1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to health; modifying provisions relating to 
  1.3             the practice of speech-language pathology or 
  1.4             audiology; amending Minnesota Statutes 2002, sections 
  1.5             148.511; 148.512, subdivisions 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 
  1.6             14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20; 148.513; 148.514; 148.515, 
  1.7             subdivisions 2, 4; 148.516; 148.5161; 148.517; 
  1.8             148.518; 148.519; 148.5191; 148.5193, subdivisions 1, 
  1.9             4, 6, 6a, 7, 8; 148.5194, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 3a; 
  1.10            148.5195, subdivisions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; 148.5196; 
  1.11            153A.14, subdivisions 2a, 2i; 153A.17; 153A.20, 
  1.12            subdivision 1; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2002, 
  1.13            sections 148.512, subdivision 11; 148.515, 
  1.14            subdivisions 3, 5. 
  1.15  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.16     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.511, is 
  1.17  amended to read: 
  1.18     148.511 [~~SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS AND AUDIOLOGISTS~~ 
  1.19  SCOPE.] 
  1.20     Sections 148.511 to 148.5196 apply ~~only~~ to persons who are 
  1.21  applicants for ~~registration~~ licensure, who are ~~registered~~, who 
  1.22  use protected titles, ~~or~~ who represent that they are ~~registered~~ 
  1.23  licensed, or who engage in the practice of speech-language 
  1.24  pathology or audiology.  Sections 148.511 to 148.5196 do not 
  1.25  apply to school personnel licensed by the board of teaching~~,~~ 
  1.26  ~~provided that school personnel practicing within the scope of~~ 
  1.27  ~~their licensed occupation preface titles protected under section~~ 
  1.28  ~~148.513 with the words "school" or "educational."~~ and practicing 
  1.29  within the scope of their school license under Minnesota Rules, 
  1.30  part 8710.6000. 
  2.1      Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.512, 
  2.2   subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  2.3      Subd. 2.  [ACCREDITED EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION.] "Accredited 
  2.4   educational institution" means a university~~,~~ or college~~, or~~ 
  2.5   ~~other post-secondary educational institution~~ that offers 
  2.6   speech-language pathology or audiology ~~training~~ graduate degrees 
  2.7   and that is accredited by the ~~American Speech-Language-Hearing~~ 
  2.8   ~~Association or the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher~~ 
  2.9   ~~Education~~ Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and 
  2.10  Speech Language Pathology, a body recognized by the United 
  2.11  States Department of Education, or an equivalent as determined 
  2.12  by the commissioner.  
  2.13     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.512, 
  2.14  subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
  2.15     Subd. 4.  [APPLICANT.] "Applicant" means a person who 
  2.16  applies to the commissioner for ~~registration~~ licensure or 
  2.17  ~~registration~~ licensure renewal.  
  2.18     Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.512, 
  2.19  subdivision 6, is amended to read: 
  2.20     Subd. 6.  [AUDIOLOGIST.] "Audiologist" means a natural 
  2.21  person who engages in the practice of audiology, meets the 
  2.22  qualifications required by sections 148.511 to 148.5196, and 
  2.23  ~~registers as an audiologist with~~ is licensed by the commissioner.
  2.24  Audiologist also means a natural person using any descriptive 
  2.25  word with the title audiologist.  
  2.26     Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.512, 
  2.27  subdivision 7, is amended to read: 
  2.28     Subd. 7.  [COMMISSIONER.] "Commissioner" means the 
  2.29  commissioner of ~~the department of~~ health or a designee.  
  2.30     Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.512, 
  2.31  subdivision 8, is amended to read: 
  2.32     Subd. 8.  [CONTACT HOUR.] "Contact hour" means an 
  2.33  instructional session of ~~50~~ 60 consecutive minutes, excluding 
  2.34  coffee breaks, registration, meals without a speaker, and social 
  2.35  activities.  
  2.36     Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.512, 
  3.1   subdivision 12, is amended to read: 
  3.2      Subd. 12.  [PRACTICE OF AUDIOLOGY.] The "practice of 
  3.3   audiology" means:  
  3.4      (1) ~~screening,~~ identification, assessment, and 
  3.5   interpretation, diagnosis, rehabilitation, and prevention of 
  3.6   hearing disorders; 
  3.7      (2) conservation of the auditory system function; 
  3.8   development and implementation of hearing conservation programs; 
  3.9      (3) measurement, assessment, and interpretation of auditory 
  3.10  and vestibular function; 
  3.11     (4) selecting, fitting, and dispensing of assistive 
  3.12  listening devices, alerting and amplification devices, and 
  3.13  systems for personal and public use, including hearing aids and 
  3.14  devices, and providing training in their use; 
  3.15     (5) aural habilitation and rehabilitation and related 
  3.16  counseling for hearing impaired individuals and their families; 
  3.17     (6) screening of speech, language, voice, or fluency for 
  3.18  the purposes of audiologic evaluation or identification of 
  3.19  possible communication disorders; or 
  3.20     (7) teaching of, consultation or research about, or 
  3.21  supervision of the functions in clauses (1) to (6).  
  3.22     The practice of audiology does not include the practice of 
  3.23  medicine and surgery, or osteopathic medicine and surgery, or 
  3.24  medical diagnosis or medical treatment. 
  3.25     Sec. 8.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.512, 
  3.26  subdivision 13, is amended to read: 
  3.27     Subd. 13.  [PRACTICE OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY.] The 
  3.28  "practice of speech-language pathology" means:  
  3.29     (1) ~~screening,~~ identification, assessment and 
  3.30  interpretation, diagnosis, habilitation, rehabilitation, 
  3.31  treatment and prevention of disorders of speech, articulation, 
  3.32  fluency, voice, and language; 
  3.33     (2) ~~screening,~~ identification, assessment, and 
  3.34  interpretation, diagnosis, habilitation, and rehabilitation of 
  3.35  disorders of oral-pharyngeal function and related disorders; 
  3.36     (3) ~~screening,~~ identification, assessment, and 
  4.1   interpretation, diagnosis, habilitation, and rehabilitation of 
  4.2   communication disorders associated with cognition; 
  4.3      (4) assessing, selecting, and developing augmentative and 
  4.4   alternative communication systems and providing training in 
  4.5   their use; 
  4.6      (5) aural habilitation and rehabilitation and related 
  4.7   counseling for hearing impaired individuals and their families; 
  4.8      (6) enhancing speech-language proficiency and communication 
  4.9   effectiveness; 
  4.10     (7) audiometric screening for the purposes of 
  4.11  speech-language evaluation or for the identification of possible 
  4.12  hearing disorders; or 
  4.13     (8) teaching of, consultation or research about, or 
  4.14  supervision of the functions in clauses (1) to (7). 
