Speech and hearing specialist licensing amendments.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material did not provide information on whether the license is a single-state license or if it includes privileges to practice in other member states. This detail was removed as it could not be verified from the provided sources.

Changes to Speech and Hearing Specialist Licensing

This law allows certain speech or hearing specialists who worked for a school district before July 1, 2020, to become licensed as speech-language pathologists or audiologists without meeting all usual requirements.

What This Bill Does

• Creates a new rule that allows people with a valid certificate from the Professional Teaching Standards Board and employed by a school district on or before July 1, 2020, to be eligible for licensing as speech-language pathologists or audiologists without meeting all usual requirements.
• Limits these newly licensed professionals to work only in public schools or programs for developmentally disabled children funded by the Department of Health.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who were certified as speech or hearing specialists and worked in Wyoming public schools before July 1, 2020.
• School districts and programs for developmentally disabled children funded by the Department of Health.

Terms To Know

Speech-Language Pathologist

A professional who helps people with speech or language problems.

Audiologist

A healthcare provider who diagnoses and treats hearing and balance disorders.

Limits and Unknowns

• The law only applies to those working in schools before July 1, 2020.
• It does not change the requirements for new applicants or people outside of school settings.

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 21LSO-0645
Bill No.:

SF0117

Effective:

7/1/2021 12:00:00 AM

LSO No.:

21LSO-0645

Enrolled Act No.:

SEA No. 0033

Chapter No.:

101

Prime Sponsor:

Pappas

Catch Title:

Speech and hearing specialist licensing amendments.

Subject:

Speech and hearing specialist licensing amendments.

Summary/Major Elements:

This bill modifies the Practice Act for Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists by creating a grandfather provision for professionals who held a valid speech or hearing specialists certificate issued by the Professional Teaching Standards Board and who were employed by a school district to deliver speech-language pathology or audiology services on or before July 1, 2020.

The bill provides that people who qualify under the newly created grandfather provision are eligible to be licensed as speech-language pathologists or audiologists by the State Board of Examiners of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. The bill limits these persons' authority to practice to only the public school system or programs for the developmentally disabled that are funded by the Department of Health.
The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent.

While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.

Current Bill Text

21LSO-0645

ORIGINAL Senate

File No
.
SF0117

ENROLLED ACT NO. 33,

SENATE

SIXTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2021 General Session

AN ACT relating to professions and occupations; providing for the licensure of persons certified as a speech or hearing specialist as specified; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 33
‑
33
‑
105 by creating a new subsection (b) and renumbering (b) as (c) is amended to read:

33
‑
33
‑
105.

Eligibility for licensing.

(b)

A person who held a valid certificate as a speech or hearing specialist issued by the professional teaching standards board and was employed by any school district to deliver speech
‑
language pathology or audiology services on or before July 1, 2020, shall be qualified and eligible for licensing by the board as a speech
‑
language pathologist or audiologist, notwithstanding the requirements imposed under paragraphs (a)(i) through (iii) of this section. Any person licensed under this subsection shall only be authorized to practice as a speech
‑
language pathologist or audiologist in the public school system or in programs for the developmentally disabled funded by the department of health.

(b)
(c)

To the extent a license authorized under this section does not comply with the requirements for licensure under the Audiology and Speech
‑
Language Pathology Interstate Compact, the license shall be considered a single
‑
state license that does not include a privilege to practice in any other member state.

Section 2
.

This act is effective July 1, 2021
.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the Senate.

Chief Clerk

1