING 722 
     A.  The Commission shall exercise its rulemaking powers 723 
pursuant to the criteria set forth in this Section and the 724 
rules adopted thereunder.  Rules and amendments shall become 725 
binding as of the date specified in each rule or amendment. 726 
     B.  If a majority of the legislatures of the member 727 
states rejects a rule, by enactment of a statute or 728 
resolution in the same manner used to adopt the Compact 729 
within 4 years of the date of adoption of the rule, the rule 730 
shall have no further force and effect in any member state. 731 
     C.  Rules or amendments to the rules shall be adopted 732 
at a regular or special meeting of the Commission. 733 
     D.  Prior to promulgation and adoption of a final rule 734 
or rules by the Commiss ion, and at least thirty (30) days in 735 
advance of the meeting at which the rule shall be considered 736 
and voted upon, the Commission shall file a Notice of 737 
Proposed Rulemaking: 738 
     1.  On the website of the Commission or other publicly 739 
accessible platform; and 740   
 53 
     2.  On the website of each member state audiology or 741 
speech-language pathology licensing board or other publicly 742 
accessible platform or the publication in which each state 743 
would otherwise publish proposed rules. 744 
     E.  The Notice of Propos ed Rulemaking shall include: 745 
     1.  The proposed time, date, and location of the 746 
meeting in which the rule shall be considered and voted upon; 747 
     2.  The text of the proposed rule or amendment and the 748 
reason for the proposed rule; 749 
     3.  A request for comments on the proposed rule from 750 
any interested person; and 751 
     4.  The manner in which interested persons may submit 752 
notice to the Commission of their intention to attend the 753 
public hearing and any written comments. 754 
     F.  Prior to the adoptio n of a proposed rule, the 755 
Commission shall allow persons to submit written data, 756 
facts, opinions and arguments, which shall be made available 757 
to the public. 758 
     G.  The Commission shall grant an opportunity for a 759 
public hearing before it adopts a rule or amendment if a  760 
hearing is requested by: 761 
     1.  At least twenty-five (25) persons; 762 
     2.  A state or federal governmental subdivision or 763 
agency; or 764 
     3.  An association having at least twenty -five (25)  765 
members. 766 
     H.  If a hearing is held on the proposed rule or 767 
amendment, the Commission shall publish the place, time, and 768 
date of the scheduled public hearing.  If the hearing is  769 
held via electronic means, the Commission shall publish the 770 
mechanism for access to the electronic hearing. 771 
     1.  All persons wishing to be heard at the hearing 772 
shall notify the executive director of the Commission or 773   
 54 
other designated member in writing of their desire to appear 774 
and testify at the hearing not less than five (5) business 775 
days before the schedul ed date of the hearing. 776 
     2.  Hearings shall be conducted in a manner providing 777 
each person who wishes to comment a fair and reasonable 778 
opportunity to comment orally or in writing. 779 
     3.  All hearings shall be recorded.  A copy of the  780 
recording shall be made available on request. 781 
     4.  Nothing in this section shall be construed as 782 
requiring a separate hearing on each rule.  Rules may be  783 
grouped for the convenience of the Commission at hearings 784 
required by this section. 785 
     I.  Following the scheduled hearing date, or by the 786 
close of business on the scheduled hearing date if the 787 
hearing was not held, the Commission shall consider all 788 
written and oral comments received. 789 
     J.  If no written notice of intent to attend the public 790 
hearing by interested parties is received, the Commission 791 
may proceed with promulgation of the proposed rule without a 792 
public hearing. 793 
     K.  The Commission shall, by majority vote of all 794 
members, take final action on the proposed rule and shall 795 
determine the effective date of the rule, if any, based on 796 
the rulemaking record and the full text of the rule. 797 
     L.  Upon determination that an emergency exists, the 798 
Commission may consider and adopt an emergency rule without 799 
prior notice, opportunity for comment, or hearing, provided 800 
that the usual rulemaking procedures provided in the Compact 801 
and in this section shall be retroactively applied to the 802 
rule as soon as reasonably possible, in no event later than 803 
ninety (90) days after the effective date of the ru le.  For  804 
the purposes of this provision, an emergency rule is one 805 
that must be adopted immediately in order to: 806   
 55 
     1.  Meet an imminent threat to public health, safety, 807 
or welfare; 808 
     2.  Prevent a loss of Commission or member state funds; 809 
or 810 
     3.  Meet a deadline for the promulgation of an 811 
administrative rule that is established by federal law or 812 
rule. 813 
     M.  The Commission or an authorized committee of the 814 
Commission may direct revisions to a previously adopted rule 815 
or amendment for purpo ses of correcting typographical 816 
errors, errors in format, errors in consistency, or 817 
grammatical errors.  Public notice of any revisions shall be 818 
posted on the website of the Commission.  The revision shall 819 
be subject to challenge by any person for a pe riod of thirty  820 
(30) days after posting.  The revision may be challenged 821 
only on grounds that the revision results in a material 822 
change to a rule.  A challenge shall be made in writing and 823 
delivered to the chair of the Commission prior to the end of 824 
the notice period.  If no challenge is made, the revision 825 
shall take effect without further action.  If the revision  826 
is challenged, the revision may not take effect without the 827 
