Pennsylvania HB 80: An Act authorizing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to join the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact; and providing for the form of the compact.

Bill Text

SENATE AMENDED
PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 31, 1941 PRINTER'S NO. 2866
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 80
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY VENKAT, MARCELL, HOWARD, SANCHEZ, BOROWSKI,
PIELLI, HILL-EVANS, HANBIDGE, HADDOCK, SCHLOSSBERG, FRANKEL,
HOHENSTEIN, FREEMAN, HARKINS, SHUSTERMAN, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ,
KENYATTA, SAPPEY, PROBST, DONAHUE, OTTEN, FIEDLER, CERRATO,
GREEN, BONNER, KHAN, DOUGHERTY, MARKOSEK, SHAFFER, KAZEEM,
MADSEN, RIVERA AND SCHEUREN, JANUARY 10, 2025
SENATOR STEFANO, CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE,
IN SENATE, AS AMENDED, FEBRUARY 4, 2026
AN ACT
Authorizing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to join the
Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact;
and providing for the form of the compact.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Audiology and
Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact Act.
Section 2. Authority to execute compact.
The Governor, on behalf of the Commonwealth, is hereby
authorized to execute a compact in substantially the following
form with any one or more of the states of the United States,
and the General Assembly hereby signifies in advance its
approval and ratification of such compact:
SECTION 1. PURPOSE
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The purpose of this Compact is to facilitate interstate
practice of audiology and speech-language pathology with the
goal of improving public access to audiology and speech-language
pathology services. The practice of audiology and speech-
language pathology occurs in the state where the
patient/client/student is located at the time of the
patient/client/student encounter. This Compact preserves the
regulatory authority of states to protect public health and
safety through the current system of state licensure. This
Compact is designed to achieve the following purposes and
objectives:
1. Increase public access to audiology and speech-
language pathology services by providing for the mutual
recognition of other member state licenses;
2. Enhance the states' ability to protect the public's
health and safety;
3. Encourage the cooperation of member states in
regulating multistate audiology and speech-language pathology
practice;
4. Support spouses of relocating active duty military
personnel;
5. Enhance the exchange of licensure, investigative and
disciplinary information between member states;
6. Allow a remote state to hold a provider of services
with a compact privilege in that state accountable to that
state's practice standards; and
7. Allow for the use of telehealth technology to
facilitate increased access to audiology and speech-language
pathology services.
SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS
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As used in this Compact, and except as otherwise provided,
the following definitions shall apply:
A. "Active Duty Military" means: full-time duty status in
the active uniformed service of the United States, including
members of the National Guard and Reserve on active duty orders
pursuant to 10 U.S.C. Chapters 1209 (relating to active duty)
and 1211 (relating to national guard members in federal
service).
B. "Adverse Action" means: any administrative, civil,
equitable or criminal action permitted by a state's laws which
is imposed by a licensing board or other authority against an
audiologist or speech-language pathologist, including actions
against an individual's license or privilege to practice such as
revocation, suspension, probation, monitoring of the licensee,
or restriction on the licensee's practice.
C. "Alternative Program" means: a non-disciplinary
monitoring process approved by an audiology or speech-language
pathology licensing board to address impaired practitioners.
D. "Audiologist" means: an individual who is licensed by a
state to practice audiology.
E. "Audiology" means: the care and services provided by a
licensed audiologist as set forth in the member state's statutes
and rules.
F. "Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Compact
Commission" or "Commission" means: the national administrative
body whose membership consists of all states that have enacted
the Compact.
G. "Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Licensing
Board," "Audiology Licensing Board," "Speech-Language Pathology
Licensing Board," or "Licensing Board" means: the agency of a
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state that is responsible for the licensing and regulation of
audiologists and/or speech-language pathologists.
H. "Compact Privilege" means: the authorization granted by
a remote state to allow a licensee from another member state to
practice as an audiologist or speech-language pathologist in the
remote state under its laws and rules. The practice of audiology
or speech-language pathology occurs in the member state where
the patient/client/st