  4.15     The practice of speech-language pathology does not include 
  4.16  the practice of medicine and surgery, or osteopathic medicine 
  4.17  and surgery, or medical diagnosis or medical treatment. 
  4.18     Sec. 9.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.512, 
  4.19  subdivision 14, is amended to read: 
  4.20     Subd. 14.  [~~REGISTER~~ LICENSE OR ~~REGISTERED~~ 
  4.21  LICENSED.] ~~"Register"~~ "License" or ~~"registered"~~ "licensed" 
  4.22  means the act or status of a ~~natural~~ person who meets the 
  4.23  requirements of sections 148.511 to 148.5196 ~~and who is~~ 
  4.24  ~~authorized by the commissioner to use the titles in section~~ 
  4.25  ~~148.513~~.  
  4.26     Sec. 10.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.512, 
  4.27  subdivision 15, is amended to read: 
  4.28     Subd. 15.  [~~REGISTRANT~~ LICENSEE.] ~~"Registrant"~~ "Licensee" 
  4.29  means ~~a person~~ an individual who meets the requirements of 
  4.30  sections 148.511 to 148.5196 ~~and is authorized by the~~ 
  4.31  ~~commissioner to use the titles in section 148.513~~.  
  4.32     Sec. 11.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.512, 
  4.33  subdivision 16, is amended to read: 
  4.34     Subd. 16.  [~~REGISTRATION~~ LICENSURE.] 
  4.35  ~~"Registration"~~ "Licensure" is the system of regulation defined 
  4.36  in section 214.001, subdivision 3, paragraph (c), and is the 
  5.1   process specified in sections 148.511 to 148.5196. 
  5.2      Sec. 12.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.512, 
  5.3   subdivision 17, is amended to read: 
  5.4      Subd. 17.  [SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST.] "Speech-language 
  5.5   pathologist" means a person who practices speech-language 
  5.6   pathology, meets the qualifications under sections 148.511 to 
  5.7   148.5196, and ~~registers with~~ is licensed by the commissioner.  
  5.8   Speech-language pathologist also means a natural person using, 
  5.9   as an occupational title, a term identified in section 148.513. 
  5.10     Sec. 13.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.512, 
  5.11  subdivision 18, is amended to read: 
  5.12     Subd. 18.  [SUPERVISEE.] "Supervisee" means ~~an individual~~ a 
  5.13  person who, under the direction or evaluation of a supervisor, 
  5.14  is: 
  5.15     (1) engaging in the supervised practice of speech-language 
  5.16  pathology or audiology; 
  5.17     (2) performing a function of supervised clinical training 
  5.18  as a student of speech-language pathology or audiology; or 
  5.19     (3) performing a function of supervised postgraduate or 
  5.20  doctoral clinical experience in speech-language pathology or 
  5.21  audiology.  
  5.22     Sec. 14.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.512, 
  5.23  subdivision 20, is amended to read: 
  5.24     Subd. 20.  [SUPERVISOR.] "Supervisor" means a person who 
  5.25  has the authority to direct or evaluate a supervisee and who ~~is~~: 
  5.26     (1) is a ~~registered~~ licensed speech-language pathologist or 
  5.27  audiologist; or 
  5.28     (2) when the commissioner determines that supervision by a 
  5.29  ~~registered~~ licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist 
  5.30  as required in clause (1) is unobtainable, and in other 
  5.31  situations considered appropriate by the commissioner, is a 
  5.32  person practicing speech-language pathology or audiology who 
  5.33  holds a current certificate of clinical competence from the 
  5.34  American Speech-Language-Hearing Association or board 
  5.35  certification in audiology by the American Board of Audiology. 
  5.36     Sec. 15.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.513, is 
  6.1   amended to read: 
  6.2      148.513 [LICENSURE; PROTECTED TITLES AND RESTRICTIONS ON 
  6.3   USE; EXEMPTIONS.] 
  6.4      ~~(a) A person shall not use a title relating to~~ 
  6.5   ~~speech-language pathology or audiology, except as provided in~~ 
  6.6   ~~paragraphs (b) and (c).~~  
  6.7      Subdivision 1.  [UNLICENSED PRACTICE PROHIBITED.] A person 
  6.8   must not engage in the practice of speech-language pathology or 
  6.9   audiology unless the person is licensed as a speech-language 
  6.10  pathologist or an audiologist under sections 148.511 to 148.5196.
  6.11     ~~(b)~~ Subd. 2.  [PROTECTED TITLES AND RESTRICTIONS ON USE.] 
  6.12  Use of the following terms or initials which represent the 
  6.13  following terms, alone or in combination with any word or words, 
  6.14  by any person to form an occupational title is prohibited unless 
  6.15  that person is ~~registered~~ licensed under sections 148.511 to 
  6.16  148.5196: 
  6.17     (1) speech-language; 
  6.18     (2) speech-language pathologist, S, SP, or SLP; 
  6.19     (3) speech pathologist; 
  6.20     (4) language pathologist; 
  6.21     (5) audiologist, A, or AUD; 
  6.22     (6) speech therapist; ~~or~~ 
  6.23     (7) speech clinician~~.~~; 
  6.24     (8) speech correctionist; 
  6.25     (9) speech clinician; 
  6.26     (10) language therapist; 
  6.27     (11) voice therapist; 
  6.28     (12) voice pathologist; 
  6.29     (13) logopedist; 
  6.30     (14) communicologist; 
  6.31     (15) aphasiologist; 
  6.32     (16) phoniatrist; 
  6.33     (17) audiometrist; 
  6.34     (18) audioprosthologist; 
  6.35     (19) hearing therapist; 
  6.36     (20) hearing clinician; or 
  7.1      (21) hearing aid audiologist. 
  7.2      ~~(c)~~ Use of the term "Minnesota ~~registered~~ licensed" in 
  7.3   conjunction with the titles protected under this section by any 
  7.4   person is prohibited unless that person is ~~registered~~ licensed 
  7.5   under sections 148.511 to 148.5196.  
