Rhode Island 2025 Regular Session

Rhode Island House Bill H5614 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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5	5	2025 -- H 5614
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7	7	LC001413
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9	9	S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
10	10	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
11	11	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
12	12	____________
13	13
14	14	A N A C T
15	15	RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- NURSES
16	16	Introduced By: Representative Susan R. Donovan
17	17	Date Introduced: February 26, 2025
18	18	Referred To: House Health & Human Services
19	19	(Dept. of Health)
20	20
21	21	It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
22	22	SECTION 1. Section 5-34-31 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-34 entitled "Nurses" is 1
23	23	hereby amended to read as follows: 2
24	24	5-34-31. Practices and persons exempt. 3
25	25	No provisions of this chapter shall be construed as prohibiting: 4
26	26	(1) Gratuitous nursing by friends or members of the family or as prohibiting the care of the 5
27	27	sick by domestic servants, housekeepers, nursemaids, companions, or household aides of any type, 6
28	28	whether employed regularly or because of an emergency of illness, provided that person is 7
29	29	employed primarily in a domestic capacity and does not hold themself out or accept employment 8
30	30	as a person licensed to practice nursing for hire under the provisions of this chapter or as prohibiting 9
31	31	nursing assistants in the case of any emergency; 10
32	32	(2) The practice of nursing by students enrolled in approved educational programs of 11
33	33	professional nursing or practical-nursing educational programs nor by graduates of those schools 12
34	34	or courses before taking and receiving results of the National Council Licensure Examination 13
35	35	(NCLEX), provided that they are licensed in this state within ninety (90) days from the date on the 14
36	36	department’s licensing application fee receipt, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the 15
37	37	board; 16
38	38	(3) The supervised practice of nursing by graduates of approved educational programs of 17
39	39	professional nursing or practical-nursing educational programs before taking and receiving results 18
40	40	of the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX); provided that, they are licensed in this 19
41	41
42	42
43	43	LC001413 - Page 2 of 31
44	44	state within ninety (90) days of graduation. This temporary privilege will not be renewed and will 1
45	45	automatically cease upon notification that the graduate nurse has failed the NCLEX; 2
46	46	(3)(4) The practice of nursing in this state by any legally qualified nurse of another state 3
47	47	whose engagement requires him or her to accompany and care for a patient temporarily residing in 4
48	48	this state during the period of this engagement not to exceed six (6) months in length, provided that 5
49	49	person does not represent or hold themself out as a nurse licensed to practice in this state; 6
50	50	(4)(5) The practice of any legally qualified nurse of another state who is employed by the 7
51	51	United States government or any bureau, division, or agency of the government while in the 8
52	52	discharge of their official duties; 9
53	53	(5)(6) Persons employed in state and licensed healthcare facilities, licensed homes for the 10
54	54	aged and/or convalescent persons, and recognized public-health agencies from assisting in the 11
55	55	nursing care of patients if adequate medical or nursing supervision is provided; 12
56	56	(6)(7) Nursing care of the sick with or without compensation or personal profit when done 13
57	57	in connection with the practice of the religious tenets of any recognized or established church by 14
58	58	adherents as long as they do not engage in the practice of nursing as defined in this chapter; 15
59	59	(7)(8) Persons who provide acceptable evidence of being currently licensed by examination 16
60	60	or endorsement under the laws of other states of the United States and the District of Columbia 17
61	61	from practicing nursing in this state for a period of ninety (90) days from the date on the application 18
62	62	fee receipt, provided that they are licensed in this state within ninety (90) days from the date on the 19
63	63	application fee receipt. The original privilege to work ninety (90) days from the date on the 20
64	64	application fee receipt shall not be extended or renewed. 21
65	65	SECTION 2. Sections 5-48.2-3, 5-48.2-4, 5-48.2-5, 5-48.2-6, 5-48.2-7, 5-48.2-8, 5-48.2-9 22
66	66	and 5-48.2-13 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-48.2 entitled "Professional Licensing and 23
67	67	Regulation of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists" are hereby amended to read as 24
68	68	follows: 25
69	69	5-48.2-3. Definitions. 26
70	70	As used in this chapter, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings, 27
71	71	except where the context clearly indicates otherwise: 28
72	72	(1) “Accredited/approved” means that an institution/program holds regional accreditation 29
73	73	from one of six (6) regional accrediting bodies: Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, 30
74	74	New England Association of Schools and Colleges, North Central Association of Colleges and 31
75	75	Schools, Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and 32
76	76	Schools, and Western Association of Schools and Colleges. 33
77	77	(2) “Act” means chapter 48 of this title entitled, “speech-language pathology and 34
78	78
79	79
80	80	LC001413 - Page 3 of 31
81	81	audiology,” as well as the provisions of this chapter, where the context so indicates. 1
82	82	(3) “Audiologist” means an individual who is licensed by the board to practice audiology 2
83	83	either in person or via telepractice. 3
84	84	(4) “Audiology” means the audiologist applies the principles, methods, and procedures 4
85	85	related to hearing and the disorders of the hearing and balance systems, to related language and 5
86	86	speech disorders, and to aberrant behavior related to hearing loss. A hearing disorder is defined as 6
87	87	altered sensitivity, acuity, function, processing, and/or damage to the integrity of the physiological 7
88	88	auditory/vestibular systems, in individuals or groups of individuals who have or are suspected of 8
89	89	having such disorders. 9
90	90	(5) “Audiology support personnel” shall operate under the title “audiometric aide” or 10
91	91	“audiology assistant” and means an individual who meets minimum qualifications established by 11
92	92	the board, which are less than those established by the act this chapter as necessary for licensing as 12
93	93	an audiologist; does not act independently; is limited to hearing screening with pass/fail criteria; 13
94	94	and works under the direction and supervision of an audiologist licensed under the act this chapter 14
95	95	who has been actively working in the field for twenty-four (24) months after completion of the 15
96	96	postgraduate professional experience and who accepts the responsibility for the acts and 16
97	97	performances of the audiometric aide or audiology assistant while working under the act. 17
98	98	(6) “Board” means the state board of examiners of speech-language pathology and 18
99	99	audiology established pursuant to § 5-48-2. 19
100	100	(7) “Clinical fellow” means the person who is practicing speech-language pathology under 20
101	101	the supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist while completing the postgraduate 21
102	102	professional experience as required by the act and who holds a current provisional license in 22
103	103	accordance with the requirements described in this chapter. 23
104	104	(8) “Clinical fellowship or traineeship” means the direct clinical work, consultation, or 24
105	105	other duties relevant to clinical speech-language pathology work with individuals presenting 25
106	106	disorders in communication, for a cumulative or equivalent total of nine (9) months of full-time 26
107	107	employment following completion of professional speech-language pathology education under 27
108	108	supervision pursuant to § 5-48-7 and the provisions of this chapter. 28
109	109	(9) “Department” means the Rhode Island department of health. 29
110	110	(10) “Director” means the director of the Rhode Island department of health. 30
111	111	(11) “Graduate program” means a post-baccalaureate accredited program leading to a 31
112	112	master’s or doctoral degree, including a professional doctoral degree, whether offered through an 32
113	113	accredited graduate or professional school. 33
114	114	(12) “Newborn hearing screener” means an audiometric aide or audiology assistant 34
115	115
116	116
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118	118	working in a hospital-based newborn hearing screening program under the direction of the 1
119	119	department of health newborn hearing screening program, or its appointee. 2
120	120	(13) “Person” means an individual, partnership organization, or corporation, except that 3
121	121	only individuals can be licensed under this chapter. 4
122	122	(14) “The practice of audiology” means an audiologist rendering or offering to render any 5
123	123	service in audiology either in person or via telepractice as defined in § 5-48-1 and in this section 6
124	124	rendering or offering to render any service in audiology, including prevention, screening, and 7
125	125	identification, evaluation, habilitation, rehabilitation; participating in environmental and 8
126	126	occupational hearing-conservation programs, and habilitation and rehabilitation programs 9
127	127	including hearing aid and assistive-listening-device evaluation, prescription, preparation, 10
128	128	dispensing, and/or selling and orientation; auditory training and speech reading; conducting and 11
129	129	interpreting tests of vestibular function and nystagmus; conducting and interpreting 12
130	130	electrophysiological measures of the auditory pathway; cerumen management; evaluating sound 13
131	131	environment and equipment; calibrating instruments used in testing and supplementing auditory 14
132	132	function; and planning, directing, conducting, or supervising programs that render or offer to render 15
133	133	any service in audiology. 16
134	134	(i) The practice of audiology may include speech and/or language screening to a pass or 17
135	135	fail determination, for the purpose of initial identification of individuals with other disorders of 18
136	136	communication. 19
137	137	(ii) A practice is deemed to be the “practice of audiology” if services are offered under any 20
138	138	title incorporating such word as “audiology,” “audiologist,” “audiometry,” “audiometrist,” 21
139	139	“audiological,” “audiometrics,” “hearing therapy,” “hearing therapist,” “hearing clinic,” “hearing 22
140	140	clinician,” “hearing conservation,” “hearing conservationist,” “hearing center,” “hearing aid 23
141	141	audiologist,” or any similar title or description of services. 24
142	142	(15) “The practice of speech-language pathology” means rendering or offering to render 25
