Regulates speech-language pathology services and speech-language pathology assistantsto safeguard the public health, safety, and welfare, to protect the public from incompetent, unscrupulous, unauthorized persons and unprofessional conduct, and to ensure the availability of the highest possible standards of speech-language pathology services.   Official Text and Analysis.

To provide a definition for "hearing health care professional." DOH is given authority to establish a fee for licensure. The SLP Board of Hearing and Speech board member is replaced with an advisory, nonvoting member.

To remove language referring to speech-language pathology assistant.

To change the licensure program for speech-language pathology assistants to a certification program; removes the definition of "hearing health care professional;" exempts certified speech-language pathology assistants from the requirement that a health carrier cover every category of health provider; and requires the Superintendent to report to the DOH complaints and disciplinary actions taken against certified educational staff associates providing speech-language pathology services in schools, and complaints regarding certified speech-language pathology assistants.

To create a definition of hearing health care professional and clarify that certification requirements apply to speech language pathology assistants.

The designation of speech-language pathology assistant can only be used by a licensed individual providing services under the supervision of a licensed SLP.Describes minimum qualifications and gives the Secretary of DOH disciplinary authority and the Board of Hearing and Speech is given the authority to develop rules regarding the supervision of assistants. Amendments adopted changing licensure program to a certification program and requires the OSPI to report on complaints and disciplinary actions taken against speech-language pathology assistants.