  7.6      Subd. 3.  [EXEMPTION.] (a) Nothing in sections 148.511 to 
  7.7   148.5196 prohibits the practice of any profession or occupation 
  7.8   licensed, certified, or registered by the state by any person 
  7.9   duly licensed, certified, or registered to practice the 
  7.10  profession or occupation or to perform any act that falls within 
  7.11  the scope of practice of the profession or occupation.  
  7.12     (b) Subdivision 1 does not apply to a student participating 
  7.13  in supervised field work or supervised course work that is 
  7.14  necessary to meet the requirements of section 148.515, 
  7.15  subdivision 2 or 3, if the person is designated by a title which 
  7.16  clearly indicates the person's status as a student trainee. 
  7.17     (c) Subdivisions 1 and 2 do not apply to a person visiting 
  7.18  and then leaving the state and using titles restricted under 
  7.19  this section while in the state, if the titles are used no more 
  7.20  than 30 days in a calendar year as part of a professional 
  7.21  activity that is limited in scope and duration and is in 
  7.22  association with an audiologist or speech-language pathologist 
  7.23  licensed under sections 148.511 to 148.5196. 
  7.24     Sec. 16.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.514, is 
  7.25  amended to read: 
  7.26     148.514 [GENERAL ~~REGISTRATION~~ LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS; 
  7.27  PROCEDURES AND QUALIFICATIONS.] 
  7.28     Subdivision 1.  [GENERAL ~~REGISTRATION~~ LICENSURE 
  7.29  PROCEDURES.] An applicant for ~~registration~~ licensure must:  
  7.30     (1) submit an application as required under section 
  7.31  148.519, subdivision 1; and 
  7.32     (2) submit all fees required under section 148.5194.  
  7.33     Subd. 2.  [GENERAL ~~REGISTRATION~~ LICENSURE QUALIFICATIONS.] 
  7.34  An applicant for ~~registration~~ licensure must possess the 
  7.35  qualifications required in one of the following clauses:  
  7.36     (1) a person who applies for ~~registration~~ licensure and 
  8.1   does not meet the requirements in clause (2) or (3), must meet 
  8.2   the requirements in section 148.515; 
  8.3      (2) a person who applies for ~~registration~~ licensure and who 
  8.4   has a current certificate of clinical competence issued by the 
  8.5   American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, or board 
  8.6   certification by the American Board of Audiology, must meet the 
  8.7   requirements of section 148.516; or 
  8.8      (3) a person who applies for ~~registration~~ licensure by 
  8.9   reciprocity must meet the requirements under section 148.517.  
  8.10     Sec. 17.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.515, 
  8.11  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  8.12     Subd. 2.  [MASTER'S OR DOCTORAL DEGREE REQUIRED.] (a) An 
  8.13  applicant must possess a master's or doctoral degree that meets 
  8.14  the requirements of ~~paragraphs~~ paragraph (b) ~~to (h)~~.  If 
  8.15  completing a doctoral program in which a master's degree has not 
  8.16  been conferred, an applicant must submit a transcript showing 
  8.17  completion of course work equivalent to, or exceeding, a 
  8.18  master's degree that meets the requirement of paragraph (b). 
  8.19     (b) All of the applicant's graduate coursework and clinical 
  8.20  practicum required in the professional area for which 
  8.21  ~~registration~~ licensure is sought must have been initiated and 
  8.22  completed at an institution whose program was accredited by the 
  8.23  educational standards board of the ~~American~~ 
  8.24  ~~Speech-Language-Hearing Association~~ Council on Academic 
  8.25  Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, a body 
  8.26  recognized by the United States Department of Education, or an 
  8.27  equivalent as determined by the commissioner, in the area for 
  8.28  which ~~registration~~ licensure is sought.  