143	143	any service in speech-language pathology either in person or via telepractice as defined in this 26
144	144	section including prevention, identification, evaluation, consultation, habilitation, rehabilitation; 27
145	145	determining the need for augmentative communication systems, dispensing and selling these 28
146	146	systems, and providing training in the use of these systems; and planning, directing, conducting, or 29
147	147	supervising programs that render or offer to render any service in speech-language pathology. 30
148	148	(i) The practice of speech-language pathology may include nondiagnostic pure-tone air 31
149	149	conduction screening, screening tympanometry, and acoustic reflex screening, limited to a pass or 32
150	150	fail determination, for the purpose of performing a speech and language evaluation or for the initial 33
151	151	identification of individuals with other disorders of communication. 34
152	152
153	153
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155	155	(ii) The practice of speech-language pathology also may include aural rehabilitation, which 1
156	156	for purposes of this subsection, means services and procedures for facilitating adequate receptive 2
157	157	and expressive communication in individuals with hearing impairment. 3
158	158	(iii) A practice is deemed to be the “practice of speech-language pathology” if services are 4
159	159	offered under any title incorporating such words as “speech pathology,” “speech pathologist,” 5
160	160	“speech therapy,” “speech therapist,” “speech correction,” “speech correctionist,” “speech clinic,” 6
161	161	“speech clinician,” “language pathology,” “language pathologist,” “voice therapy,” “voice 7
162	162	therapist,” “voice pathology,” “voice pathologist,” “logopedics,” “logopedist,” “communicology,” 8
163	163	“communicologist,” “aphasiology,” “aphasiologist,” “phoniatrist,” or any similar title or 9
164	164	description of services. 10
165	165	(16) “Regionally accredited” means the official guarantee that a college or university or 11
166	166	other educational institution is in conformity with the standards of education prescribed by a 12
167	167	regional accrediting commission recognized by the United States Secretary of Education. 13
168	168	(17) “School hearing screener” means an audiometric aide or audiology assistant working 14
169	169	in a school-based hearing screening program under the direction of the Rhode Island department 15
170	170	of elementary and secondary education or its appointee. 16
171	171	(18) “Speech-language pathologist” means an individual who is licensed by the board to 17
172	172	practice speech-language pathology either in person or via telepractice. 18
173	173	(19) “Speech-language pathology” means the activities defined in § 5-48-1 and in this 19
174	174	section the application of principles, methods, and procedures for prevention, identification, 20
175	175	evaluation, consultation, habilitation, rehabilitation, instruction, and research related to the 21
176	176	development and disorders of human communication. Disorders are defined to include any and all 22
177	177	conditions, whether of organic or non-organic origin, that impede the normal process of human 23
178	178	communication in individuals or groups of individuals who have or are suspected of having these 24
179	179	conditions, including, but not limited to, disorders and related disorders of: 25
180	180	(i) Speech: articulation, fluency, voice (including respiration, phonation and resonance); 26
181	181	(ii) Language (involving the parameters of phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and 27
182	182	pragmatics; and including disorders of receptive and expressive communication in oral, written, 28
183	183	graphic, and manual modalities); 29
184	184	(iii) Oral, pharyngeal, laryngeal, cervical esophageal, and related functions (such as 30
185	185	dysphasia, including disorders of swallowing and oral function for feeding; oro-facial 31
186	186	myofunctional disorders); 32
187	187	(iv) Cognitive aspects of communication (including communication disability and other 33
188	188	functional disabilities associated with cognitive impairment); and 34
189	189
190	190
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192	192	(v) Social aspects of communication (including challenging behavior, ineffective social 1
193	193	skills, and lack of communication opportunities). 2
194	194	(20) “Speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA) support personnel” means an 3
195	195	individual who meets minimum qualifications established by the board, which are less than those 4
196	196	established by the act this chapter as necessary for licensing as a speech-language pathologist; does 5
197	197	not act independently; and works under the direction and supervision of a speech-language 6
198	198	pathologist licensed under the act this chapter who has been actively working in the field for twenty-7
199	199	four (24) months after completion of the postgraduate professional experience and who accepts the 8
200	200	responsibility for the acts and performances of the speech-language pathology assistant while 9
201	201	working under this chapter. 10
202	202	(21) “Telepractice” means the use of telecommunication technology to deliver speech-11
203	203	language pathology and audiology services remotely. Other terms such as teleaudiology, 12
204	204	telespeech, and speech teletherapy are also used in addition to telepractice. Use of telepractice 13
205	205	should be of equal quality to services provided in person and consistent with adherence to the 14
206	206	American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)’s Code of Ethics (ASHA, 2016a), 15
207	207	Scope of Practice in Audiology (ASHA, 2018), Scope of Practice in Speech-Language Pathology 16
208	208	(ASHA, 2016b), and Assistants Code of Conduct (ASHA, 2020), and as further provided in 17
209	209	regulation. 18
210	210	5-48.2-4. License requirements. 19
211	211	(a) No person shall practice as, advertise as, or use the title of speech-language pathologist 20
212	212	or audiologist in this state unless licensed in accordance with the provisions of the act and this 21
213	213	section chapter. The provisions of the act and this section chapter shall not apply to individuals 22
214	214	specifically exempt from the provisions thereof by § 5-48-10.: 23
215	215	(1) A qualified person licensed, registered, certified, or credentialed in this state under any 24
216	216	other law who is practicing the profession or business for which they are licensed, registered, 25
217	217	certified, or credentialed, in the setting for which the licensure, registration, certification, or 26
218	218	credential pertains and performs services within their authorized scope of practice; 27
219	219	(2) This chapter specifically excludes those persons who commercially fit and sell hearing 28
220	220	aids; provided that, those persons do not receive a separate or additional fee for testing or 29
221	221	interpreting tests of hearing; and provided that, those persons do not represent themselves as 30
222	222	audiologists as defined in this chapter. This subsection does not preclude remuneration for any 31
223	223	other service offered solely in conjunction with the fitting or maintaining of a hearing aid; and 32
224	224	(3) No one shall be exempt under subsection (a)(1) of this section for that portion of their 33
225	225	time spent as a private practitioner. If they perform any work as a speech-language pathologist or 34
226	226
227	227
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229	229	audiologist for which a fee may be paid by the recipient of the service as part of a private practice 1
230	230	apart from their position with the government, a license must be held. 2
231	231	(b) A provisional license for the clinical fellow as defined in this chapter shall be required 3
232	232	in speech-language pathology for that period of postgraduate professional experience as required 4
233	233	in §§ 5-48-7 and 5-48.2-5. A provisional license shall authorize an individual to practice speech-5
234	234	language pathology solely in connection with the completion of the supervised postgraduate 6
235	235	professional experience. 7
236	236	(c) Any person residing in and/or licensed in another state who provides telepractice 8
237	237	services in the area of speech-language pathology and audiology within the State of Rhode Island 9
238	238	regardless of their legal residence must be licensed in the state in accordance with the provisions 10
239	239	of the act and this chapter. The provisions of the act and this chapter shall not apply to individuals 11
240	240	specifically exempt from the provisions thereof by § 5-48-10 § 5-48.2-6(a)(2). 12
241	241	5-48.2-5. Qualifications for licensure Qualifications for licensure as a speech-language 13
242	242	pathologist. 14
243	243	(a) Audiologists. In addition to the requirements set forth in § 5-48-7.2, persons seeking 15
244	244	initial licensure as an audiologist providing in-person or telepractice services shall meet the 16
245	245	following requirements: 17
246	246	(1) Submit an official transcript indicating possession of an earned doctorate degree in 18
247	247	audiology from a regionally accredited educational institution or other national accrediting 19
248	248	organization as may be approved by the board; 20
249	249	(2) Pass a national examination in audiology approved by the board; 21
250	250	(3) Present evidence of practicum experience that is equivalent to a minimum of twelve 22
251	251	(12) months of full-time, supervised experience, that may be completed as part of the graduate 23
252	252	degree, as delineated in this chapter; 24
253	253	(4) Applicants with a master’s degree holding licensure from another state must present 25
254	254	verification of a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing 26
255	255	Association (ASHA) or other national accrediting association as may be approved by the board. 27
256	256	(b) Qualifications for audiologists licensed in alternate jurisdictions. Persons licensed 28
257	257	as an audiologist in alternate jurisdictions on or before January 1, 2008, shall meet the requirements 29
258	258	of Rhode Island that were in effect at the time of initial licensure in the alternate jurisdiction. 30
259	259	(c) Speech-language pathologists. In addition to the requirements set forth in § 5-48-7, an 31
260	260	applicant seeking licensure to practice as a speech-language pathologist who provides in-person or 32
261	261	telepractice services in Rhode Island must have attained To be eligible for licensure by the board 33
262	262	as a speech-language pathologist the applicant must: 34
263	263
264	264
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266	266	(1) Be of good moral character; 1
267	267	(2) Apply to the department, upon a form prescribed by the department; 2
268	268	(3) Submit the appropriate application fee; 3
269	269	(4) Complete supervised clinical-practicum experiences from an educational institution or 4
270	270	its cooperating programs. The content of the practicum shall be in accordance with the current, 5
271	271	minimum requirements for the certificate of clinical competence issued by the American Speech-6
