Summer 2013 The Voice Newsletter
Special Edition of The Voice - "PD & Other Rules"
The Special Edition of The Voice describes the changes in the PD and other rules effective May 1st.
As you will read, requests for special approval for PD programs that you plan to attend in 2013 may be submitted for review under the rules old until May 1st. After that, the new rules apply. PD already obtained and approved in 2012 & 2013 under the old rules will be honored when you report PD on your renewal application on or before December 31, 2013.
We have also created a Triple Test Guide. Please print this and use it to determine whether PD is accepted, requires special approval, or does not count under the new Triple Test system. Most of PD activities that licensees currently report will continue to meet the new rules, but please try a few of them out using this Guide, to see how they will be treated after May 1st.
Spring 2013 The Voice Newsletter
January 30, 2013 Newsflash
One of our two public members is ending her term this June, and the Board is looking to fill that vacancy. Of course, all appointments to the Board are made by the Governor, and he may have someone in mind. However, in the past the Board has encouraged well-qualified members of the public to submit a Board Interest Form to the Governor’s Executive Appointments office for his consideration.
Board members must be committed to the mission of the agency: to protect the public through regulating the practice of speech-language pathology and audiology. It helps if they have past experience on a non-profit or civic board or other decision-making body, and an interest in both clinical and legal matters. Although the statute does not require it, it has been helpful that many of our public members have been consumers of hearing or speech services. The Governor’s office also has stated goals of increasing ethnic diversity and geographic breadth on boards and commissions.
The current Board membership is 4 women and 3 men, and we have two members from the Polk county area, 1 from Eastern Oregon, and 4 from the Portland metro area. Although we have diversity in age of our members, none are ethnic minorities. It would seem beneficial to identify some potential Board candidates from central or southern Oregon, or on the Coast, to balance the current group.
Please consider your patients, colleagues, friends, and/or local community leaders and let me know if you have anyone that you think might be interested, committed, and able to provide conscientious leadership to our work. They can look at the Governor’s Executive Appointments website: http://www.oregon.gov/gov/pages/boards.aspx to obtain general information about Boards & Commissions, and to download an interest form. They can look at our website to get information about what we do, and to read past meeting minutes, etc. I would also encourage them to give me a call before they decide to apply, so I can give them more details about what’s involved, and then I can help track their application after they submit it to the Governor’s office.
Thank you for any help you might be able to give this process.
December 18, 2012 Newsflash
After discussing proposed revisions at several meetings over the last month, and requesting input on an earlier draft from the OSHA and OAA Boards and attendees at the OSHA Fall Conference business meeting/luncheon, the Board has issued a final draft for public and licensee review and comment. A hearing has been set for Wednesday, January 30th at 4:30 p.m. in Room 445 of the State Office Building in Portland, and the comment period ends the following day at 5:00 p.m.
A major focus of the revisions is to clarify and update professional development (PD) requirements. The draft rules outline a “triple test” for what is accepted (or pre-approved) PD: the right type of activity, the right content/topic, and the right provider/sponsor. Any PD that does not meet all three tests would require special Board approval. In addition, certain types of activities will no longer be allowed, even with special consideration. Specifically, the draft rules exclude self-study unless there is an examination at the end, and study groups (“journal clubs”) unless there is a formal presentation for which the topic and presenter is specially approved. All PD content must directly relate to the SLP or audiology professions. The draft rules explicitly follow ASHA’s CE list for accepted topics, plus educational strategies and professional knowledge necessary to providing SLP or audiology services to students from pre-K to high school level. As for sponsors, licensees may count PD provided by their employer as long as it meets the other tests. However, if that employer is providing programs to non-employees as well, special approval is required.
The number of PD hours required to renew active SLP, Aud or SLPA licenses will not change, but changes are proposed for changing to inactive status or reactivating from inactive or expired licenses. Also, revised PD requirements for new applicants are proposed to better assure current competence and to make it easier for Board staff to administer.
In addition to PD, other draft rules involve evidence of English language proficiency for initial licensure; conditional license renewals/upgrades and supervision requirements; SLPA Competency Checklists; and requirements to provide the Board with a current email address and name(s) used professionally and legally.
