TDLR adopts multiple rule packages covering speech-language pathology, military-affiliated licensure and lottery advisory committees

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation commission adopted multiple rule packages on issues ranging from professional licensure standards to procedural changes for military-affiliated applicants and governance of lottery and bingo advisory committees.

Christopher Underberg, assistant general counsel, summarized proposed amendments to the speech-language pathology and audiology rules: reorganized definitions, clarified education and clinical experience requirements, updated internship and supervision rules (including reduced weekly supervision for audiology assistants and a two-year intern license for audiology), and changes to term structures. The department noted public comments from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and other stakeholders; staff and the advisory board considered comments and recommended adoption without further changes.

Mark Gladney presented proposed procedural rules implementing statutory changes that speed recognition of out-of-state licenses and provide provisional licensing for military service members, veterans and military spouses. The rules shorten agency processing timelines in eligible cases and change the standard for recognition to a "similar scope of practice" test where permitted by statute.

Derek Burkhalter presented permanent rules for the lottery advisory committee and the bingo advisory committee (previously adopted as emergency rules). The rules define committee composition, appointment procedures and staggered terms, including initial staggered terms to create multi-year rotations.

Commissioners adopted the rules as published with the effective dates noted in the agenda materials. Several commissioners asked for clarifying language and requested staff to merge related provisions where two transferred rule sets overlap; staff committed to further administrative clean-up in future filings.