272	272	Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) or other national accrediting association as may be 7
273	273	approved by the board and delineated in the rules and regulations; 8
274	274	(5) Pass a national examination in speech-language pathology as required by the American 9
275	275	Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) or other national accrediting association as may 10
276	276	be approved by the board and delineated in the rules and regulations; 11
277	277	(6) Present verification of a certificate of clinical competence from the American Speech-12
278	278	Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) or other national accrediting association as may be 13
279	279	approved by the board; and 14
280	280	(7) If applicable, present evidence from the board of speech-language pathology in each 15
281	281	state in which the applicant has held or holds licensure to be submitted to the board of this state, 16
282	282	attesting to the licensure status of the applicant during the time period the applicant held licensure 17
283	283	in the state. 18
284	284	(8) Attained a master’s degree or a doctoral degree or equivalent in speech-language 19
285	285	pathology from an accredited educational institution accredited by the Council on Academic 20
286	286	Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) or other 21
287	287	national accrediting association as may be approved by the board. The degree shall consist of course 22
288	288	work in accordance with the current minimum requirements for the Certificate of Clinical 23
289	289	Competence issued by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) or other 24
290	290	national accrediting association as may be approved by the board. 25
291	291	(d) Qualifications for a provisional license for speech-language pathologists. To be 26
292	292	eligible for provisional licensure by the department, the speech-language pathologist must submit 27
293	293	an application with the required application fee and be in compliance with the requirements of this 28
294	294	chapter and § 5-48-7.1. 29
295	295	5-48.2-6. Issuance and renewal of license and fee. 30
296	296	(a) The department shall issue a license as an audiologist or speech-language pathologist, 31
297	297	or renewal thereof, for a period of two (2) years. The license, unless sooner suspended or revoked, 32
298	298	shall expire on the first day of July, two (2) years following its issuance, and may be renewed 33
299	299	biennially (in even years); provided the applicant meets the requirements of this chapter and the 34
300	300
301	301
302	302	LC001413 - Page 9 of 31
303	303	statutory provisions of the act. The licensee must maintain their certificate of clinical competence 1
304	304	in their practicing area (speech-language pathology or audiology) in order to renew their license. 2
305	305	(b) A license may be renewed by submission of the renewal application and renewal fee as 3
306	306	set forth in the fee structure for licensing, laboratory, and administrative services provided by the 4
307	307	department of health in their regulations payable before July 1 of even years (biennially). 5
308	308	(c) A provisional license may be renewed annually from the date of issue, if the 6
309	309	postgraduate professional experience has exceeded one year, by submission of the renewal 7
310	310	application and renewal fee as set forth in the fee structure for licensing, laboratory, and 8
311	311	administrative services provided by the department of health. A provisional license shall not exceed 9
312	312	thirty-six (36) months past the initiation of the professional experience and will expire ninety (90) 10
313	313	days after the end of the postgraduate professional experience. 11
314	314	(d)(1) Any licensee who allows their license to lapse by failing to renew it on or before the 12
315	315	thirtieth day of June of even years (biennially), may have the license renewed reinstated by 13
316	316	submitting to the department an application, and renewal fee plus an additional late fee as set forth 14
317	317	in the fee structure for licensing, laboratory, and administrative services provided by the department 15
318	318	of health § 23-1-54, and documentation of completion of continuing education units (CEUs) as 16
319	319	required in this chapter taken during the previous two (2) years. 17
320	320	(2) Any person who allows their license to lapse longer than two (2) consecutive licensing 18
321	321	periods may be reinstated by the department, upon the filing of: 19
322	322	(i) A reinstatement application for licensure; 20
323	323	(ii) Payment of the current licensure renewal fee plus an additional late fee as set forth in 21
324	324	the fee structure for licensing, laboratory, and administrative services provided by the department 22
325	325	of health; and 23
326	326	(iii) Documentation of completion of continuing education units (CEUs) as required in this 24
327	327	chapter taken during the previous two (2) years. 25
328	328	(e) Inactive status. 26
329	329	(1) An individual licensed as a speech-language pathologist and/or audiologist in Rhode 27
330	330	Island, not in the active practice of speech-language pathology or audiology within Rhode Island 28
331	331	during any year, may upon request to the department have their name transferred to an inactive 29
332	332	status and shall not be required to register biennially or pay any fee as long as the individual remains 30
333	333	inactive. 31
334	334	(2) Inactive status may be maintained for no longer than two (2) consecutive licensing 32
335	335	periods, after which period licensure will be terminated and a reinstatement application submitted 33
336	336	to the department will be required to resume practice. 34
337	337
338	338
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340	340	(3) Any individual whose name has been transferred to an inactive status may be restored 1
341	341	to active status within two (2) licensing periods to practice speech-language pathology or audiology 2
342	342	without a penalty fee, upon the filing of: 3
343	343	(i) An application for licensure renewal with a licensure renewal fee as set forth in the fee 4
344	344	structure for licensing, laboratory, and administrative services provided by the department of health 5
345	345	§ 23-1-54; and 6
346	346	(ii) Such other information as may be requested by the board. 7
347	347	(f) Any non-provisional, active license may be renewed biennially by submission of the 8
348	348	renewal application and renewal fee as set forth in regulations payable before July 1 of even years. 9
349	349	5-48.2-7. Denial, suspension, and revocation of license. 10
350	350	(a) The board is authorized to deny, suspend or revoke any license to practice speech-11
351	351	language pathology and/or audiology or discipline any licensee upon a finding by the board that 12
352	352	the person is guilty of conduct as set forth in § 5-48-11, and in addition: 13
353	353	(1) Fraudulently or deceptively obtained or attempted to obtain a license for the applicant, 14
354	354	licensee, holder, or for another; 15
355	355	(2) Fraudulently or deceptively used a license; 16
356	356	(3) Altered a license; 17
357	357	(4) Aided or abetted unlicensed practice; 18
358	358	(5) Committed fraud and deceit in the practice of speech-language pathology or of 19
359	359	audiology including, but not limited to: 20
360	360	(i) Using or promoting, or causing the use of, any misleading, deceiving, or untruthful 21
361	361	advertising matter, promotional literature, testimonial, guarantee, warranty, label, brand, insignia, 22
362	362	or any other representation; 23
363	363	(ii) Falsely representing the use or availability of services or advice of a physician; 24
364	364	(iii) Misrepresenting the applicant, licensee, or holder by using the word “doctor” or any 25
365	365	similar word, abbreviation, or symbol, if the use is not accurate or if the degree was not obtained 26
366	366	from an accredited institution; 27
367	367	(iv) Making or filing a false report or record in the practice of speech-language pathology 28
368	368	or audiology; 29
369	369	(v) Submitting a false statement to collect a fee; and 30
370	370	(vi) Obtaining a fee through fraud or misrepresentation; 31
371	371	(6) Providing services while mentally incompetent; 32
372	372	(7) Engaging in illegal, incompetent, or habitually negligent practice; 33
373	373	(8) Providing professional services while: 34
374	374
375	375
376	376	LC001413 - Page 11 of 31
377	377	(i) Under the influence of alcohol; or 1
378	378	(ii) Using any narcotic or controlled dangerous substance or other drug that is in excess of 2
379	379	therapeutic amounts or without valid medical indication; 3
380	380	(9) Promoting the sale of devices, appliances, or products to a patient who cannot benefit 4
381	381	from these devices, appliances, or products; 5
382	382	(10) Violating any provision of this chapter, any lawful order given, or rule or regulation 6
383	383	adopted by the board or departure from or failure to conform to the current standards of acceptable 7
384	384	prevailing practice and code of ethics of speech-language pathology or audiology; 8
385	385	(11) Being convicted of, or pleading guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony, whether or not 9
386	386	any appeal or another proceeding is pending to have the conviction or plea set aside; 10
387	387	(12) Incompetent or negligent misconduct in the practice of speech-language pathology or 11
388	388	audiology; 12
389	389	(13) Is habitually intemperate or is addicted to the use of habit-forming drugs; 13
390	390	(14) Being disciplined by a licensing or disciplinary authority of any other state or country, 14
391	391	or convicted or disciplined by a court of any state or country, for an act that would be grounds for 15
392	392	disciplinary action under this section; or 16
393	393	(15) Failing to maintain continuing education requirements. 17
394	394	(1)(16) Violating any provision of the act this chapter, any lawful order given, or rule or 18
395	395	regulation adopted by the board or departure from or failure to conform to the current standards of 19
396	396	acceptable prevailing practice and code of ethics of speech-language pathology or audiology as 20
397	397	adopted by the board and as contained in the “American Speech-Language-Hearing Association 21
398	398	Code of Ethics” as incorporated in this chapter. The board need not establish actual injury to clients 22
399	399	in order to adjudge a speech-language pathologist or audiologist of the above-named conduct. 23
400	400	(2)(b) The procedure for denial, revocation, or suspension of a license or discipline of a 24
401	401	licensee shall be as that set forth in § 5-48-13. § 5-48.2-11(b)(1) through (8): 25
402	402	(1) Notice, in writing, of a contemplated revocation or suspension of a license, of this 26
403	403	particular cause, and of the date of a hearing, shall be sent by registered or certified mail to the 27
404	404	licensee at his or her last known address at least fifteen (15) days before the date of the hearing. 28
405	405	(2) The individual against whom a charge is filed has the right to appear before the board 29
406	406	in person or by counsel, or both; may produce witnesses and evidence on their behalf; and may 30
407	407	question witnesses. 31