  8.29     ~~(c) The master's degree training must include a minimum of~~ 
  8.30  ~~112.5 quarter credits or 75 semester credits or their equivalent~~ 
  8.31  ~~of academic coursework that includes basic science coursework~~ 
  8.32  ~~and professional coursework.~~  
  8.33     ~~(d) Applicants for registration in either speech-language~~ 
  8.34  ~~pathology or audiology must complete 40.5 quarter credits of the~~ 
  8.35  ~~112.5 quarter credits or 27 of the 75 semester credits or their~~ 
  8.36  ~~equivalent in basic science coursework, distributed as follows:~~  
  9.1      ~~(1) nine quarter credits or six semester credits or their~~ 
  9.2   ~~equivalent must be in biological or physical sciences and~~ 
  9.3   ~~mathematics;~~ 
  9.4      ~~(2) nine quarter credits or six semester credits or their~~ 
  9.5   ~~equivalent must be in behavioral or social sciences, including~~ 
  9.6   ~~normal aspects of human behavior and communication; and~~ 
  9.7      ~~(3) 22.5 quarter credits or 15 semester credits or their~~ 
  9.8   ~~equivalent must be in basic human communication processes and~~ 
  9.9   ~~must include coursework in each of the following three areas of~~ 
  9.10  ~~speech, language, and hearing:~~  
  9.11     ~~(i) the anatomic and physiologic bases;~~ 
  9.12     ~~(ii) the physical and psychophysical bases; and~~ 
  9.13     ~~(iii) the linguistic and psycholinguistic aspects.~~  
  9.14     ~~(e) All applicants for registration must complete 54~~ 
  9.15  ~~quarter credits of the 112.5 quarter credits or 36 semester~~ 
  9.16  ~~credits of the 75 semester credits or their equivalent in~~ 
  9.17  ~~professional coursework.  The coursework must include the~~ 
  9.18  ~~nature, prevention, evaluation, and treatment of speech,~~ 
  9.19  ~~language, and hearing disorders.  The coursework must encompass~~ 
  9.20  ~~courses in speech, language, and hearing that concern disorders~~ 
  9.21  ~~primarily affecting children as well as disorders primarily~~ 
  9.22  ~~affecting adults.  A minimum of 45 of the 54 quarter credits or~~ 
  9.23  ~~30 of the 36 semester credits or their equivalent must be~~ 
  9.24  ~~courses for which graduate credit was received.  A minimum of~~ 
  9.25  ~~31.5 of the 45 quarter credits or 21 of the 30 semester credits~~ 
  9.26  ~~must be in the professional area for which registration is~~ 
  9.27  ~~sought.~~  
  9.28     ~~(f) Applicants seeking registration as speech-language~~ 
  9.29  ~~pathologists must complete the following professional coursework:~~
  9.30     ~~(1) 45 quarter credits of the 54 quarter credits of the~~ 
  9.31  ~~professional coursework or 30 semester credits of the 36~~ 
  9.32  ~~semester credits of the professional coursework or their~~ 
  9.33  ~~equivalent must be in courses pertaining to speech-language~~ 
  9.34  ~~pathology and nine quarter credits of the 54 quarter credits or~~ 
  9.35  ~~six semester credits of the 36 semester credits or their~~ 
  9.36  ~~equivalent in courses in the area of audiology; and~~ 
 10.1      ~~(2) the 45 quarter credits or 30 semester credits or their~~ 
 10.2   ~~equivalent pertaining to speech-language pathology must include~~ 
 10.3   ~~at least nine quarter credits or six semester credits or their~~ 
 10.4   ~~equivalent in speech disorders and nine quarter credits or six~~ 
 10.5   ~~semester credits or their equivalent in language disorders.  The~~ 
 10.6   ~~nine quarter credits or six semester credits or their equivalent~~ 
 10.7   ~~in the area of audiology must include at least 4.5 quarter~~ 
 10.8   ~~credits or three semester credits or their equivalent in hearing~~ 
 10.9   ~~disorders and hearing evaluation and 4.5 quarter credits or~~ 
 10.10  ~~three semester credits or their equivalent in habilitative and~~ 
 10.11  ~~rehabilitative procedures.~~  
 10.12     ~~(g) Applicants seeking registration as an audiologist must~~ 
 10.13  ~~complete professional coursework as follows:~~  
 10.14     ~~(1) 45 quarter credits of the 54 quarter credits or 30~~ 
 10.15  ~~semester credits of the 36 semester credits or their equivalent~~ 
 10.16  ~~of coursework must be in audiology.  At least nine quarter~~ 
 10.17  ~~credits of the 45 quarter credits or six semester credits of the~~ 
 10.18  ~~30 semester credits in audiology must be in hearing disorders~~ 
 10.19  ~~and hearing evaluation and at least nine quarter credits or six~~ 
 10.20  ~~semester credits or their equivalent must be in habilitative or~~ 
 10.21  ~~rehabilitative procedures with individuals who have hearing~~ 
 10.22  ~~impairment; and~~ 
 10.23     ~~(2) nine quarter credits of the 54 quarter credits or six~~ 
 10.24  ~~semester credits of the 36 semester credits or their equivalent~~ 
 10.25  ~~in the area of speech-language pathology.  At least 4.5 quarter~~ 
 10.26  ~~credits of the nine quarter credits or three semester credits of~~ 
 10.27  ~~the six semester credits must be in speech disorders and at~~ 
 10.28  ~~least 4.5 quarter credits of the nine quarter credits or three~~ 
 10.29  ~~semester credits of the six semester credits must be in language~~ 
 10.30  ~~disorders.  This coursework in speech-language pathology must~~ 
 10.31  ~~concern the nature, prevention, evaluation, and treatment of~~ 
 10.32  ~~speech and language disorders not associated with hearing~~ 
 10.33  ~~impairment.~~  
 10.34     ~~(h) Of the professional coursework required in paragraphs~~ 
 10.35  ~~(f) and (g), no more than nine quarter credits or six semester~~ 
 10.36  ~~credits or their equivalent associated with clinical training~~ 
 11.1   ~~may be counted toward the minimum of 54 quarter credits or 36~~ 
 11.2   ~~semester credits or their equivalent of professional coursework.~~ 
 11.3   ~~However, those hours may not be used to satisfy the minimum of~~ 
 11.4   ~~nine quarter credits or six semester credit hours in hearing~~ 
 11.5   ~~disorders or evaluation, nine quarter credits or six semester~~ 
 11.6   ~~credits in habilitative or rehabilitative procedures, or nine~~ 
 11.7   ~~quarter credits or six semester credits in speech-language~~ 
 11.8   ~~pathology.~~  
 11.9      Sec. 18.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.515, 
 11.10  subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
 11.11     Subd. 4.  [SUPERVISED ~~POSTGRADUATE~~ GRADUATE OR DOCTORAL 
 11.12  CLINICAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED.] ~~(a)~~ An applicant must complete ~~no~~ 
 11.13  ~~less than nine months or its equivalent of full-time supervised~~ 
 11.14  ~~postgraduate clinical experience according to paragraphs (b) to~~ 
 11.15  ~~(h)~~ the graduate or doctoral clinical experience required by the 
 11.16  American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the American Board 
 11.17  of Audiology, or an equivalent, as determined by the 
 11.18  commissioner, and must achieve a qualifying examination score on 
 11.19  the National Examination in Speech-Language Pathology or 
 11.20  Audiology.  
 11.21     ~~(b) Supervision in the postgraduate clinical experience~~ 
 11.22  ~~includes both on-site observation and other monitoring~~ 
 11.23  ~~activities.  On-site observation must involve the supervisor,~~ 
 11.24  ~~the supervisee, and the client receiving speech-language~~ 
 11.25  ~~pathology or audiology services.  On-site observation must~~ 
 11.26  ~~include direct observation by the supervisor of treatment given~~ 
 11.27  ~~by the supervisee.  Other monitoring activities may be executed~~ 
 11.28  ~~by correspondence and include, but are not limited to,~~ 