Please take some time to review the attached documents and plan to attend the hearing and/or provide written comments either via email or regular mail. If you have questions about the rule-making process or the rules themselves, please contact Executive Director Sandy Leybold at 971-673-0087 or sandy.leybold@state.or.us.
Fall 2012 "The Voice" Newsletter (PDF)
Fall 2011 "The Voice" Newsletter (PDF)
Spring 2011 "The Voice" Newsletter (PDF)
February 15, 2011 Newsflash
Senate Bill 141 Passes the Senate; Moves to the Oregon House
The Board has been working for almost a year to update the statute and rules that guide our work.
The statute governing the practice of speech-language pathology and audiology was last updated in 2005.
The Board (working through the Governor’s Office) introduced Senate Bill 141 to update our statute to reflect best practices in the professions we regulate, grant clearer or broader authority to protect the public health and safety, and streamline agency operations. Both OSHA and OAA have demonstrated their support of this bill. The bill was approved by the Senate Committee on Health Care, Human Services, & Rural Health Policy on February 2nd, and was carried by Senator Kruse to the Senate floor, where it passed 27-3 on February 10th. It has now been read in the House, and will soon be assigned to a House Committee for consideration.
If successful, we expect the bill will be signed into law by the Governor, with an effective date of July 1, 2011. Since the bill will move some current statutory provisions into rule, the Board will consider and approve further rule changes this spring so that the effective dates for the statutory changes and the new rules coincide.
Linked below is a one-page summary of the key points of the bill, and a copy of the draft bill, showing anticipated changes from current language.
January 28, 2011 Newsflash
News Flash - SB141 The Board has been working for almost a year to update the statute and rules that guide our work. As reported in the Spring 2010 newsletter, the Board reviewed our statute and rules at its meetings last February 26 and March 5, and identified a number of issues that needed change, as well as some "housekeeping" fixes. The minutes of those meetings document the Board's thinking. Some of these issues required rule changes, which were made in July and August 2010; further rule changes go into effect February 1, 2011. Rule-making is done using an administrative process, which includes public hearings and testimony sought from licensees. Other issues required statutory changes, which can only be made by the Oregon Legislature.
The statute governing the practice of speech-language pathology and audiology was last updated in 2005. When the Legislative Session begins in February, the Board will bring forth a bill (Senate Bill 141) to update our statute to reflect best practices in the professions we regulate, grant clearer or broader authority to protect the public health and safety, and streamline agency operations. The legislative concepts for this bill were written last June, and shared with both OSHA and OAA. After the actual bill language was drafted by the Office of Legislative Counsel in September, this was again shared with the professional association boards, legislative liaisons, and lobbyists. Both associations support the provisions of the bill as drafted, and both John McCulley (OSHA) and Genoa Ingram (OAA) plan to testify in support of the bill.
Since SB 141 has no fiscal impact, and has the support of the professional associations, the Board, and the Governor's Office, it is expected to be heard early in the Legislative Session. It will likely be scheduled for hearing in the Senate Committee on Health Care, Human Services, & Rural Health Policy in mid-February. If passed, it will then go to the House for review and action, most likely in the House Health Care Committee. If successful, we expect the bill will be signed into law by the Governor, with an effective date of July 1, 2011. Since the bill would move some current statutory provisions into rule, we will need to do further rule changes over the next few months so that the effective dates for the statutory changes and the new rules coincide on July 1st.
Linked below is a one-page summary of the key points of the bill, and a copy of the draft bill, showing anticipated changes from current language.
SB141 Summary and Draft Text
January 26, 2011 Newsflash
Draft SB 141 Coming Before the Senate Health Committee
Sandy Leybold, MPH
Executive Director
The Board has been working for almost a year to update the statute and rules that guide our work. As reported in the Spring 2010 newsletter, the Board reviewed our statute and rules at its meetings last February 26 and March 5, and identified a number of issues that needed change, as well as some "housekeeping" fixes. The minutes of those meetings document the Board's thinking. Some of these issues required rule changes, which were made in July and August 2010; further rule changes go into effect February 1, 2011. Rule-making is done using an administrative process, which includes public hearings and testimony sought from licensees. Other issues required statutory changes, which can only be made by the Oregon Legislature.
