NOTE: This bill has been prepared for the signature of the appropriate legislative officers and the Governor. To determine whether the Governor has signed the bill or taken other action on it, please consult the legislative status sheet, the legislative history, or the Session Laws. HOUSE BILL 10-1034 BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) Massey, Middleton, Scanlan, Apuan, Casso, Ferrandino, Fischer, Kerr J., Labuda, Merrifield, Murray, Pace, Peniston, Solano, Stephens, Todd, Tyler, Vigil, Miklosi, Priola, Schafer S.; also SENATOR(S) King K., Johnston, Spence, Heath, Hudak, Kester, Newell, Schwartz. Concerning the credentialing of school speech-language pathology assistants. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado: SECTION 1. 22-60.5-111 (4) (a) and (10), Colorado Revised Statutes, are amended to read: 22-60.5-111. Authorization - types - applicants' qualifications - rules. (4) Emergency authorization. (a) The department may issue an emergency authorization to an applicant who is enrolled in an approved preparation program but has not yet met the requirements for an initial educator license or a school speech-language pathology assistant authorization. The department may issue an emergency authorization if: (I) A school district requests the emergency authorization to employ a nonlicensed teacher, principal, administrator, or special services provider, including but not limited to an unauthorized school speech-language pathology assistant who has a bachelor's degree in: (A) Speech, language, and hearing sciences; (B) Communications disorders-speech sciences; or (C) Any other field if the unauthorized school speech-language pathology assistant has completed a minimum number of credits of course work in speech, language, and hearing sciences, which minimum number of credits is established by rules promulgated by the state board pursuant to paragraph (c) of subsection (10) of this section; (II) The requesting school district submits to the department of education documented evidence of a demonstrated need for specific and essential educational services for students that the applicant would provide and that would otherwise be unavailable to students in the school district due to a shortage of licensed educators or authorized speech-language pathology assistants with appropriate endorsements; and (III) The state board of education determines that employment of the applicant is essential to preservation of the school district's instructional program and that establishment of a one-year or two-year alternative teacher preparation program within the school district is not a practicable solution for resolution of the demonstrated shortage. (10) School speech-language pathology assistant authorization - rules. (a) The department of education may issue a school speech-language pathology assistant authorization to a person who meets the criteria specified by rule of the state board of education, which at a minimum shall include: (I) (A) Except as otherwise provided in sub-subparagraph (B) of this subparagraph (I), Completion of at least a bachelor's degree, which degree is from an accepted institution of higher education, in speech communication, speech-language pathology, or communication disorders-speech sciences, which is from an accepted institution of higher education or a bachelor's degree in any other field if the unauthorized school speech-language pathology assistant has completed a minimum number of credits of course work in speech, language, and hearing sciences, which minimum number of credits is established by rules promulgated by the state board pursuant to paragraph (c) of subsection (10) of this section. (B) If a school district's pupil enrollment is three thousand pupils or less, a school speech-language pathology assistant hired by the district shall not be required to have a degree higher than a bachelor's degree in speech communication, speech-language pathology, or communication disorders-speech sciences, which is from an accepted institution of higher education. (II) Successful completion of a school speech-language pathology assistant program which that: (A) Meets or exceeds recommended guidelines established by a national association of speech-language-hearing professionals; and (B) Includes a requirement that each student complete at least one hundred clock hours of a school-based practicum under the supervision of a nationally certified speech-language pathologist who resides or works within Colorado or within a reasonable commuting distance to Colorado, which supervision may be performed electronically via remote interactive technology; and (III) Successful completion of at least one hundred clock hours of a school-based practicum under the supervision of a nationally certified speech-language pathologist; and (IV) Demonstrated knowledge and skills in competencies specified by rule of the state board of education. (b) A school speech-language pathology assistant authorization is valid for three five years. The department of education may renew the authorization for succeeding three-year five-year periods upon presentation of documented evidence of completion of content-related renewal requirements established by rule of the state board of education, which requirements shall include, but not be limited to, continuing education requirements. (c) On or before November 1, 2010, the state board of education shall promulgate rules establishing a minimum number of credits of course work in speech, language, and hearing sciences that a person with a bachelor's degree must complete for the purposes of sub-subparagraph (C) of subparagraph (I) of paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of this section and of sub-subparagraph (A) of subparagraph (I) of paragraph (a) of this subsection (10). SECTION 2. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act shall take effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August 11, 2010, if adjournment sine die is on May 12, 2010); except that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part shall not take effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in November 2010 and shall take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor. ________________________________________________________ Terrance D. Carroll Brandon C. Shaffer SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE PRESIDENT OF OF REPRESENTATIVES THE SENATE ____________________________ ____________________________ Marilyn Eddins Karen Goldman CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE SECRETARY OF OF REPRESENTATIVES THE SENATE APPROVED________________________________________ _________________________________________ Bill Ritter, Jr. GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO