The proposed rule amendments are intended to incorporate the revised applications regarding licensure by certification of credentials and provisional license requirements.

 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

RULE NOS.:RULE TITLES:

64B20-2.001Licensure by Certification of Credentials

64B20-2.003Provisional Licensure; Requirements

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The proposed rule amendments are intended to incorporate the revised applications regarding licensure by certification of credentials and provisional license requirements.

SUMMARY: The Board proposes to incorporate the revised applications regarding licensure by certification of credentials and provisional license requirements.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:

The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the Agency.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: During discussion of the economic impact of this rule at its Board meeting, the Board concluded that this rule change will not have any impact on licensees and their businesses or the businesses that employ them. The rule will not increase any fees, business costs, personnel costs, will not decrease profit opportunities, and will not require any specialized knowledge to comply. This change will not increase any direct or indirect regulatory costs. Hence, the Board determined that a Statement of Estimated Regulatory Costs (SERC) was not necessary and that the rule will not require ratification by the Legislature. No person or interested party submitted additional information regarding the economic impact at that time.

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 456.013, 468.1135(4), 468.1145 FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 456.013, 456.0635(2), 468.1145(2), (4), (5), 468.1155(4), 468.1185

IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN THE FAR.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Kama Monroe, Executive Director, Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin # C06, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3256.

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

64B20-2.001 Licensure by Certification of Credentials.

(1) Any person desiring to be licensed as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist shall apply to the Department of Health and pay the fee required by Rule 64B20-3.0001, F.A.C. The application shall be made on Form DH-SPA-1, Application for Active Licensure as a Speech-Language Pathologist or Audiologist With Instructions Attached, which is incorporated by reference herein, revised (06/2011/19), and can be obtained from http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-             11838, or the Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Department of Health, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #C-06, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3256 or at http://floridasspeechaudiology.gov/resources/. The Department shall notify the applicant by letter of any deficiencies in the application within 30 days after the application is filed. The applicant shall rectify all deficiencies in the application within one year from the date of such letter or the application will be processed as an incomplete application and the application file will be closed.

(2) The Board shall certify for licensure only those applicants who have completed the application form, remitted the application fee established by Rule 64B20-3.0001, F.A.C., remitted the initial license fee established by rule 64B20-3.0001, F.A.C., and who have demonstrated to the Board that they:

(a) Satisfied the educational requirements as prescribed in Rule 64B20-2.002, F.A.C.

(b) Satisfied the professional employment experience prescribed in Rule 64B20-2.004, F.A.C.

(c) Passed the licensure examination required by Rule 64B20-2.005, F.A.C.

(3) All applicants for renewal of initial license or licensure by endorsement shall submit to the Board proof of completion of a two (2) hour continuing education course relating to the prevention of medical errors. The 2-hour course shall count toward the total number of continuing education hours required for the profession. The course shall be provided by a Board-approved continuing education provider and shall include a study of root-cause analysis, error reduction and prevention, and patient safety. The address of the Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Department of Health, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #C06, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3256.

Rulemaking Authority 456.013, 468.1135(4), 468.1145 FS. Law Implemented 456.013, 456.0635(2), 468.1145(2), (4), 468.1185 FS. History–New 3-14-91, Amended 5-25-92, Formerly 21LL-2.001, Amended 11-30-93, Formerly 61F14-2.001, 59BB-2.001, Amended 6-4-02, 5-18-04, 7-16-09, 4-18-10, 7-13-13, 10-23-16, 4-20-20,                              .

 

64B20-2.003 Provisional Licensure; Requirements.

(1) A provisional license shall be required prior to initiating the professional employment experience required pursuant to Section 468.1165, F.S., and Rule 64B20-2.004, F.A.C.

(2) Any person desiring to receive a provisional license to practice speech-language pathology or audiology shall apply to the Department of Health and pay the fee required by Rule 64B20-3.0001, F.A.C. The application shall be made on Form DH-SPA-2, Application for Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology Provisional Licensure, which is incorporated by reference herein, revised (06/2011/19), and can be obtained from http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-          11839, or the Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Department of Health, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #C06, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3256 or at http://floridasspeechaudiology.gov/resources/. The Department shall notify the applicant by letter of any deficiencies in the application within 30 days after the application is filed. The applicant shall rectify all deficiencies in the application within one year from the date of such letter or the application will be processed as an incomplete application and the application file will be closed.

(3) The Board shall certify to the Department as eligible to receive a provisional license those applicants who have completed the application form, remitted the nonrefundable application fee as required by Rule 64B20-3.0001, F.A.C., the provisional license fee required by Rule 64B20-3.0001, F.A.C., and who have demonstrated to the Board that they have met the educational requirements contained in Rule 64B20-2.002, F.A.C.

(4) In addition to the application form, candidates for a provisional license shall also complete Form DH-SPA-2A, Board of Speech-Language Pathology and/or Audiology Verification of Employment for a Provisional Licensee, which is incorporated by reference herein, revised October, 2012, and can be obtained from http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-02876, or the Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Department of Health, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, #C06, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3256 or at http://floridasspeechaudiology.gov/resources/. Said form shall provide the following:

(a) Evidence that the professional employment shall include assessment, habilitation and rehabilitation activities with clients.

(b) Evidence that the activities performed by the provisional licensee shall be monitored and evaluated by an individual with an active license in the same area for which provisional licensure is being sought. The evaluation may be conducted by more than one (1) licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist. In such cases, one licensee shall assume the responsibility to organize and verify that the policies concerning supervision and evaluation are met.

(5) A provisional license shall be valid for a period of 21 months from the date of issuance or until a license to practice Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology pursuant to Section 468.1185, F.S., is issued, whichever occurs first.

Rulemaking Authority 456.013, 468.1135(4), 468.1145(2), (5) FS. Law Implemented 456.013, 456.0635(2), 468.1145(2), (5), 468.1155(4) FS. History–New 3-14-91, Amended 12-4-91, Formerly 21LL-2.003, Amended 11-30-93, Formerly 61F14-2.003, Amended 9-26-95, Formerly 59BB-2.003, Amended 11-20-07, 6-1-09, 4-18-10, 7-13-13, 10-23-16, 4-20-20,                           .

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: June 15, 2020

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: June 30, 2020