State board backs HB 1049 to broaden assistant eligibility, allow temporary licenses and subpoena power

The North Dakota State Board of Examiners for Audiology and Speech‑Language Pathology told the House Human Services Committee it supports House Bill 1049, which would revise state licensure rules for audiology and speech‑language pathology assistants, create a temporary licensure pathway while applicants wait for documentation, and give the board statutory subpoena authority for investigations.

The change the board asked the committee to add to the statute would put the word "managing" into the scope of audiology, a term the board said aligns state law with billing and reimbursement terminology used by third‑party payers. The board also asked that the law permit people who hold an associate degree from a speech‑language pathology assistant program to apply for an assistant license; current language, the board said, requires a bachelor’s degree tied specifically to communication…