408	408	(3) No license shall be revoked or suspended without a hearing, but the nonappearance of 32
409	409	the licensee, after notice, shall not prevent a hearing. 33
410	410	(4) All matters upon which the decision is based shall be introduced in evidence at the 34
411	411
412	412
413	413	LC001413 - Page 12 of 31
414	414	proceeding. 1
415	415	(5) The licensee shall be notified, in writing, of the board’s decision. 2
416	416	(6) The board may make any rules and regulations that it deems proper for the filing of 3
417	417	charges and the conduct of hearings. 4
418	418	(7) After issuing an order of revocation or suspension, the board may also file a petition in 5
419	419	equity in the superior court in a county in which the respondent resides or transacts business, to 6
420	420	ensure appropriate injunctive relief to expedite and secure the enforcement of its order, pending the 7
421	421	final determination. 8
422	422	(8) An application for reinstatement may be made to the board, which may, upon the 9
423	423	affirmative vote of at least the majority of its members, grant a reinstatement. 10
424	424	5-48.2-8. Support personnel. 11
425	425	(a) A speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA) for speech-language pathologists shall 12
426	426	meet the following requirements: 13
427	427	(1) Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and have successfully 14
428	428	completed no less than eighteen (18) hours of graduate credit in the areas of speech-language 15
429	429	pathology to include the following: 16
430	430	(i) Normal processes in speech, language, and hearing three (3) hours; 17
431	431	(ii) Disorders of speech, language, and hearing nine (9) hours; 18
432	432	(iii) Equipment, materials, procedures, and data collection used in assessment and/or 19
433	433	management of speech, language, and hearing disorders six (6) hours; and 20
434	434	(iv) Completion of twenty-five percent (25%) of those practicum hours required for 21
435	435	professional personnel by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. 22
436	436	(2) A speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA) shall be registered licensed at the 23
437	437	department and be required to re-register renew the license every two (2) years. 24
438	438	(b) Support personnel for audiologists (audiometric aide) or audiology assistants must meet 25
439	439	the following requirements: 26
440	440	(1) Hold a high school diploma; 27
441	441	(2) Receive intensive on-the-job training in accordance with the American Speech-28
442	442	Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) or American Academy of Audiology (AAA) guidelines 29
443	443	for support personnel by the supervising licensed audiologist prior to providing services. Any 30
444	444	subsequent supervising licensed audiologist may require retraining of an audiometric aide or 31
445	445	audiology assistant under the supervising licensed audiologist’s supervision. 32
446	446	(3) Audiometric aides or audiology assistants shall be registered licensed at the department 33
447	447	and be required to re-register renew the license every two (2) years. 34
448	448
449	449
450	450	LC001413 - Page 13 of 31
451	451	5-48.2-9. Supervision and responsibility. 1
452	452	(a)(1) A supervising professional must be a speech-language pathologist or audiologist who 2
453	453	is licensed under the act and this chapter; has attained and maintained their certificate of clinical 3
454	454	competency and who has been actively working in the field for twenty-four (24) months after 4
455	455	completion of the postgraduate professional experience; and must be responsible for the acts and 5
456	456	performances, patient screening, and specific tasks assigned by the licensee to the speech-language 6
457	457	pathology assistant (SLPA)/audiometric aide or audiology assistant. 7
458	458	(2) A licensee who supervises support personnel must: 8
459	459	(i) Utilize the services of only those who meet the minimum requirements enumerated 9
460	460	under this chapter; 10
461	461	(ii) Ensure that the support personnel are assigned only those duties and responsibilities for 11
462	462	which the person has been specifically trained and which the assistant is qualified to perform; 12
463	463	(iii) Ensure that persons who will be receiving services from support personnel, or the 13
464	464	person’s legal representative, are informed that services are being rendered by support personnel; 14
465	465	(iv) Provide supervision of the support personnel (other than newborn hearing screeners 15
466	466	and school hearing screeners); and 16
467	467	(v) Complete a minimum of two (2) hours of professional development in clinical 17
468	468	instruction/supervision. 18
469	469	(b) A speech-language pathologist supervisor may only supervise one full-time equivalent 19
470	470	speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA) support personnel and an audiologist supervisor may 20
471	471	only supervise three (3) full-time equivalent audiometric aides or audiology assistants unless 21
472	472	otherwise approved by the board. 22
473	473	(c) Observations of support audiometric aides must be completed and documented as to 23
474	474	date, amount of time, and accuracy and efficacy of service according to the following: Direct on-24
475	475	site observations of the first ten (10) hours of direct client contact; and five percent (5%) of all 25
476	476	clinical sessions after the first ten (10) hours for every forty (40) consecutive hours worked; and 26
477	477	indirect supervision (e.g., home, interactive television, audio/video review, or patient record 27
478	478	review) of five percent (5%) of each forty (40) consecutive hours worked. 28
479	479	5-48.2-13. Rules governing practices and procedures. 29
480	480	All hearings and reviews required under the provisions of the act this chapter shall be held 30
481	481	in accordance with the provisions of the rules and regulations regarding practices and procedures 31
482	482	before the department of health. 32
483	483	SECTION 3. Chapter 5-48.2 of the General Laws entitled "Professional Licensing and 33
484	484	Regulation of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists" is hereby amended by adding 34
485	485
486	486
487	487	LC001413 - Page 14 of 31
488	488	thereto the following sections: 1
489	489	5-48.2-14. Board of examiners -- Composition -- Appointments, terms, and 2
490	490	qualifications of members. 3
491	491	(a) There exists within the department of health a board of examiners of speech-language 4
492	492	pathology and audiology. The board shall consist of five (5) persons who are residents of the state 5
493	493	and who have worked within the state for at least one year prior to their appointments. 6
494	494	(1) Two (2) members shall be speech-language pathologists who have practiced speech-7
495	495	language pathology for at least five (5) years preceding appointment, are currently practicing 8
496	496	speech-language pathology, and hold active and valid licensure for the practice of speech-language 9
497	497	pathology in this state. 10
498	498	(2) One member shall be an audiologist who has practiced audiology for at least five (5) 11
499	499	years immediately preceding appointment, is currently practicing audiology, and holds active and 12
500	500	valid licensure for the practice of audiology in this state. 13
501	501	(3) One member shall be an otolaryngologist who holds certification by the American 14
502	502	Academy of Otolaryngology -- head and neck surgery, who is currently practicing otolaryngology, 15
503	503	and holds active and valid licensure as a physician within this state. 16
504	504	(4) One member shall be a representative of the consumer public who is not associated 17
505	505	with or financially interested in the practice or business of speech-language pathology or audiology. 18
506	506	(b) All appointments to the board shall be for the term of three (3) years. Members shall 19
507	507	serve until the expiration of the term for which they have been appointed or until their appointed 20
508	508	successors are qualified. 21
509	509	(c) When a vacancy upon the board occurs, the director of the department of health shall, 22
510	510	with the approval of the governor, appoint persons who are working within the state to fill the 23
511	511	remainder of the vacant term. 24
512	512	(d) The board shall reorganize annually during the month of January and shall select a 25
513	513	chairperson. 26
514	514	(e) A majority of currently filled positions shall constitute a quorum to do business. 27
515	515	(f) No person shall be appointed to serve more than two (2) consecutive terms. 28
516	516	(g) The first board and all future members shall be appointed by the director of the 29
517	517	department of health, with the approval of the governor. 30
518	518	(h) The director of the department of health, with the approval of the governor, may remove 31
519	519	any member of the board for dishonorable conduct, incompetency, or neglect of duty. 32
520	520	5-48.2-15. Board of examiners -- Duties and powers -- Meetings -- Compensation of 33
521	521	members. 34
522	522
523	523
524	524	LC001413 - Page 15 of 31
525	525	(a) The board shall administer, coordinate, and enforce the provisions of this chapter; 1
526	526	evaluate the qualifications of applicants; and may issue subpoenas, examine witnesses, and 2
527	527	administer oaths, conduct hearings, and at its discretion investigate allegations of violations of this 3
528	528	chapter and impose penalties if any violations of the chapter have occurred. 4
529	529	(b) The board shall conduct hearings and keep records and minutes as necessary to an 5
530	530	orderly dispatch of business. 6
531	531	(c) The board shall, with the approval of the director of the department of health, adopt, 7
532	532	amend, or repeal rules and regulations including, but not limited to, regulations that delineate 8
533	533	qualifications for licensure and establish standards of professional conduct. Following their 9
534	534	adoption, the rules and regulations shall govern and control the professional conduct of every 10
535	535	person who holds a license to practice speech-language pathology or audiology in this state. 11
536	536	(d) The board shall make available complete lists of the names and addresses of all licensed 12
537	537	speech-language pathologists and audiologists. 13
538	538	(e) The board may request legal advice and assistance from the appropriate state legal 14
539	539	officer. 15
540	540	(f) Regular meetings of the board shall be held at the times and places that it prescribes, 16
541	541	and special meetings may be held upon the call of the chairperson; provided that, at least one regular 17
542	542	meeting shall be held each year. 18
543	543	(g) The conferral or enumeration of specific powers in this chapter shall not be construed 19
544	544	as a limitation of the general powers conferred by this section. No member of the board shall be 20
545	545	liable to civil action for any act performed in good faith in the performance of their duties as 21
546	546	prescribed by this chapter. 22
547	547	(h) Board members shall serve without compensation. 23
548	548	(i) The board may deny, revoke, or suspend licenses or discipline licensees in accordance 24