 11.29  ~~conferences with the supervisee, evaluation of written reports,~~ 
 11.30  ~~and evaluations by professional colleagues.  Other monitoring~~ 
 11.31  ~~activities do not include the client receiving speech-language~~ 
 11.32  ~~pathology or audiology services but must involve direct or~~ 
 11.33  ~~indirect evaluative contact by the supervisor of the supervisee.~~ 
 11.34     ~~(c) The applicant must, as part of the postgraduate~~ 
 11.35  ~~clinical experience, be supervised by an individual who meets~~ 
 11.36  ~~the definition of section 148.512, subdivision 20, and:~~  
 12.1      ~~(1) when registration as a speech-language pathologist is~~ 
 12.2   ~~sought, is a registered speech-language pathologist or hold a~~ 
 12.3   ~~current certificate of clinical competence in speech-language~~ 
 12.4   ~~pathology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association;~~ 
 12.5   ~~and~~ 
 12.6      ~~(2) when registration as an audiologist is sought, is a~~ 
 12.7   ~~registered audiologist or hold a current certificate of clinical~~ 
 12.8   ~~competence in audiology from the American~~ 
 12.9   ~~Speech-Language-Hearing Association.~~ 
 12.10     ~~(d) The applicant may not begin the postgraduate clinical~~ 
 12.11  ~~experience until the applicant has completed the academic~~ 
 12.12  ~~coursework and clinical training in subdivisions 2 and 3.~~ 
 12.13     ~~(e) To be considered full time, at least 30 hours per week~~ 
 12.14  ~~must be spent over a nine-month period in clinical work.~~  
 12.15  ~~Equivalent time periods may include part-time professional~~ 
 12.16  ~~employment as follows:~~  
 12.17     ~~(1) 12 months of at least 25 hours per week;~~ 
 12.18     ~~(2) 15 months of at least 20 hours per week; or~~ 
 12.19     ~~(3) 18 months of at least 15 hours per week.~~  
 12.20     ~~(f) The applicant's postgraduate clinical experience must~~ 
 12.21  ~~include direct clinical experience with patients, consultations,~~ 
 12.22  ~~report writing, record keeping, or other duties relevant to~~ 
 12.23  ~~clinical work.  A minimum of 80 percent of the clinical~~ 
 12.24  ~~experience must be in direct contact with persons who have~~ 
 12.25  ~~communication handicaps.  If the applicant uses part-time~~ 
 12.26  ~~employment to fulfill the postgraduate clinical experience~~ 
 12.27  ~~requirement, all of the minimum required hours of the part-time~~ 
 12.28  ~~work week requirement must be spent in direct professional~~ 
 12.29  ~~experience.~~  
 12.30     ~~(g) The applicant must complete the postgraduate clinical~~ 
 12.31  ~~experience within a maximum of 36 consecutive months and must be~~ 
 12.32  ~~supervised in no less than 36 activities, including 18 one-hour~~ 
 12.33  ~~on-site observations.  A maximum of six hours can be accrued in~~ 
 12.34  ~~one day.  A minimum of six one-hour on-site observations must be~~ 
 12.35  ~~accrued during each one-third of the experience.~~  
 12.36     ~~(h) The applicant must complete 18 other monitored~~ 
 13.1   ~~activities and complete at least one monitored activity each~~ 
 13.2   ~~month of the postgraduate clinical experience.  Alternatives to~~ 
 13.3   ~~on-site observation and monitoring activities include activities~~ 
 13.4   ~~supervised by correspondence, evaluation of written reports, and~~ 
 13.5   ~~evaluations by professional colleagues.~~  
 13.6      Sec. 19.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.516, is 
 13.7   amended to read: 
 13.8      148.516 [~~REGISTRATION~~ LICENSURE BY EQUIVALENCY.] 
 13.9      An applicant who applies for ~~registration~~ licensure by 
 13.10  equivalency must show evidence of possessing a current 
 13.11  certificate of clinical competence issued by the American 
 13.12  Speech-Language-Hearing Association or board certification by 
 13.13  the American Board of Audiology and must meet the requirements 
 13.14  of section 148.514. 
 13.15     Sec. 20.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.5161, is 
 13.16  amended to read: 
 13.17     148.5161 [~~TEMPORARY REGISTRATION~~ CLINICAL FELLOWSHIP 
 13.18  LICENSURE OR DOCTORAL EXTERNSHIP LICENSURE.] 
 13.19     Subdivision 1.  [APPLICATION.] The commissioner shall issue 
 13.20  ~~temporary registration~~ clinical fellowship licensure or doctoral 
 13.21  externship licensure as a speech-language pathologist or 
 13.22  audiologist to an applicant who has applied for ~~registration~~ 
 13.23  licensure under section 148.515, who is not the subject of a 
 13.24  disciplinary action or past disciplinary action, and who has not 
 13.25  violated a provision of section 148.5195, subdivision 3.  
 13.26     Subd. 2.  [PROCEDURES.] To be eligible for ~~temporary~~ 
 13.27  ~~registration~~ clinical fellowship licensure or doctoral 
 13.28  externship licensure, an applicant must submit an application 
 13.29  form provided by the commissioner, the fees required by section 
 13.30  148.5194, and evidence of successful completion of the 
 13.31  requirements in section 148.515, ~~subdivisions~~ subdivision 2 ~~and~~ 
 13.32  ~~3~~.  
 13.33     Subd. 3.  [SUPERVISION REQUIRED.] (a) A ~~temporary~~ 
 13.34  ~~registrant~~ clinical fellowship licensee or doctoral externship 
 13.35  licensee must practice under the supervision of an individual 
 13.36  who meets the requirements of section 148.512, subdivision 20.  
 14.1   Supervision must conform to the requirements in paragraphs (b) 
 14.2   to (g). 
 14.3      (b) Supervision must include both on-site observation and 
 14.4   other monitoring activities.  On-site observation must involve 
 14.5   the supervisor, the ~~supervisee~~ clinical fellowship licensee or 
 14.6   doctoral externship licensee, and the client receiving 
 14.7   speech-language pathology or audiology services and must include 
 14.8   direct observation by the supervisor of treatment given by the 
 14.9   ~~supervisee~~ clinical fellowship licensee or doctoral externship 
 14.10  licensee.  Other monitoring activities must involve direct or 
 14.11  indirect evaluative contact by the supervisor of the ~~supervisee~~ 
 14.12  clinical fellowship licensee or doctoral externship licensee, 
 14.13  may be executed by correspondence, and may include, but are not 
 14.14  limited to, conferences with the ~~supervisee~~ clinical fellowship 
 14.15  licensee or doctoral externship licensee, evaluation of written 
 14.16  reports, and evaluations by professional colleagues.  Other 
 14.17  monitoring activities do not include the client receiving 
 14.18  speech-language pathology or audiology services. 
 14.19     (c) The ~~temporary registrant~~ clinical fellowship licensee 
 14.20  or doctoral externship licensee must be supervised by an 
 14.21  individual who meets the definition of section 148.512, 
 14.22  subdivision 20, and:  
 14.23     (1) when the ~~temporary registrant~~ clinical fellowship 
 14.24  licensee or doctoral externship licensee is a speech-language 
 14.25  pathologist, is a ~~registered~~ licensed speech-language 
 14.26  pathologist, or holds a current certificate of clinical 
 14.27  competence in speech-language pathology from the American 
 14.28  Speech-Language-Hearing Association; ~~and~~ or 
 14.29     (2) when the ~~temporary registrant~~ clinical fellowship 
 14.30  licensee or doctoral externship licensee is an audiologist, is a 
 14.31  ~~registered~~ licensed audiologist, or holds a current certificate 
 14.32  of clinical competence in audiology from the American 
 14.33  Speech-Language-Hearing Association or board certification in 
 14.34  audiology by the American Board of Audiology. 
