House committee reports bill to join Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Compact after amending effective date

The House Professional Licensure Committee reported House Bill 80 on an 0-negative vote roll call after agreeing to an amendment that delays the bill's effective date from 60 days to 18 months.

The bill, explained by committee staff member Carrie, "authorizes Pennsylvania to join the Audiology and Speech Language Pathology Interstate Compact." Representative Venkat, the bill sponsor, told the committee that the compact has been enacted by 36 states and one territory and is "on the verge of getting ready to put forward its rules," making Pennsylvania's participation timely.

The compact allows clinicians who meet compact requirements to practice across member states under an interstate agreement. Representative Venkat addressed a letter from ear, nose and throat surgeons opposing the measure, saying the bill "explicitly on page 2 and on page 12 states that the state, which is this, remote state for practice, continues to have licensure regulation authority, including disciplinary authority." He urged an affirmative vote so Pennsylvania can "participate in the decision making for that rule making process."

Committee staff explained an amendment (A1065) that changes the bill's effective date from 60 days to 18 months "at the request of the Department of State as they are implementing 2 phases of the replacement of the PALS licensing system." The amendment was agreed to, and the committee reported the bill as amended from the House Professional Licensure Committee.

The committee record shows no negative votes on either the amendment or the bill as amended. The committee did not enact final statutory text changes beyond the effective-date amendment; the record treats the reporting of the bill as the committee's formal action.

The bill now proceeds from the Professional Licensure Committee as reported; the transcript does not specify next scheduling steps or a floor calendar date.