549	549	with the provisions of this chapter subject to the approval of the director. 25
550	550	5-48.2-16. Receipts. 26
551	551	The proceeds of any fees collected pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be 27
552	552	deposited as general revenues. 28
553	553	5-48.2-17. Qualifications for provisional licensure. 29
554	554	(a) To be eligible for provisional licensure by the board, the speech-language pathologist 30
555	555	applicant must submit an application with the required application fee and be in compliance with 31
556	556	the requirements of § 5-48.2-7(a)(1), (4), (5), and (8). 32
557	557	(b) In addition to the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, content of the 33
558	558	supervised postgraduate professional experience shall meet the standards of a trainee or fellow of 34
559	559
560	560
561	561	LC001413 - Page 16 of 31
562	562	speech pathology as required by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) or 1
563	563	other national accrediting association as may be approved by the board. 2
564	564	(c) If the postgraduate professional experience extends beyond one-year, provisional 3
565	565	licensure must be renewed annually and not exceed thirty-six (36) months past the initiation of the 4
566	566	professional experience. 5
567	567	(d) The provisional licensure shall expire ninety (90) days after the end of the postgraduate 6
568	568	professional experience. 7
569	569	5-48.2-18. Qualifications for licensure as an audiologist. 8
570	570	Persons seeking initial licensure as an audiologist on or after January 1, 2008, shall meet 9
571	571	the following requirements: 10
572	572	(1) Be of good moral character; 11
573	573	(2) Apply to the board, upon a form prescribed by the board; 12
574	574	(3) Submit the appropriate application fee; 13
575	575	(4) Submit an official transcript indicating possession of an earned doctorate degree in 14
576	576	audiology from a regionally accredited educational institution as delineated in the rules and 15
577	577	regulations; 16
578	578	(5) Pass a national examination in audiology approved by the board and delineated in the 17
579	579	rules and regulations; 18
580	580	(6) Present evidence of practicum experience that is equivalent to a minimum of twelve 19
581	581	(12) months of full-time, supervised experience, that may be completed as part of the graduate 20
582	582	degree, as delineated in the rules and regulations; 21
583	583	(7) If applicable, present evidence from the board of audiology in each state in which the 22
584	584	applicant has held or holds licensure to be submitted to the board of this state, attesting to the 23
585	585	licensure status of the applicant during the time period the applicant held licensure in the state; 24
586	586	(8) Any other requirements as set forth in the rules and regulations. 25
587	587	(9) Applicants with a master’s degree holding licensure from another state must present 26
588	588	verification of a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Academy of Audiology 27
589	589	(AAA) or other national accrediting association as may be approved by the board. 28
590	590	(10) Qualifications for audiologists licensed in alternate jurisdictions. Persons licensed as 29
591	591	an audiologist in alternate jurisdictions on or before January 1, 2008, shall meet the requirements 30
592	592	of Rhode Island that were in effect at the time of initial licensure in the alternate jurisdiction. 31
593	593	SECTION 4. Section 5-48.2-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-48.2 entitled "Professional 32
594	594	Licensing and Regulation of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists" is hereby repealed. 33
595	595	5-48.2-2. Incorporated materials. 34
596	596
597	597
598	598	LC001413 - Page 17 of 31
599	599	This chapter hereby adopts and incorporates the American Speech-Language-Hearing 1
600	600	Association’s “American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Code of Ethics” (2016) by 2
601	601	reference, not including any further editions or amendments thereof and only to the extent that the 3
602	602	provisions therein are not inconsistent with these regulations. 4
603	603	SECTION 5. Section 5-95-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-95 entitled "Licensing of 5
604	604	Massage Therapists" is hereby amended to read as follows: 6
605	605	5-95-9. Licensing — Qualifications for licensure (initial and endorsement); Issuance 7
606	606	or denial of license. 8
607	607	(a) Every person desiring to begin the practice of massage therapy, except persons with 9
608	608	special provisions as provided in this chapter, shall present satisfactory evidence to the division of 10
609	609	professional regulation of the department that the person: 11
610	610	(1) Is over eighteen (18) years of age; 12
611	611	(2) Has submitted to a national criminal background check in accordance with this chapter; 13
612	612	(3) Effective January 1, 2025: 14
613	613	(i) For an applicant for licensure pursuing a first massage therapist license: 15
614	614	Has successfully completed an approved massage therapy education program, meeting the 16
615	615	minimum requirements established by the board, including at least eight hundred (800) hours of 17
616	616	supervised in-class, hands-on coursework and clinical work, and has successfully completed an 18
617	617	approved massage therapy education program, meeting the minimum requirements established by 19
618	618	the board including at least six hundred fifty (650) hours of supervised in-class, hands-on 20
619	619	coursework and clinical work prior to December 31, 2024 2025; 21
620	620	(ii) For an applicant for licensure by endorsement, holding a massage therapist license in 22
621	621	another state: 23
622	622	Has successfully completed a massage therapy education program that meets the approved 24
623	623	massage therapy education program definition in § 5-95-3, including eight hundred (800) hours of 25
624	624	supervised in-class, hands-on coursework and clinical work or its equivalent. 26
625	625	(iii) Hour equivalents may be granted in the following manner: 27
626	626	(A) Each fifty (50) to sixty (60) minutes obtained from a course of study in massage therapy 28
627	627	equals one hour; 29
628	628	(B) Each one semester credit hour of massage therapy-related college/university study 30
629	629	equals fifteen (15) hours; 31
630	630	(C) Each year of full-time practice as a massage therapist equals one hundred (100) hours; 32
631	631	(D) Up to one hundred (100) hours may be granted for completion of continuing education 33
632	632	programs related to the massage therapy scope of practice described in § 5-95-4; and 34
633	633
634	634
635	635	LC001413 - Page 18 of 31
636	636	(4) Has successfully completed an examination approved by the board. Any examination 1
637	637	approved by the board must meet generally recognized standards including development through 2
638	638	the use of a job-task analysis and must meet appropriate psychometric standards. 3
639	639	(b) The department may grant a license to any applicant who has satisfied the requirements 4
640	640	of subsection (a) of this section, has completed all appropriate forms, paid all appropriate fees, and 5
641	641	has met substantially equivalent standards in obtaining a valid license, permit, certificate, or 6
642	642	registration issued by any other state or territory of the United States or by a foreign country. 7
643	643	(c) The department shall, within sixty (60) days from the time any application for a license 8
644	644	is received, grant the application and issue a license to practice massage therapy for the remaining 9
645	645	two-year (2) cycle from that date if the department is satisfied that the applicant complies with the 10
646	646	rules and regulations promulgated in accordance with this chapter. An applicant, whose national 11
647	647	criminal background check reveals a conviction for any sexual offense, including, but not limited 12
648	648	to, those offenses defined in chapters 34 and 37 of title 11, shall be denied a license under this 13
649	649	chapter. 14
650	650	(d) The fee for original application for licensure as a massage therapist and the fee for 15
651	651	annual license renewal every two (2) years shall be determined by the department. 16
652	652	(e) Any person applying for a license under this chapter shall undergo a national criminal 17
653	653	background check. Such persons shall apply to the bureau of criminal identification of the state 18
654	654	police or local police department for a national criminal background check. Fingerprinting shall be 19
655	655	required. Upon the discovery of any disqualifying information as defined in subsection (f) of this 20
656	656	section, the bureau of criminal identification of the state police or the local police department shall 21
657	657	inform the applicant, in writing, of the nature of the disqualifying information and, without 22
658	658	disclosing the nature of the disqualifying information, shall notify the board, in writing, that 23
659	659	disqualifying information has been found. In those situations in which no disqualifying information 24
660	660	has been found, the bureau of criminal identification shall inform the applicant and the board in 25
661	661	writing of this fact. An applicant against whom disqualifying information has been found may 26
662	662	request that a copy of the national criminal background report be sent to the board, which shall 27
663	663	make a judgment regarding the licensure of the applicant. The applicant shall be responsible for 28
664	664	payment of the costs of the national criminal background check. 29
665	665	(f) “Disqualifying information” means those offenses, including, but not limited to, those 30
666	666	defined in chapters 34, 34.1, and 37 of title 11, and § 23-17-37. 31
667	667	(g) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, any city or town may, by ordinance, 32
668	668	regulate the opening, the presence, the location, and the operation of any bodyworks business or 33
669	669	any business providing bodyworks services. Provided, however, no ordinance may impose 34
670	670
671	671
672	672	LC001413 - Page 19 of 31
673	673	additional qualifications beyond those adopted by the department pursuant to this chapter 1
674	674	respecting national criminal background checks for persons applying for a license. 2
675	675	SECTION 6. Chapter 5-48 of the General Laws entitled "Speech-Language Pathology and 3
676	676	Audiology" is hereby repealed in its entirety. 4
677	677	CHAPTER 5-48 5
678	678	Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology 6
679	679	5-48-1. Purpose and legislative intent — Definitions. 7
680	680	(a) It is declared to be a policy of this state that the practice of speech-language pathology 8
681	681	and audiology is a privilege granted to qualified persons and that, in order to safeguard the public 9
682	682	health, safety, and welfare; protect the public from being misled by incompetent, unscrupulous, and 10
683	683	unauthorized persons; and protect the public from unprofessional conduct by qualified speech-11
684	684	language pathologists and audiologists, it is necessary to provide regulatory authority over persons 12
685	685	offering speech-language pathology and audiology services to the public. 13
