By: Paxton S.B. No. 466
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the licensing and regulation of speech-language
pathologists and audiologists.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 401.201, Occupations Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (b) to read as follows:
(b) Notwithstanding any other law, in adopting a rule under
this chapter, the commission:
(1) shall authorize:
(A) a license holder, including a licensed intern
or licensed assistant, to provide services by use of any
interactive audiovisual communication system, whether real-time or
two-way, including a smart phone; and
(B) any supervision requirement for an applicant
under this chapter to be fulfilled wholly or partly by use of
telecommunications technology; and
(2) may not:
(A) require a license holder 's initial
professional contact with a client to be in-person; or
(B) impose any limitation on a license holder 's
selection of a facilitator to assist the license holder in
providing services by use of telecommunications technology.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, the
Act takes effect September 1, 2021.