Whereas, this legislation authorizes the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Board of Examiners on Speech-language Pathology and Audiology to issue renewal registrations to speech-language pathology aides who held valid registrations on December 31, 2004, prior to the enactment of new requirements beginning January 1, 2005; and

Whereas, if the Board of Examiners on Speech-language Pathology and Audiology is not granted additional authority, it will not be feasible for many speech-language pathology aides to comply with the new requirements for registration and they will therefore be denied an opportunity to continue providing a valuable service to the citizens of the State; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. Transition provisions. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 32, section 6004, subsection 2, the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Board of Examiners on Speech-language Pathology and Audiology is authorized to delay application of the requirements of Title 32, section 6004, subsection 2 to speech-language pathology aides who held valid registrations on December 31, 2004. These registrants will be accorded not less than 2 years but no more than 4 years to comply with these requirements. This transition is not intended to prevent timely consideration by the Board of Examiners on Speech- language Pathology and Audiology of applications for registration for individuals who have or will have complied with the requirements under Title 32, section 6004, subsection 2.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This bill provides speech-language pathology aides additional time to meet the requirements for registration as speech-language pathology assistants.