By Seidlits H.B. No. 1325 74R4264 JMM-F A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the licensing of certain persons as speech-language 1-3 pathologists and audiologists. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Chapter 381, Acts of the 68th Legislature, 1-6 Regular Session, 1983 (Article 4512j, Vernon's Texas Civil 1-7 Statutes), is amended by adding Section 13A to read as follows: 1-8 Sec. 13A. WAIVER OF LICENSING REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN 1-9 APPLICANTS. (a) The board shall waive the licensing requirements 1-10 imposed under this Act and issue a license as a speech-language 1-11 pathologist to a person who: 1-12 (1) holds a baccalaureate or graduate degree from an 1-13 accredited institution of higher education and is certified by the 1-14 Central Education Agency in speech and hearing therapy or who, in 1-15 the judgment of the board, satisfies equivalent requirements; and 1-16 (2) for the two years preceding January 1, 1996, has 1-17 been engaged in the practice of speech-language pathology. 1-18 (b) The board shall waive the licensing requirements imposed 1-19 under this Act, other than the examination requirement, and issue a 1-20 license as an audiologist to a person who: 1-21 (1) holds a graduate degree from an accredited 1-22 institution of higher education with a major in speech-language 1-23 pathology or audiology; and 1-24 (2) for the 10 years preceding January 1, 1996, has 2-1 been engaged in the practice of audiology. 2-2 (c) An applicant for a license under this section must apply 2-3 on or before September 1, 1996, and provide proof satisfactory to 2-4 the board that the person satisfies the requirements of this 2-5 section. An applicant for a license under Subsection (b) of this 2-6 section must pass the examination under Section 12 of this Act on 2-7 or before January 1, 1997. 2-8 (d) This section expires January 1, 1998. 2-9 SECTION 2. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 1995. 2-10 (b) The State Board of Examiners for Speech-Language 2-11 Pathology and Audiology shall adopt rules to implement Section 13A, 2-12 Chapter 381, Acts of the 68th Legislature, Regular Session, 1983 2-13 (Article 4512j, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), as added by this 2-14 Act not later than January 1, 1996. 2-15 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-16 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-17 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-18 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-19 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.