Committee hears bill to expand speech‑language assistant licensure, add temporary licenses and subpoena power

Chairman Ruby and members of the House Human Services Committee heard testimony in support of House Bill 1049, which would amend licensure and investigative authorities for audiologists and speech‑language pathologists and their licensed assistants.

Robin Zeltinger, acting president of the North Dakota State Board of Examiners for Audiology and Speech Language Pathology and chair of the University of Mary’s department of speech‑language pathology, told the committee the bill would (1) add the word “managing” to the statutory scope of audiology to align with billing and professional terminology, (2) change licensure eligibility for speech‑language pathology licensed assistants (SLP LAs) to include graduates of two‑year, associate‑degree SLP assistant programs, (3) authorize temporary licensure while applicants complete documentary requirements, and (4) grant the board statutory…