HF 1825

as introduced - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026) Posted on 03/05/2025 12:32pm

A bill for an act
relating to health occupations; clarifying requirements for speech language
pathology assistants; amending licensure fees; appropriating money; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 148.512, subdivision 17a; 148.5192, subdivision
3; 148.5194, subdivisions 2, 3b.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 148.512, subdivision 17a, is amended to read:

Subd. 17a.

Speech-language pathology assistant.

"Speech-language pathology assistant"
means a person who meets the qualifications under section 148.5181 and provides
speech-language pathology services under the supervision of a licensed speech-language
pathologist new text begin under sections 122A.183 and 122A.184 or new text end in accordance with section 148.5192.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 148.5192, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Supervision requirements.

(a) A supervising speech-language pathologist
shall authorize and accept full responsibility for the performance, practice, and activity of
a speech-language pathology assistant. The amount and type of supervision required must
be based on the skills and experience of the speech-language pathology assistant. A minimum
of one hour every 30 days of consultative supervision time must be documented for each
speech-language pathology assistant.

(b) A supervising speech-language pathologist must:

(1) be licensed under sections new text begin 122A.183, 122A.184, or new text end 148.511 to 148.5198;

(2) hold a certificate of clinical competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing
Association or its equivalent as approved by the commissioner; and

(3) have completed at least ten hours of continuing education in supervision.

(c) Once every 60 days, the supervising speech-language pathologist must treat or cotreat
with the speech-language pathology assistant each client on the speech-language pathology
assistant's caseload.

(d) For purposes of this section, "direct supervision" means observation and guidance
by the supervising speech-language pathologist during the performance of a delegated duty
that occurs either on-site and in-view or through the use of real-time, two-way interactive
audio and visual communication. The supervision requirements described in this section
are minimum requirements. Additional supervision requirements may be imposed at the
discretion of the supervising speech-language pathologist.

(e) A supervising speech-language pathologist must be available to communicate with
a speech-language pathology assistant at any time the assistant is in direct contact with a
client.

(f) A supervising speech-language pathologist must document activities performed by
the assistant that are directly supervised by the supervising speech-language pathologist.
At a minimum, the documentation must include:

(1) information regarding the quality of the speech-language pathology assistant's
performance of the delegated duties; and

(2) verification that any delegated clinical activity was limited to duties authorized to
be performed by the speech-language pathology assistant under this section.

(g) A supervising speech-language pathologist must review and cosign all informal
treatment notes signed or initialed by the speech-language pathology assistant.

(h) A full-time, speech-language pathologist may supervise no more than two full-time,
speech-language pathology assistants or the equivalent of two full-time assistants.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 148.5194, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Speech-language pathologist licensure fees.

(a) The fee for initial licensure
for a speech-language pathologist is deleted text begin $210.50 deleted text end new text begin $....... new text end .

(b) The fee for clinical fellowship licensure, doctoral externship, temporary license, or
renewal for a speech-language pathologist is deleted text begin $200 deleted text end new text begin $....... new text end .

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 148.5194, subdivision 3b, is amended to read:

Subd. 3b.

Speech-language pathology assistant licensure fees.

The fee for initial
licensure as a speech-language pathology assistant is deleted text begin $493 deleted text end new text begin $....... new text end . The fee for licensure
renewal for a speech-language pathology assistant is deleted text begin $493 deleted text end new text begin $....... new text end .

Sec. 5. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the state government special revenue fund
to implement Minnesota Statutes, sections 148.511 to 148.5198.
new text end