The statute governing the practice of speech-language pathology and audiology was last updated in 2005. When the Legislative Session begins in February, the Board will bring forth a bill (Senate Bill 141) to update our statute to reflect best practices in the professions we regulate, grant clearer or broader authority to protect the public health and safety, and streamline agency operations. The legislative concepts for this bill were written last June, and shared with both OSHA and OAA. After the actual bill language was drafted by the Office of Legislative Counsel in September, this was again shared with the professional association boards, legislative liaisons, and lobbyists. Both associations support the provisions of the bill as drafted, and both John McCulley (OSHA) and Genoa Ingram (OAA) plan to testify in support of the bill.
Since SB 141 has no fiscal impact, and has the support of the professional associations, the Board, and the Governor's Office, it is expected to be heard early in the Legislative Session. It will likely be scheduled for hearing in the Senate Committee on Health Care, Human Services, & Rural Health Policy in mid-February. If passed, it will then go to the House for review and action, most likely in the House Health Care Committee. If successful, we expect the bill will be signed into law by the Governor, with an effective date of July 1, 2011. Since the bill would move some current statutory provisions into rule, we will need to do further rule changes over the next few months so that the effective dates for the statutory changes and the new rules coincide on July 1st.
Attached is a one-page summary of the key points of the bill, and a copy of the draft bill, showing anticipated changes from current language.
I ask you to review these over the next week and contact me by next Wednesday, February 2nd with any questions or concerns you may have. Again, given the nature of the legislative process, we cannot predict exactly when hearings will be scheduled, but I will keep you informed as best as I can.
SB141 Summary and Draft Text (PDF)
Winter 2011
Winter 2011 Newsletter (PDF)
Fall 2010
Fall 2010 Newsletter (PDF)
Spring 2010 Newsletter
Spring 2010 Newsletter (PDF)
August 9, 2010 Flash
Permit to Supervise SLPAs & Permit Fees No Longer Required
Sandy Leybold, MPH
Executive Director
Permits to Supervise SLPAs previously issued by the Board expired on July 31, 2010. Typically, SLPs licensed by TSPC who needed these permits would submit applications and permit fees during the summer and fall for staffing assignments for new school year.
The Board has re-evaluated its criteria for supervision for SLPAs and has just filed temporary rules changing these requirements. These rules are effective immediately and are in effect for six months. During that time, the Board intends to propose making these rules permanent, and there will be an opportunity for public hearing. However, the Board does not anticipate any opposition since these changes make the requirements for supervision more consistent for those licensed by the Board and by TSPC, and since it eliminates the permit fees for TSPC licensees.
The Board requires all SLPs supervising SLPAs to hold either a Board license or a TSPC license with a communications disorders endorsement and to have at least two years of full-time professional experience as an SLP. The clinical fellowship (CFY) may be counted as one of those two years. In addition, every supervising SLP must agree to the supervision requirements in Oregon Administrative Rules. The SLPA Supervisor Change Notice now summarizes these rules and asks each supervisor to attest that they are aware of these rules and will follow them. SLPs who are not Board-licensed are asked to complete additional demographic information so that the Board can track the supervisory relationships of non-licensees in our database (as we do for licensees), and so that we have complete contact information for each supervisor.
The SLPA Supervisor Change Notice is available on the Board’s website under the Forms tab, or click here: http://www.oregon.gov/BSPA/pdfs/SLPA_Supervision_Change_Notice.pdf. This form needs to be submitted to the Board by the SLPA within 30 days of any change of supervisor—both additions and deletions. This form requires information and signatures from both the SLPA and the SLP. In the case of a TSPC-licensed supervisor, a third party must also attest that individual has more than 2 years of professional experience. (This information is already on file for Board-licensed SLPs.) It is up to the SLPA to get appropriate signatures and submit the form on time; however, it is the responsibility of both the SLPA and SLP to conform to SLPA supervision rules.
The other change is for SLPs supervising persons completing their SLPA practicum. Supervisors of practicum students now may be either Board-licensed or hold their ASHA CCC’s. This makes the qualifications consistent for practica supervisors inside and outside Oregon, and conforms to the emerging national standard.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Board office at 971-673-0220 or speechaud.board@state.or.us.
Please share this information with your Special Education Director and other school administrators.
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