686	686	(b) The following words and terms when used in this chapter have the following meaning 14
687	687	unless otherwise indicated within the context: 15
688	688	(1) “Audiologist” means an individual licensed by the board to practice audiology. 16
689	689	(2) “Audiology” means the application of principles, methods, and procedures related to 17
690	690	hearing and the disorders of the hearing and balance systems, to related language and speech 18
691	691	disorders, and to aberrant behavior related to hearing loss. A hearing disorder in an individual is 19
692	692	defined as altered sensitivity, acuity, function, processing, or damage to the integrity of the 20
693	693	physiological auditory/vestibular systems. 21
694	694	(3) “Board” means the state board of examiners of speech-language pathology and 22
695	695	audiology. 23
696	696	(4) “Clinical fellow” means the person who is practicing speech-language pathology under 24
697	697	the supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist while completing the postgraduate 25
698	698	professional experience as required by this chapter. 26
699	699	(5) “Department” means the Rhode Island department of health. 27
700	700	(6) “Director” means the director of the Rhode Island department of health. 28
701	701	(7) “Person” means an individual, partnership, organization, or corporation, except that 29
702	702	only individuals can be licensed under this chapter. 30
703	703	(8)(i) “Practice of audiology” means rendering or offering to render any service in 31
704	704	audiology, including prevention, screening, and identification, evaluation, habilitation, 32
705	705	rehabilitation; participating in environmental and occupational hearing-conservation programs, and 33
706	706	habilitation and rehabilitation programs including hearing aid and assistive-listening-device 34
707	707
708	708
709	709	LC001413 - Page 20 of 31
710	710	evaluation, prescription, preparation, dispensing, and/or selling and orientation; auditory training 1
711	711	and speech reading; conducting and interpreting tests of vestibular function and nystagmus; 2
712	712	conducting and interpreting electrophysiological measures of the auditory pathway; cerumen 3
713	713	management; evaluating sound environment and equipment; calibrating instruments used in testing 4
714	714	and supplementing auditory function; and planning, directing, conducting, or supervising programs 5
715	715	that render or offer to render any service in audiology. 6
716	716	(ii) The practice of audiology may include speech and/or language screening to a pass or 7
717	717	fail determination, for the purpose of initial identification of individuals with other disorders of 8
718	718	communication. 9
719	719	(iii) A practice is deemed to be the “practice of audiology” if services are offered under 10
720	720	any title incorporating such word as “audiology,” “audiologist,” “audiometry,” “audiometrist,” 11
721	721	“audiological,” “audiometrics,” “hearing therapy,” “hearing therapist,” “hearing clinic,” “hearing 12
722	722	clinician,” “hearing conservation,” “hearing conservationist,” “hearing center,” “hearing aid 13
723	723	audiologist,” or any similar title or description of services. 14
724	724	(9)(i) “Practice of speech-language pathology” means rendering or offering to render any 15
725	725	service in speech-language pathology including prevention, identification, evaluation, consultation, 16
726	726	habilitation, rehabilitation; determining the need for augmentative communication systems, 17
727	727	dispensing and selling these systems, and providing training in the use of these systems; and 18
728	728	planning, directing, conducting, or supervising programs that render or offer to render any service 19
729	729	in speech-language pathology. 20
730	730	(ii) The practice of speech-language pathology may include nondiagnostic pure-tone air 21
731	731	conduction screening, screening tympanometry, and acoustic reflex screening, limited to a pass or 22
732	732	fail determination, for the purpose of performing a speech and language evaluation or for the initial 23
733	733	identification of individuals with other disorders of communication. 24
734	734	(iii) The practice of speech-language pathology also may include aural rehabilitation, 25
735	735	which is defined as services and procedures for facilitating adequate receptive and expressive 26
736	736	communication in individuals with hearing impairment. 27
737	737	(iv) A practice is deemed to be the “practice of speech-language pathology” if services are 28
738	738	offered under any title incorporating such words as “speech pathology,” “speech pathologist,” 29
739	739	“speech therapy,” “speech therapist,” “speech correction,” “speech correctionist,” “speech clinic,” 30
740	740	“speech clinician,” “language pathology,” “language pathologist,” “voice therapy,” “voice 31
741	741	therapist,” “voice pathology,” “voice pathologist,” “logopedics,” “logopedist,” “communicology,” 32
742	742	“communicologist,” “aphasiology,” “aphasiologist,” “phoniatrist,” or any similar title or 33
743	743	description of services. 34
744	744
745	745
746	746	LC001413 - Page 21 of 31
747	747	(10) “Regionally accredited” means the official guarantee that a college or university or 1
748	748	other educational institution is in conformity with the standards of education prescribed by a 2
749	749	regional accrediting commission recognized by the United States Secretary of Education. 3
750	750	(11) “Speech-language pathologist” means an individual who is licensed by the board to 4
751	751	practice speech-language pathology. 5
752	752	(12) “Speech-language pathology” means the application of principles, methods, and 6
753	753	procedures for prevention, identification, evaluation, consultation, habilitation, rehabilitation, 7
754	754	instruction, and research related to the development and disorders of human communication. 8
755	755	Disorders are defined to include any and all conditions, whether of organic or non-organic origin, 9
756	756	that impede the normal process of human communication in individuals or groups of individuals 10
757	757	who have or are suspected of having these conditions, including, but not limited to, disorders and 11
758	758	related disorders of: 12
759	759	(i) Speech: articulation, fluency, voice (including respiration, phonation and resonance); 13
760	760	(ii) Language (involving the parameters of phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and 14
761	761	pragmatics; and including disorders of receptive and expressive communication in oral, written, 15
762	762	graphic, and manual modalities); 16
763	763	(iii) Oral, pharyngeal, laryngeal, cervical esophageal, and related functions (e.g., 17
764	764	dysphasia, including disorders of swallowing and oral function for feeding; oro-facial 18
765	765	myofunctional disorders); 19
766	766	(iv) Cognitive aspects of communication (including communication disability and other 20
767	767	functional disabilities associated with cognitive impairment); and 21
768	768	(v) Social aspects of communication (including challenging behavior, ineffective social 22
769	769	skills, lack of communication opportunities). 23
770	770	5-48-2. Board of examiners — Composition — Appointments, terms, and 24
771	771	qualifications of members. 25
772	772	(a) There exists within the department of health a board of examiners of speech-language 26
773	773	pathology and audiology. The board shall consist of five (5) persons who are residents of the state 27
774	774	and who have worked within the state for at least one year prior to their appointments. 28
775	775	(1) Two (2) members shall be speech-language pathologists who have practiced speech-29
776	776	language pathology for at least five (5) years preceding appointment, are currently practicing 30
777	777	speech-language pathology, and hold active and valid licensure for the practice of speech-language 31
778	778	pathology in this state. 32
779	779	(2) One member shall be an audiologist who has practiced audiology for at least five (5) 33
780	780	years immediately preceding appointment, is currently practicing audiology, and holds active and 34
781	781
782	782
783	783	LC001413 - Page 22 of 31
784	784	valid licensure for the practice of audiology in this state. 1
785	785	(3) One member shall be an otolaryngologist who holds certification by the American 2
786	786	Academy of Otolaryngology — head and neck surgery, who is currently practicing otolaryngology, 3
787	787	and holds active and valid licensure as a physician within this state. 4
788	788	(4) One member shall be a representative of the consumer public who is not associated 5
789	789	with or financially interested in the practice or business of speech-language pathology or audiology. 6
790	790	(b) All appointments to the board shall be for the term of three (3) years. Members shall 7
791	791	serve until the expiration of the term for which they have been appointed or until their appointed 8
792	792	successors are qualified. 9
793	793	(c) When a vacancy upon the board occurs, the director of the department of health shall, 10
794	794	with the approval of the governor, appoint persons who are working within the state to fill the 11
795	795	remainder of the vacant term. 12
796	796	(d) The board shall reorganize annually during the month of January and shall select a 13
797	797	chairperson. 14
798	798	(e) A majority of currently filled positions shall constitute a quorum to do business. 15
799	799	(f) No person shall be appointed to serve more than two (2) consecutive terms. 16
800	800	(g) The first board and all future members shall be appointed by the director of the 17
801	801	department of health, with the approval of the governor. 18
802	802	(h) The director of the department of health, with the approval of the governor, may remove 19
803	803	any member of the board for dishonorable conduct, incompetency, or neglect of duty. 20
804	804	5-48-3. Board of examiners — Duties and powers — Meetings — Compensation of 21
805	805	members. 22
806	806	(a) The board shall administer, coordinate, and enforce the provisions of this chapter; 23
807	807	evaluate the qualifications of applicants; and may issue subpoenas, examine witnesses, and 24
808	808	administer oaths, conduct hearings, and at its discretion investigate allegations of violations of this 25
809	809	chapter and impose penalties if any violations of the chapter have occurred. 26
810	810	(b) The board shall conduct hearings and keep records and minutes as necessary to an 27
811	811	orderly dispatch of business. 28
812	812	(c) The board shall, with the approval of the director of the department of health, adopt, 29
813	813	amend, or repeal rules and regulations, including, but not limited to, regulations that delineate 30
814	814	qualifications for licensure and establish standards of professional conduct. Following their 31
815	815	adoption, the rules and regulations shall govern and control the professional conduct of every 32
816	816	person who holds a license to practice speech-language pathology or audiology in this state. 33
817	817	(d) The board shall make available complete lists of the names and addresses of all licensed 34
818	818
819	819
820	820	LC001413 - Page 23 of 31
821	821	speech-language pathologists and audiologists. 1