 14.35     (d) ~~Temporary registration~~ clinical fellowship licensure or 
 14.36  doctoral externship licensure shall not be granted until the 
 15.1   applicant has completed the academic coursework and clinical 
 15.2   training in section 148.515, ~~subdivisions~~ subdivision 2 ~~and 3~~.  
 15.3      (e) ~~The temporary registrant must be supervised in no less~~ 
 15.4   ~~than 36 activities, including 18 one-hour on-site observations.~~  
 15.5   ~~A maximum of six hours may be accrued in one day.  A minimum of~~ 
 15.6   ~~six one-hour on-site observations must be accrued during each~~ 
 15.7   ~~one-third of the experience.~~  
 15.8      ~~(f) The temporary registrant must complete 18 other~~ 
 15.9   ~~monitored activities and complete at least one monitored~~ 
 15.10  ~~activity each month.~~  
 15.11     ~~(g)~~ The ~~temporary registrant~~ clinical fellowship licensee 
 15.12  or doctoral externship licensee must provide verification of 
 15.13  supervision on the application form provided by the commissioner.
 15.14     Subd. 4.  [DOCTORAL EXTERNSHIP LICENSURE.] Doctoral 
 15.15  candidates in audiology completing their final externship as 
 15.16  part of their training program are eligible to receive a 
 15.17  provisional license in audiology and are not required to 
 15.18  complete the postgraduate clinical fellowship year.  
 15.19     Subd. 5.  [EXPIRATION OF ~~TEMPORARY REGISTRATION~~ CLINICAL 
 15.20  FELLOWSHIP OR DOCTORAL EXTERNSHIP LICENSURE.] A ~~temporary~~ 
 15.21  ~~registration~~ clinical fellowship license or doctoral externship 
 15.22  license issued to a person pursuant to subdivision 2 expires 18 
 15.23  months after issuance or on the date the commissioner grants or 
 15.24  denies ~~registration~~ licensure, whichever occurs first.  Upon 
 15.25  application, a ~~temporary registration~~ clinical fellowship 
 15.26  license or doctoral externship license shall be renewed once to 
 15.27  persons who have not met the supervised postgraduate clinical 
 15.28  experience requirement under section 148.515, subdivision 4, 
 15.29  within the initial ~~temporary registration~~ clinical fellowship 
 15.30  license or doctoral externship license period and meet the 
 15.31  requirements of subdivision 1. 
 15.32     Subd. ~~5~~ 6.  [TITLE USED.] A ~~temporary registrant~~ licensee 
 15.33  with a clinical fellowship or doctoral externship shall be 
 15.34  identified by one of the protected titles and a designation 
 15.35  indicating clinical fellowship status. 
 15.36     Sec. 21.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.517, is 
 16.1   amended to read: 
 16.2      148.517 [~~REGISTRATION~~ LICENSURE BY RECIPROCITY.] 
 16.3      Subdivision 1.  [APPLICABILITY.] An applicant who applies 
 16.4   for ~~registration~~ licensure as a speech-language pathologist or 
 16.5   audiologist by reciprocity must meet the requirements of 
 16.6   subdivisions 2 and 3.  
 16.7      Subd. 2.  [CURRENT CREDENTIALS REQUIRED.] An applicant 
 16.8   applying for ~~registration~~ licensure by reciprocity must provide 
 16.9   evidence to the commissioner that the applicant holds a current 
 16.10  and unrestricted credential for the practice of speech-language 
 16.11  pathology or audiology in another jurisdiction that has 
 16.12  requirements equivalent to or higher than those in effect for 
 16.13  determining whether an applicant in this state is qualified to 
 16.14  be ~~registered~~ licensed as a speech-language pathologist or 
 16.15  audiologist.  An applicant who provides sufficient evidence need 
 16.16  not meet the requirements of section 148.515, provided that the 
 16.17  applicant otherwise meets all other requirements of section 
 16.18  148.514. 
 16.19     Subd. 3.  [VERIFICATION OF CREDENTIALS REQUIRED.] An 
 16.20  applicant for ~~registration~~ licensure by reciprocity under 
 16.21  subdivision 2, must have maintained the appropriate ~~government~~ 
 16.22  ~~body~~ and unrestricted credentials in each jurisdiction ~~in which~~ 
 16.23  ~~the applicant holds a credential submit letters~~ during the last 
 16.24  five years as demonstrated by submitting letters of verification 
 16.25  to the commissioner.  Each letter must state the applicant's 
 16.26  name, date of birth, credential number, date of issuance, a 
 16.27  statement regarding disciplinary actions, if any, taken against 
 16.28  the applicant, and the terms under which the credential was 
 16.29  issued.  
 16.30     Subd. 4.  [TEMPORARY ~~REGISTRATION~~ LICENSURE.] (a) The 
 16.31  commissioner shall issue temporary ~~registration~~ licensure as a 
 16.32  speech-language pathologist, an audiologist, or both, to an 
 16.33  applicant who has applied for ~~registration~~ licensure under ~~this~~ 
 16.34  ~~section~~ sections 148.515, 148.516, 148.517, or 148.518, 
 16.35  subdivisions 1 and 2 and who: 
 16.36     (1) submits a signed and dated affidavit stating that the 
 17.1   applicant is not the subject of a disciplinary action or past 
 17.2   disciplinary action in this or another jurisdiction and is not 
 17.3   disqualified on the basis of section 148.5195, subdivision 3; 
 17.4   and 
 17.5      (2) either: 
 17.6      (i) provides a copy of a current credential as a 
 17.7   speech-language pathologist, an audiologist, or both, held in 
 17.8   the District of Columbia or a state or territory of the United 
 17.9   States; or 
 17.10     (ii) provides a copy of a current certificate of clinical 
 17.11  competence issued by the American Speech-Language-Hearing 
 17.12  Association or ~~its equivalent~~ board certification in audiology 
 17.13  by the American Board of Audiology. 
