Kentucky SB 177: AN ACT relating to reorganization. Amend KRS 18A.025 to add the Division of Technology Services, Division of Human Resources, and Division of Financial Services to the Office of Administrative Services in the Office of the Secretary; rename the Office of Diversity and Equality the Office of Diversity, Equality, and Training; rename the Center for Strategic Innovation the Office of Public Affairs; abolish the Division of Technology Services in the Department of Human Resources Administration; amend KRS 12.020 to conform; confirm Executive Order 2016-555.

Bill Text

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AN ACT relating to speech-language pathologists. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
Section 1. KRS 334A.020 is amended to read as follows: 3
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires: 4
(1) "Assisting in the practice of speech pathology" means the provision of certain 5
specific components of a speech or language service program provided by a speech-6
language pathology assistant under the supervision and direction of an appropriately 7
qualified supervisor; 8
(2) "Audiologist" means one who is licensed to practice audiology. An audiologist may 9
describe himself or herself to the public by any title or description of services 10
incorporating the words "audiologist," "audiology," "audiological," "hearing 11
center," "hearing clinic," "hearing clinician," "hearing therapist," "audiometry," 12
"audiometrist," "audiometrics," "otometry," "otometrist," "aural rehabilitationist," 13
or "hearing conservationist"; 14
(3) "Board" means the Kentucky Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology; 15
(4) "Continuing professional education" in speech-language pathology and audiology 16
consists of planned learning experiences beyond a basic educational program 17
leading to a degree. These experiences are designed to promote knowledge, skills, 18
and attitudes of speech-language pathology and audiology practitioners to enable 19
them to provide professional services in their areas of training that are based on 20
current research and best practices; 21
(5) "Interim license" means a license issued by the board pursuant to KRS 334A.035 to 22
a person for the purpose of completing the [supervised ]postgraduate professional 23
experience required under that section prior to an application for licensure as a 24
speech-language pathologist or a speech-language pathology assistant; 25
(6) "Person" means any individual, organization, or corporate body, except that only 26
individuals can be licensed under this chapter; 27

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(7) "Practice of audiology" means the application of principles, methods, and 1
procedures of measurement, testing, appraisal, prediction, consultation, counseling, 2
and instruction related to hearing and disorders of hearing for the purpose of 3
modifying communicative disorders involving speech, language, auditory behavior, 4
or other aberrant behavior related to hearing loss; planning, directing, conducting, 5
or participating in identification and hearing conservation programs; and 6
habilitative and rehabilitative programs, including hearing aid recommendations 7
and evaluation, prescribing, ordering the use of, selling and fitting hearing 8
instruments, including the selling and fitting of both prescription hearing aids and 9
over-the-counter hearing aids, auditory training, or speech reading; 10
(8) "Practice of speech pathology" means the application of principles, methods, and 11
procedures for the measurement, testing, audiometric screening, identification, 12
appraisal, determination of prognosis, evaluation, consultation, remediation, 13
counseling, instruction, and research related to the development and disorders of 14
speech, voice, verbal and written language, cognition/communication, or oral and 15
pharyngeal sensorimotor competencies for the purpose of designing and 16
implementing programs for the amelioration of these disorders and conditions. Any 17
representation to the public by title or by description of services, methods, or 18
procedures for the evaluation, counseling, remediation, consultation, measurement, 19
testing, audiometric screening, identification, appraisal, instruction, and research of 20
persons diagnosed with conditions or disorders affecting speech, voice, verbal, and 21
written language, cognition/communication, or oral and pharyngeal sensorimotor 22
competencies shall be considered to be the practice of speech-language pathology; 23
(9) "Speech-language pathologist" means one who practices speech-language 24
pathology. A speech-language pathologist may describe himself or herself to the 25
public by any title or description of services incorporating the words "speech-26
language pathologist," "speech-language pathology," "speech-language therapy," 27

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"speech-language correction," "speech-language correctionist," "speech-language 1
therapist," "speech clinic," "speech clinician," "speech pathologist," "language 2
pathologist," "language pathology," "language therapist," "logopedics," 3
"logopedist," "communicology," "communicologist," "aphasiologist," "voice 4
therapy," "voice therapist," "voice pathology," "voice pathologist," "phoniatrist," 5
"communication disorders," or "verbal therapist"; 6
(10) "Speech-language pathology assistan