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 subpoena authority to pursue investigations of alleged violations.

Zeltinger said the associate‑degree change responds to new accredited assistant programs and to applicants who already hold bachelor’s degrees in other fields but have completed required assistant coursework. She described the temporary license proposal as a way to avoid long delays caused by documentation processing from other states. "We are proposing that we add an amendment to allow temporary licensure while we're waiting for those requirements," Zeltinger said.

Committee members asked about implementation details. A representative asked whether the proposed 100 hours of supervised clinical experience would count toward licensure for applicants who already hold a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders; Zeltinger said some graduates already log clinical hours and others gain them while employed under supervision until they reach 100 hours. Representative Rohrer asked whether the subpoena authority would apply to unlicensed practitioners; Zeltinger replied the subpoena power is intended to investigate individuals licensed under the chapter after a complaint is filed.

Courtney Olsen, a speech pathologist from Minot who identified herself as testifying from the field, described how temporary licensure has been used in practice for applicants who let licenses lapse and for recent graduates waiting on documentation: "Within that past 5 years, if they were licensed, we'll say, okay. We'll give you a temporary license. You can get going. Complete those education units now. Or if they have completed them and we're waiting for documentation... they can be working during that time." She said the board commonly encounters applicants waiting on continuing education documentation or licensure records from other states.

No opponents testified at the hearing and the committee closed the hearing on House Bill 1049 without a committee vote recorded in the transcript.

The bill would change statutory language in the North Dakota Century Code related to audiology and speech‑language pathology licensure and investigatory authority; witnesses told the committee the board has lacked explicit subpoena power and has had to limit investigations in some complaints because of that gap.

Committee members said they would follow up with questions on drafting details and with the board on implementation specifics before any committee recommendation.

Zeltinger concluded her testimony by stating the board’s support for the bill and offering to provide written testimony and licensure staff for follow up.

The committee closed the hearing on House Bill 1049 and moved on to other bills on the agenda.