 17.14     (b) A temporary ~~registration~~ license issued to a person 
 17.15  under this subdivision expires 90 days after it is issued or on 
 17.16  the date the commissioner grants or denies ~~registration~~ 
 17.17  licensure, whichever occurs first.  
 17.18     (c) Upon application, a temporary ~~registration~~ license 
 17.19  shall be renewed once to a person who is able to demonstrate 
 17.20  good cause for failure to meet the requirements for ~~registration~~ 
 17.21  licensure within the initial temporary ~~registration~~ licensure 
 17.22  period and who is not the subject of a disciplinary action or 
 17.23  disqualified on the basis of section 148.5195, subdivision 3. 
 17.24     Sec. 22.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.518, is 
 17.25  amended to read: 
 17.26     148.518 [~~REGISTRATION~~ LICENSURE FOLLOWING LAPSE OF 
 17.27  ~~REGISTERED~~ LICENSURE STATUS.] 
 17.28     ~~Subdivision 1.  [LAPSE OF THREE YEARS OR LESS.]~~ For an 
 17.29  applicant whose ~~registered~~ licensure status has lapsed ~~for three~~ 
 17.30  ~~years or less~~, the applicant must:  
 17.31     (1) apply for ~~registration~~ license renewal according to 
 17.32  section 148.5191 and document compliance with the continuing 
 17.33  education requirements of section 148.5193 since the applicant's 
 17.34  ~~registration~~ license lapsed; ~~or~~ 
 17.35     (2) fulfill the requirements of section 148.517~~.~~; 
 17.36     ~~Subd. 2.  [LAPSE OF MORE THAN THREE YEARS.] For an~~ 
 18.1   ~~applicant whose registered status has lapsed for more than three~~ 
 18.2   ~~years, the applicant must:~~  
 18.3      ~~(1) apply for registration renewal according to section~~ 
 18.4   ~~148.5191 and obtain a qualifying score on the examination~~ 
 18.5   ~~described in section 148.515, subdivision 5, within one year of~~ 
 18.6   ~~the application date for registration renewal;~~ 
 18.7      ~~(2) apply for renewal according to section 148.5191,~~ 
 18.8   ~~provide evidence to the commissioner that the applicant holds a~~ 
 18.9   ~~current and unrestricted credential for the practice of~~ 
 18.10  ~~speech-language pathology from the Minnesota board of teaching~~ 
 18.11  ~~or for the practice of speech-language pathology or audiology in~~ 
 18.12  ~~another jurisdiction and provide evidence that the applicant's~~ 
 18.13  ~~credential from the Minnesota board of teaching or another~~ 
 18.14  ~~jurisdiction has been held in good standing during the period of~~ 
 18.15  ~~lapse;~~ 
 18.16     (3) apply for renewal according to section 148.5191 and 
 18.17  submit documentation of having completed a combination of 
 18.18  speech-language pathology or audiology courses or ~~a~~ 
 18.19  ~~speech-language pathology or audiology refresher~~ 
 18.20  ~~program~~ directly related continuation education hours that 
 18.21  contains both a theoretical and clinical component preapproved 
 18.22  or approved by the commissioner.  Only courses completed within 
 18.23  one year preceding the date of the application or one year after 
 18.24  the date of the application will qualify for approval; or 
 18.25     (4) apply for renewal according to section 148.5191 and 
 18.26  submit proof of successful completion and verified documentation 
 18.27  of 160 hours of supervised practice approved by the 
 18.28  commissioner.  To participate in a supervised practice, the 
 18.29  applicant shall first apply and obtain temporary registration 
 18.30  according to section 148.5161. 
 18.31     Sec. 23.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.519, is 
 18.32  amended to read: 
 18.33     148.519 [~~REGISTRATION~~ LICENSURE PROCEDURES.] 
 18.34     Subdivision 1.  [APPLICATIONS FOR ~~REGISTRATION~~ LICENSURE.] 
 18.35  (a) An applicant for ~~registration~~ licensure must: 
 18.36     (1) submit a completed application for ~~registration~~ 
 19.1   licensure on forms provided by the commissioner.  The 
 19.2   application must include the applicant's name, certification 
 19.3   number under chapter 153A, if applicable, business address and 
 19.4   telephone number, or home address and telephone number if the 
 19.5   applicant practices speech-language pathology or audiology out 
 19.6   of the home, and a description of the applicant's education, 
 19.7   training, and experience, including previous work history for 
 19.8   the five years immediately preceding the date of application.  
 19.9   The commissioner may ask the applicant to provide additional 
 19.10  information necessary to clarify information submitted in the 
 19.11  application; and 
 19.12     (2) applicants must submit documentation of the certificate 
 19.13  of clinical competence issued by the American 
 19.14  Speech-Language-Hearing Association, board certification by the 
 19.15  American Board of Audiology, or satisfy the following 
 19.16  requirements: 
 19.17     ~~(2)~~ (i) submit a transcript showing the completion of a 
 19.18  master's or doctoral degree or its equivalent meeting the 
 19.19  requirements of section 148.515, subdivision 2; 
 19.20     ~~(3)~~ (ii) submit documentation of the required hours of 
 19.21  supervised clinical training ~~meeting the requirements of section~~ 
 19.22  ~~148.515, subdivision 3~~; 
 19.23     ~~(4)~~ (iii) submit documentation of the postgraduate clinical 
 19.24  or doctoral clinical experience meeting the requirements of 
 19.25  section 148.515, subdivision 4; and 
 19.26     ~~(5)~~ (iv) submit documentation of receiving a qualifying 
 19.27  score on an examination meeting the requirements of section 
 19.28  148.515, subdivision 5~~;~~. 
 19.29     (b) In addition, an applicant must: 
 19.30     ~~(6)~~ (1)  sign a statement that the information in the 
 19.31  application is true and correct to the best of the applicant's 
 19.32  knowledge and belief; 
 19.33     ~~(7)~~ (2) submit with the application all fees required by 
 19.34  section 148.5194; and 
 19.35     ~~(8)~~ (3) sign a waiver authorizing the commissioner to 
 19.36  obtain access to the applicant's records in this or any other 
 20.1   state in which the applicant has engaged in the practice of 
 20.2   speech-language pathology or audiology.  
 20.3      Subd. 2.  [ACTION ON APPLICATIONS FOR ~~REGISTRATION~~ 
 20.4   LICENSURE.] (a) The commissioner shall act on an application for 
 20.5   ~~registration~~ licensure according to paragraphs (b) to (d).  