approval of the Commission. 828 
     SECTION 11.  OVERSIGHT, DISPUTE RESOLUTION, A ND  829 
ENFORCEMENT 830 
     A.  Dispute Resolution 831 
     1.  Upon request by a member state, the Commission 832 
shall attempt to resolve disputes related to the Compact 833 
that arise among member states and between member and non - 834 
member states. 835 
     2.  The Commission shall promulgate a rule providing 836 
for both mediation and binding dispute resolution for 837 
disputes as appropriate. 838 
     B.  Enforcement 839   
 56 
     1.  The Commission, in the reasonable exercise of its 840 
discretion, shall enforce the provisions and rules of this 841 
Compact. 842 
     2.  By majority vote, the Commission may initiate legal 843 
action in the United States District Court for the District 844 
of Columbia or the federal district where the Commission has 845 
its principal offices against a member state in default to 846 
enforce compliance with the provisions of the Compact and 847 
its promulgated rules and bylaws.  The relief sought may 848 
include both injunctive relief and damages.  In the event  849 
judicial enforcement is necessary, the prevailing member 850 
shall be awarded all co sts of litigation, including 851 
reasonable attorney's fees. 852 
     3.  The remedies herein shall not be the exclusive 853 
remedies of the Commission.  The Commission may pursue any 854 
other remedies available under federal or state law. 855 
     SECTION 12.  DATE OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INTERSTATE 856 
COMMISSION FOR AUDIOLOGY AND SPEECH -LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY 857 
PRACTICE AND ASSOCIATED RULES, WITHDRAWAL, AND AMENDMENT 858 
     A.  The Compact shall come into effect on the date on 859 
which the Compact statute is enacted into law in th e 10th  860 
member state.  The provisions, which become effective at 861 
that time, shall be limited to the powers granted to the 862 
Commission relating to assembly and the promulgation of 863 
rules.  Thereafter, the Commission shall meet and exercise 864 
rulemaking powers necessary to the implementation and 865 
administration of the Compact. 866 
     B.  Any state that joins the Compact subsequent to the 867 
Commission's initial adoption of the rules shall be subject 868 
to the rules as they exist on the date on which the Compact 869 
becomes law in that state.  Any rule that has been 870 
previously adopted by the Commission shall have the full 871   
 57 
force and effect of law on the day the Compact becomes law 872 
in that state. 873 
     C.  Any member state may withdraw from this Compact by 874 
enacting a statute repealing the same. 875 
     1.  A member state's withdrawal shall not take effect 876 
until six (6) months after enactment of the repealing 877 
statute. 878 
     2.  Withdrawal shall not affect the continuing 879 
requirement of the withdrawing state's audiology or speech- 880 
language pathology licensing board to comply with the 881 
investigative and adverse action reporting requirements of 882 
this act prior to the effective date of withdrawal. 883 
     D.  Nothing contained in this Compact shall be 884 
construed to invalidate or p revent any audiology or speech - 885 
language pathology licensure agreement or other cooperative 886 
arrangement between a member state and a non -member state  887 
that does not conflict with the provisions of this Compact. 888 
     E.  This Compact may be amended by the member states.   889 
No amendment to this Compact shall become effective and 890 
binding upon any member state until it is enacted into the 891 
laws of all member states. 892 
     SECTION 13.  CONSTRUCTION AND SEVERABILITY 893 
     This Compact shall be liberally construed so as to  894 
effectuate the purposes thereof.  The provisions of this 895 
Compact shall be severable and if any phrase, clause, 896 
sentence or provision of this Compact is declared to be 897 
contrary to the constitution of any member state or of the 898 
United States or the applicability thereof to any 899 
government, agency, person or circumstance is held invalid, 900 
the validity of the remainder of this Compact and the 901 
applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or 902 
circumstance shall not be affected thereby.  If this Compact  903 
shall be held contrary to the constitution of any member 904   
 58 
state, the Compact shall remain in full force and effect as 905 
to the remaining member states and in full force and effect 906 
as to the member state affected as to all severable matters . 907 
     SECTION 14.  BINDING EFFECT OF COMPACT AND OTHER LAWS 908 
     A.  Nothing herein prevents the enforcement of any 909 
other law of a member state that is not inconsistent with 910 
the Compact. 911 
     B.  All laws in a member state in conflict with the 912 
Compact are superseded to the extent of the conflict. 913 
     C.  All lawful actions of the Commission, including all 914 
rules and bylaws promulgated by the Commission, are binding 915 
upon the member states. 916 
     D.  All agreements between the Commission and the 917 
member states are binding in accordance with their terms. 918 
     E.  In the event any provision of the Compact exceeds 919 
the constitutional limits imposed on the legislature of any 920 
member state, the provision shall be ineffective to the 921 
extent of the conflict with the constitutional provision in 922 
question in that member state. 923 
     Section B.  Because of the urgent need of low -income  1 
Missouri residents for access to quality health care 2 
services, the enactment of section 324.005 of this act is 3 
deemed necessary for the immediate preservation of the 4 
public health, welfare, peace, and safety, and is hereby 5 
declared to be an emergency act within the meaning of the 6 
constitution, and the enactment of section 324.005 of this 7 
act shall be in full force and effect upon its passage and 8 
approval. 9