California SLPA board reports tight budget, plans postcard renewals and flags rising enforcement and CE audit failures
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Summary
The Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board reported tight near-term finances but said an approved augmentation will cover enforcement costs; staff will move to a postcard renewal notice to save printing and postage while continuing recent licensing improvements.
The Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board reported tight near-term finances but said an augmentation approved by the Attorney General’s office will cover higher enforcement costs while staff pursues recurring savings.
Board Executive Officer Charice Burns told members the board’s augmentation request to cover Office of the Attorney General expenditures was approved, and that after the augmentation the fund will have only a “tiny sliver of a reversion of 0.19%,” about $6,000, remaining at fiscal year end. “I am very happy to report that our augmentation is approved,” Burns said.
Why it matters: Board staff said enforcement cases taken to the Office of Administrative Hearings have driven spending above estimates; without an approved augmentation the board would have risked cuts to other functions. To reduce recurring expenses, staff proposed replacing the current multi-page renewal mailings with a one-line postcard reminder and an online-first renewal pathway. Burns said earlier estimates of $7,000 in annual printing and postage savings are now more likely to be about $10,000 a year as more licensees move online.
The board also reported sustained improvements in licensing processing times: staff said processing time is down 69% and has averaged about one to two weeks in the past two years. Practical examination passage rates were reported at roughly 74% in January and 80% in April; the next practical exam is scheduled for June.
CPD audits and enforcement activity: Burns briefed the board on the continuing-professional-development audit program and enforcement caseload. The board sent 129 audit letters (April–June 2024 audit window) and earlier audit cycles had pass rates of about 61% (January), 55% (February), and 48% (March). Burns and staff said many audit failures reflect recordkeeping or misunderstanding of CPD rules rather than clear attempts to evade requirements.
Enforcement metrics provided to the board showed an uptick in matters: staff reported roughly 217 complaints and subsequent arrest notifications through the end of the third quarter; 13 citations and fines issued in the same period; 11 formal discipline cases pending with the Attorney General; and 14 probationers monitored (six with drug/alcohol testing). Staff said the average time to complete investigations remains around 180–190 days.
Board members pressed staff on implementation details. Commissioner Tamara Chambers asked whether the forecasted savings from postcard renewals included reduced staff time; Burns replied the estimate accounts for printing and fulfillment and included time savings based on other boards’ experience.
Next steps: Staff will implement the postcard renewal in fall 2025 and continue to monitor spending, licensing performance, and audit outcomes. The board did not take a formal vote on budget policy at this meeting but directed staff to proceed with the postcard plan and continue close budget monitoring.
Ending: The executive officer said staff will continue outreach to stakeholder groups about CPD expectations to reduce audit failures and will provide updates on budget and licensing timelines at future meetings.