822	822	(e) The board may request legal advice and assistance from the appropriate state legal 2
823	823	officer. 3
824	824	(f) Regular meetings of the board shall be held at the times and places that it prescribes, 4
825	825	and special meetings may be held upon the call of the chairperson; provided, that at least one regular 5
826	826	meeting shall be held each year. 6
827	827	(g) The conferral or enumeration of specific powers in this chapter shall not be construed 7
828	828	as a limitation of the general powers conferred by this section. No member of the board shall be 8
829	829	liable to civil action for any act performed in good faith in the performance of his or her duties as 9
830	830	prescribed by this chapter. 10
831	831	(h) Board members shall serve without compensation. 11
832	832	(i) The board may suspend the authority of any registered speech-language pathologist or 12
833	833	audiologist to practice speech-language pathology or audiology for failure to comply with any of 13
834	834	the requirements of this chapter. 14
835	835	5-48-4. Board examiners — Seal — Authentication of records. 15
836	836	The board shall adopt the state seal by which it authenticates its proceedings. Copies of the 16
837	837	proceedings, records, and acts of the board, and certificates purporting to relate the facts concerning 17
838	838	those proceedings, records, and acts, signed by the secretary and authenticated by that seal, shall 18
839	839	be evidence in all courts of this state. 19
840	840	5-48-5. Receipts. 20
841	841	The proceeds of any fees collected pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be 21
842	842	deposited as general revenues. 22
843	843	5-48-6. Licensure and regulation of speech-language pathologists and audiologists. 23
844	844	(a) Licensure shall be granted in either speech-language pathology or audiology 24
845	845	independently. A person may be licensed in both areas if he or she meets the respective 25
846	846	qualifications. 26
847	847	(b) No person shall practice as, advertise as, or use the title of speech pathologist or 27
848	848	audiologist as defined in § 5-48-1 in this state unless he or she is licensed in accordance with the 28
849	849	provisions of the laws of the state. 29
850	850	(c) Registered speech-language pathologists or audiologists may render services under the 30
851	851	terms and provisions of the workers’ compensation and rehabilitation laws. 31
852	852	(d) A provisional license for the clinical fellow (defined in § 5-48-1(b)(4)) shall be required 32
853	853	in speech-language pathology for that period of postgraduate professional experience as required 33
854	854	in § 5-48-7.1. A provisional license shall authorize an individual to practice speech-language 34
855	855
856	856
857	857	LC001413 - Page 24 of 31
858	858	pathology solely in connection with the completion of the supervised postgraduate professional 1
859	859	experience. 2
860	860	5-48-7. Qualifications of applicants for a license as a speech-language pathologist. 3
861	861	To be eligible for licensure by the board as a speech-language pathologist the applicant 4
862	862	must: 5
863	863	(1) Be of good moral character; 6
864	864	(2) Apply to the department, upon a form prescribed by the department; 7
865	865	(3) Submit the appropriate application fee; 8
866	866	(4) Submit an official transcript indicating possession of a master’s degree or a doctorate 9
867	867	degree or equivalent in speech-language pathology from an educational institution accredited by 10
868	868	the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing 11
869	869	Association (ASHA) or other national accrediting association as may be approved by the board. 12
870	870	The degree shall consist of course work in accordance with the current, minimum requirements for 13
871	871	the certificate of clinical competence issued by the American Speech-Language-Hearing 14
872	872	Association (ASHA) or other national accrediting association as may be approved by the board and 15
873	873	delineated in the rules and regulations; 16
874	874	(5) Complete supervised clinical-practicum experiences from an educational institution or 17
875	875	its cooperating programs. The content of the practicum shall be in accordance with the current, 18
876	876	minimum requirements for the certificate of clinical competence issued by the American Speech-19
877	877	Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) or other national accrediting association as may be 20
878	878	approved by the board and delineated in the rules and regulations; 21
879	879	(6) Pass a national examination in speech-language pathology as required by the American 22
880	880	Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) or other national accrediting association as may 23
881	881	be approved by the board and delineated in the rules and regulations; 24
882	882	(7) Present verification of a certificate of clinical competence from the American Speech-25
883	883	Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) or other national accrediting association as may be 26
884	884	approved by the board; and 27
885	885	(8) If applicable, present evidence from the board of speech-language pathology in each 28
886	886	state in which the applicant has held or holds licensure to be submitted to the board of this state, 29
887	887	attesting to the licensure status of the applicant during the time period the applicant held licensure 30
888	888	in the state. 31
889	889	5-48-7.1. Qualifications for a provisional license for a speech-language pathologist. 32
890	890	(a) To be eligible for provisional licensure by the board, the speech-language pathologist 33
891	891	applicant must submit an application with the required application fee and be in compliance with 34
892	892
893	893
894	894	LC001413 - Page 25 of 31
895	895	the requirements of § 5-48-7(1), (4), (5), and (6). 1
896	896	(b) In addition to the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, content of the 2
897	897	supervised postgraduate professional experience shall meet the standards of a trainee or fellow of 3
898	898	speech pathology as required by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) or 4
899	899	other national accrediting association as may be approved by the board. 5
900	900	(c) If the postgraduate professional experience extends beyond one year, provisional 6
901	901	licensure must be renewed annually and not exceed thirty-six (36) months past the initiation of the 7
902	902	professional experience. 8
903	903	(d) The provisional licensure shall expire ninety (90) days after the end of the postgraduate 9
904	904	professional experience. 10
905	905	5-48-7.2. Qualifications for license as an audiologist. 11
906	906	Persons seeking initial licensure as an audiologist on or after January 1, 2008, shall meet 12
907	907	the following requirements: 13
908	908	(1) Be of good moral character; 14
909	909	(2) Apply to the board, upon a form prescribed by the board; 15
910	910	(3) Submit the appropriate application fee; 16
911	911	(4) Submit an official transcript indicating possession of an earned doctorate degree in 17
912	912	audiology from a regionally accredited educational institution as delineated in the rules and 18
913	913	regulations; 19
914	914	(5) Pass a national examination in audiology approved by the board and delineated in the 20
915	915	rules and regulations; 21
916	916	(6) Present evidence of practicum experience that is equivalent to a minimum of twelve 22
917	917	(12) months of full-time, supervised experience, that may be completed as part of the graduate 23
918	918	degree, as delineated in the rules and regulations; 24
919	919	(7) If applicable, present evidence from the board of audiology in each state in which the 25
920	920	applicant has held or holds licensure to be submitted to the board of this state, attesting to the 26
921	921	licensure status of the applicant during the time period the applicant held licensure in the state; 27
922	922	(8) Any other requirements as set forth in the rules and regulations. 28
923	923	5-48-7.3. Qualifications for audiologists licensed in alternate jurisdictions. 29
924	924	Persons licensed as an audiologist in alternate jurisdictions on or before January 1, 2008, 30
925	925	shall meet the requirements of this state that were in effect at the time of initial licensure in the 31
926	926	alternate jurisdiction. 32
927	927	5-48-8. [Repealed.] 33
928	928	5-48-9. Fees — Late filing — Inactive status. 34
929	929
930	930
931	931	LC001413 - Page 26 of 31
932	932	(a) The board may charge an application fee; a biennial license renewal fee payable before 1
933	933	July 1 of even years (biennially); or a provisional license renewal fee as set forth in § 23-1-54 2
934	934	payable annually from the date of issue. 3
935	935	(b) Any person who allows his or her license to lapse by failing to renew it on or before 4
936	936	the thirtieth (30th) day of June of even years (biennially), may be reinstated by the board on 5
937	937	payment of the current renewal fee plus an additional late filing fee as set forth in § 23-1-54. 6
938	938	(c) An individual licensed as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist in this state, not 7
939	939	in the active practice of speech-language pathology or audiology within this state during any year, 8
940	940	may upon request to the board, have his or her name transferred to an inactive status and shall not 9
941	941	be required to register biennially or pay any fee as long as he or she remains inactive. Inactive status 10
942	942	may be maintained for no longer than two (2) consecutive licensing periods, after which period 11
943	943	licensure shall be terminated and reapplication to the board shall be required to resume practice. 12
944	944	(d) Any individual whose name has been transferred to an inactive status may be restored 13
945	945	to active status within two (2) licensing periods without a penalty fee upon the filing of: 14
946	946	(1) An application for licensure renewal, with a licensure renewal fee as set forth in § 23-15
947	947	1-54 made payable by check to the general treasurer of the state of Rhode Island; and 16
948	948	(2) Any other information that the board may request. 17
949	949	(e) [Deleted by P.L. 2015, ch. 141, art. 20, § 9]. 18
950	950	5-48-9.1. Continuing education. 19
951	951	(a)(1) On or before the thirtieth (30th) day of June of even years, every person licensed to 20
952	952	practice speech-language pathology or audiology within this state shall complete not less than 21
953	953	twenty (20) clock hours of continuing education within the preceding two (2) years and be able to 22
954	954	present satisfactory evidence of completion to the board. 23
955	955	(2) Those persons holding licensure in both speech-language pathology and audiology must 24
956	956	have completed and have evidence of completion of not less than thirty (30) clock hours of 25
957	957	continuing education within the preceding two (2) years. 26
958	958	(b) Continuing education hours may not be carried over from one renewal period to the 27
959	959	next. 28
960	960	(c) The board at its discretion may extend, reduce, or waive the requirement for continuing 29
961	961	education for hardship or other extenuating circumstances as the board deems appropriate. 30
