78R11319 CAS-D


By:  Eissler                                                      H.B. No. 2822

Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2822:                                   

By:  Eissler                                                  C.S.H.B. No. 2822



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to services for public school students with speech 
impairments and to the State Board of Examiners for Speech-Language 
Pathology and Audiology.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 29, Education Code, is 
amended by adding Section 29.018 to read as follows:
	Sec. 29.018.  SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH SPEECH IMPAIRMENTS.  
(a)  The multidisciplinary team that collects or reviews data for 
determining the eligibility of a student to participate in a school 
district's special education program based on the student's speech 
impairment must include:
		(1)  a person who holds a certificate in speech and 
hearing therapy; 
		(2)  a person who holds a certificate in 
speech-language therapy;    
		(3)  a person who holds a license in speech-language 
pathology; or   
		(4)  a person who holds a limited license to practice in 
the public schools as a fully licensed speech-language pathologist.
	(b)  If authorized by the board of trustees of a school 
district, a person who holds a limited license as described by 
Subsection (a)(4) may provide the speech and language services 
determined necessary by the multidisciplinary team.
	SECTION 2.  Section 401.102, Occupations Code, is amended by 
adding Subsection (d-1) to read as follows:
	(d-1)  At least three of the board members must be current 
employees of a school district in this state.
	SECTION 3.  Sections 401.314(a) and (e), Occupations Code, 
are amended to read as follows:
	(a)  The board shall waive the licensing requirements under 
this chapter and issue a limited license to practice in the public 
schools as a fully licensed speech-language pathologist to an 
applicant who:
		(1)  was eligible for a waiver of licensing 
requirements under Section 13(a), Chapter 381, Acts of the 68th 
Legislature, Regular Session, 1983, as amended by Chapter 448, Acts 
of the 69th Legislature, Regular Session, 1985, or is or is 
authorized to be employed by a school district as a speech-language 
therapist or as a licensed assistant in speech-language pathology;
		(2)  [for the two years preceding January 1, 1996, was 
employed by a school district as a speech-language therapist;
		[(3)]  submits with the person's application a written 
statement by the superintendent of the school district employing 
the person, certifying that the district has not been able to employ 
as a speech-language pathologist a person who meets the licensing 
requirements imposed under this chapter;
		(3) [(4)]  holds a baccalaureate degree in 
communication disorders (speech-language) from an accredited 
institution of higher education [and is certified by the Texas 
Education Agency in speech and hearing therapy] or, in the judgment 
of the board, satisfies equivalent requirements; and
		(4)  on or before the third anniversary of the date the 
license is granted, [(5)] successfully completes the examination 
required under Section 401.305.
	(e)  An applicant for a limited license must provide [have:
		[(1) applied not later than September 1, 1996; and           
		[(2) provided] proof satisfactory to the board that the 
person satisfies the requirements of this section.
	SECTION 4.  Sections 401.314(b), (c), (d), and (f), 
Occupations Code, are repealed.
	SECTION 5.  The change in law made by Section 401.102(d-1), 
Occupations Code, as added by this Act, in the qualifications that 
apply to members of the State Board of Examiners for 
Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology does not affect the 
entitlement of a member serving on the board immediately before 
September 1, 2003, to continue to serve and function as a member of 
the board for the remainder of the member's term.  That change in 
law applies only to a member appointed on or after September 1, 
2003.
	SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.