962	962	5-48-10. Persons and practices exempted. 31
963	963	The provisions of this chapter do not apply to: 32
964	964	(1) A qualified person licensed, registered, certified, or credentialed in this state under any 33
965	965	other law who is practicing the profession or business for which he or she is licensed, registered, 34
966	966
967	967
968	968	LC001413 - Page 27 of 31
969	969	certified, or credentialed, in the setting for which the licensure, registration, certification, or 1
970	970	credential pertains and performs services within their authorized scope of practice. 2
971	971	(2) This chapter specifically excludes those persons who commercially fit and sell hearing 3
972	972	aids; provided, that those persons do not receive a separate or additional fee for testing or 4
973	973	interpreting tests of hearing; and provided, that those persons do not represent themselves as 5
974	974	audiologists as defined in this chapter. This subsection does not preclude remuneration for any 6
975	975	other service offered solely in conjunction with the fitting or maintaining of a hearing aid. 7
976	976	(3) No one shall be exempt under subsection (1) for that portion of his or her time spent as 8
977	977	a private practitioner. If he or she performs any work as a speech-language pathologist or 9
978	978	audiologist for which a fee may be paid by the recipient of the service as part of a private practice 10
979	979	apart from his or her position with the government, a license must be held. 11
980	980	5-48-11. Grounds for suspension or revocation of licenses. 12
981	981	The license of any speech-language pathologist or audiologist may be suspended or 13
982	982	revoked by the board upon proof that he or she: 14
983	983	(1) Fraudulently or deceptively obtained or attempted to obtain a license for the applicant, 15
984	984	licensee, holder, or for another; 16
985	985	(2) Fraudulently or deceptively used a license; 17
986	986	(3) Altered a license; 18
987	987	(4) Aided or abetted unlicensed practice; 19
988	988	(5) Committed fraud and deceit in the practice of speech-language pathology or of 20
989	989	audiology, including, but not limited to: 21
990	990	(i) Using or promoting, or causing the use of, any misleading, deceiving, or untruthful 22
991	991	advertising matter, promotional literature, testimonial, guarantee, warranty, label, brand, insignia, 23
992	992	or any other representation; 24
993	993	(ii) Falsely representing the use or availability of services or advice of a physician; 25
994	994	(iii) Misrepresenting the applicant, licensee, or holder by using the word “doctor” or any 26
995	995	similar word, abbreviation, or symbol, if the use is not accurate or if the degree was not obtained 27
996	996	from an accredited institution; 28
997	997	(iv) Making or filing a false report or record in the practice of speech-language pathology 29
998	998	or audiology; 30
999	999	(v) Submitting a false statement to collect a fee; and 31
1000	1000	(vi) Obtaining a fee through fraud or misrepresentation; 32
1001	1001	(6) Providing services while mentally incompetent; 33
1002	1002	(7) Engaging in illegal, incompetent, or habitually negligent practice; 34
1003	1003
1004	1004
1005	1005	LC001413 - Page 28 of 31
1006	1006	(8) Providing professional services while: 1
1007	1007	(i) Under the influence of alcohol; or 2
1008	1008	(ii) Using any narcotic or controlled dangerous substance or other drug that is in excess of 3
1009	1009	therapeutic amounts or without valid medical indication; 4
1010	1010	(9) Promoting the sale of devices, appliances, or products to a patient who cannot benefit 5
1011	1011	from these devices, appliances, or products; 6
1012	1012	(10) Violating any provision of this chapter, any lawful order given, or rule or regulation 7
1013	1013	adopted by the board or departure from or failure to conform to the current standards of acceptable 8
1014	1014	prevailing practice and code of ethics of speech-language pathology or audiology; 9
1015	1015	(11) Being convicted of, or pleading guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony, whether or not 10
1016	1016	any appeal or another proceeding is pending to have the conviction or plea set aside; 11
1017	1017	(12) Incompetent or negligent misconduct in the practice of speech-language pathology or 12
1018	1018	audiology; 13
1019	1019	(13) Is habitually intemperate or is addicted to the use of habit-forming drugs; 14
1020	1020	(14) Being disciplined by a licensing or disciplinary authority of any other state or country, 15
1021	1021	or convicted or disciplined by a court of any state or country, for an act that would be grounds for 16
1022	1022	disciplinary action under this section; or 17
1023	1023	(15) Failing to maintain continuing education requirements. 18
1024	1024	5-48-12. Penalty for violations. 19
1025	1025	(a) The board is granted the authority to impose the following disciplinary actions in those 20
1026	1026	instances in which an applicant for a license or a licensee has been guilty of conduct that has 21
1027	1027	endangered, or is likely to endanger, the health, welfare, or safety of the public: 22
1028	1028	(1) Refuse to issue or renew a license. 23
1029	1029	(2) Issue a letter of reprimand or concern. 24
1030	1030	(3) Require restitution of fees. 25
1031	1031	(4) Impose probationary conditions. 26
1032	1032	(5) Suspend or revoke a license. 27
1033	1033	(b) Any person found to be in violation of any provision of this chapter, upon conviction, 28
1034	1034	shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars 29
1035	1035	($1,000). 30
1036	1036	5-48-13. Revocation and suspension procedure — Reinstatement. 31
1037	1037	(a)(1) Notice, in writing, of a contemplated revocation or suspension of a license, of this 32
1038	1038	particular cause, and of the date of a hearing, shall be sent by registered or certified mail to the 33
1039	1039	licensee at his or her last known address at least fifteen (15) days before the date of the hearing. 34
1040	1040
1041	1041
1042	1042	LC001413 - Page 29 of 31
1043	1043	(2) The individual against whom a charge is filed has the right to appear before the board 1
1044	1044	in person or by counsel, or both; may produce witnesses and evidence on his or her behalf; and 2
1045	1045	may question witnesses. 3
1046	1046	(3) No license shall be revoked or suspended without a hearing, but the nonappearance of 4
1047	1047	the licensee, after notice, shall not prevent a hearing. 5
1048	1048	(4) All matters upon which the decision is based shall be introduced in evidence at the 6
1049	1049	proceeding. 7
1050	1050	(5) The licensee shall be notified, in writing, of the board’s decision. 8
1051	1051	(6) The board may make any rules and regulations that it deems proper for the filing of 9
1052	1052	charges and the conduct of hearings. 10
1053	1053	(b) After issuing an order of revocation or suspension, the board may also file a petition in 11
1054	1054	equity in the superior court in a county in which the respondent resides or transacts business, to 12
1055	1055	ensure appropriate injunctive relief to expedite and secure the enforcement of its order, pending the 13
1056	1056	final determination. 14
1057	1057	(c) An application for reinstatement may be made to the board, which may, upon the 15
1058	1058	affirmative vote of at least the majority of its members, grant a reinstatement. 16
1059	1059	5-48-14. [Obsolete.] 17
1060	1060	5-48-15. Severability. 18
1061	1061	If any provision of this chapter or of any rule or regulation made under this chapter, or their 19
1062	1062	application to any person or circumstances, is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the 20
1063	1063	remainder of the chapter, rule, or regulation, and the application of that provision to other persons 21
1064	1064	or circumstances, shall not be affected. 22
1065	1065	SECTION 7. Section 46-13-18 of the General Laws in Chapter 46-13 entitled "Public 23
1066	1066	Drinking Water Supply" is hereby amended to read as follows: 24
1067	1067	46-13-18. Adoption of regulations. 25
1068	1068	(a) The director is hereby authorized to adopt regulations consistent with the provisions of 26
1069	1069	this chapter, the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300f et seq., and the federal 27
1070	1070	regulations adopted under that act. All new and existing public water supply systems subject to the 28
1071	1071	provisions of this chapter must comply with the provisions of this chapter and with all the 29
1072	1072	regulations adopted under this chapter in order to obtain and/or maintain approval by the director 30
1073	1073	as a public water supply system. The director is further authorized to establish by regulation a 31
1074	1074	schedule of fees for applications, approvals, and renewals required by this chapter. 32
1075	1075	(b)(1) Any community water system serving a population of ten thousand (10,000) or more 33
1076	1076	shall directly deliver a full copy of the consumer confidence report, which is required by the U.S. 34
1077	1077
1078	1078
1079	1079	LC001413 - Page 30 of 31
1080	1080	Environmental Protection Agency under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300f et 1
1081	1081	seq., to each household within the water system’s service area that receives water from that system. 2
1082	1082	The method of delivery shall be determined by the water system, but can include delivery via either: 3
1083	1083	(i) Postal patron mailing; 4
1084	1084	(ii) A community newsletter that is directly delivered to each household; 5
1085	1085	(iii) A community calendar that is directly delivered to each household; or 6
1086	1086	(iv) Any other method that will directly reach each household within the water system’s 7
1087	1087	service area that receives water from that system. 8
1088	1088	(2) In the event that within the service area there are buildings with five (5) or more 9
1089	1089	residential units, the system will not be required to deliver directly to each of these units. Instead, 10
1090	1090	the water system shall mail multiple copies of the report to the building manager or other 11
1091	1091	appropriate individual, noting that the reports should be distributed to residents and/or posted in a 12
1092	1092	common area. Additionally, colleges and universities will be exempted from this requirement but 13
1093	1093	are still responsible for meeting all federal requirements. 14
1094	1094	(3) The department of health shall serve as the repository for all consumer confidence 15
1095	1095	reports and shall direct inquiries for copies of the report to the appropriate water system in order to 16
1096	1096	obtain a copy of the report. 17
1097	1097	SECTION 8. This act shall take effect upon passage. 18
1098	1098	========
1099	1099	LC001413
1100	1100	========
1101	1101
1102	1102
1103	1103	LC001413 - Page 31 of 31
1104	1104	EXPLANATION
1105	1105	BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
1106	1106	OF
1107	1107	A N A C T
1108	1108	RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- NURSES
1109	1109	***
1110	1110	This act would make a series of amendments to several statutes regarding businesses and 1
1111	1111	professions to provide clarity or align with new federal requirements. 2
1112	1112	This act would take effect upon passage. 3
1113	1113	========
1114	1114	LC001413
1115	1115	========