 20.6      (b) The commissioner shall determine if the applicant meets 
 20.7   the requirements for ~~registration~~ licensure.  The commissioner 
 20.8   or advisory council may investigate information provided by an 
 20.9   applicant to determine whether the information is accurate and 
 20.10  complete.  
 20.11     (c) The commissioner shall notify an applicant, via 
 20.12  certified mail, of action taken on the application and of the 
 20.13  grounds for denying ~~registration~~ licensure if ~~registration~~ 
 20.14  licensure is denied.  
 20.15     (d) An applicant denied ~~registration~~ licensure may make a 
 20.16  written request to the commissioner, within 30 days of the date 
 20.17  of notification to the applicant, ~~to appear before the advisory~~ 
 20.18  ~~council and for the advisory council to review the~~ 
 20.19  ~~commissioner's decision to deny the applicant's registration.~~  
 20.20  ~~After reviewing the denial, the advisory council shall make a~~ 
 20.21  ~~recommendation to the commissioner as to whether the denial~~ 
 20.22  ~~should be affirmed.  An applicant is allowed no more than one~~ 
 20.23  ~~request for a review of denial of registration in any one~~ 
 20.24  ~~registration renewal period~~ for reconsideration of the denial. 
 20.25  Individuals requesting reconsideration may submit information 
 20.26  that the applicant wants considered in the reconsideration.  
 20.27  After reconsideration of the commissioner's determination to 
 20.28  deny licensure, the commissioner shall determine whether the 
 20.29  original determination should be affirmed or modified.  An 
 20.30  applicant may make only one request in any one biennial license 
 20.31  period for reconsideration of the commissioner's determination 
 20.32  to deny licensure.  
 20.33     Subd. 3.  [CHANGE OF ADDRESS.] A licensee who changes 
 20.34  addresses must inform the commissioner, in writing, of the 
 20.35  change of address within 30 days.  All notices or other 
 20.36  correspondence mailed to or served on a licensee by the 
 21.1   commissioner at the licensee's address on file with the 
 21.2   commissioner shall be considered as having been received by the 
 21.3   licensee. 
 21.4      Sec. 24.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.5191, is 
 21.5   amended to read: 
 21.6      148.5191 [~~REGISTRATION~~ LICENSURE RENEWAL.] 
 21.7      Subdivision 1.  [RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS.] To renew 
 21.8   ~~registration~~ licensure, an applicant must:  
 21.9      (1) biennially complete a renewal application on a form 
 21.10  provided by the commissioner and submit the biennial renewal 
 21.11  fee; 
 21.12     (2) meet the continuing education requirements of section 
 21.13  148.5193 and submit evidence of attending continuing education 
 21.14  courses, as required in section 148.5193, subdivision 6; and 
 21.15     (3) submit additional information if requested by the 
 21.16  commissioner to clarify information presented in the renewal 
 21.17  application.  The information must be submitted within 30 days 
 21.18  after the commissioner's request.  
 21.19     Subd. 2.  [LATE FEE.] An application submitted after the 
 21.20  renewal deadline date must be accompanied by a late fee as 
 21.21  provided in section 148.5194, subdivision 4.  
 21.22     Subd. 3.  [~~REGISTRATION~~ LICENSURE RENEWAL NOTICE.] 
 21.23  ~~Registration~~ Licensure renewal is on a biennial basis.  At least 
 21.24  60 days before the ~~registration~~ licensure expiration date, the 
 21.25  commissioner shall send out a renewal notice to the ~~registrant's~~ 
 21.26  licensee's last known address.  The notice shall include a 
 21.27  renewal application and notice of fees required for renewal.  If 
 21.28  the ~~registrant~~ licensee does not receive the renewal notice, the 
 21.29  ~~registrant~~ licensee is still required to meet the deadline for 
 21.30  renewal to qualify for continuous ~~registered~~ licensure status. 
 21.31     Subd. 4.  [RENEWAL DEADLINE.] Each ~~registration certificate~~ 
 21.32  license, including a temporary ~~registration certificate~~ license 
 21.33  provided under section 148.5161, must state an expiration date.  
 21.34  An application for ~~registration~~ licensure renewal must be 
 21.35  received by the department of health or postmarked at least 30 
 21.36  days before the expiration date.  If the postmark is illegible, 
 22.1   the application shall be considered timely if received at least 
 22.2   21 days before the expiration date.  
 22.3      When the commissioner establishes the renewal schedule for 
 22.4   an applicant, ~~registrant~~ licensee, or temporary ~~registrant~~ 
 22.5   licensee, if the period before the expiration date is less than 
 22.6   two years, the fee shall be prorated.  
 22.7      Sec. 25.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.5193, 
 22.8   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 22.9      Subdivision 1.  [NUMBER OF CONTACT HOURS REQUIRED.] (a) An 
 22.10  applicant for ~~registration~~ licensure renewal must meet the 
 22.11  requirements for continuing education ~~according to~~ stipulated by 
 22.12  the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association or the American 
 22.13  Board of Audiology, or satisfy the requirements described in 
 22.14  paragraphs (b) to (e).  
 22.15     (b) An applicant for ~~registration~~ licensure renewal as 
 22.16  either a speech-language pathologist or an audiologist must 
 22.17  provide evidence to the commissioner of a minimum of 30 contact 
 22.18  hours of continuing education offered by a continuing education 
 22.19  sponsor within the two years immediately preceding ~~registration~~ 
 22.20  licensure renewal.  A minimum of 20 contact hours of continuing 
 22.21  education must be directly related to the ~~registrant's~~ 
 22.22  licensee's area of ~~registration~~ licensure.  Ten contact hours of 
 22.23  continuing education may be in areas generally related to the 
 22.24  ~~registrant's~~ licensee's area of ~~registration~~ licensure.  
 22.25     (c) An applicant for ~~registration~~ licensure renewal as both 
 22.26  a speech-language pathologist and an audiologist must attest to 
 22.27  and document completion of a minimum of 36 contact hours of 
 22.28  continuing education offered by a continuing education sponsor 
 22.29  within the two years immediately preceding ~~registration~~ 
 22.30  licensure renewal.  A minimum of 15 contact hours must be 
 22.31  received in the area of speech-language pathology and a minimum 
 22.32  of 15 contact hours must be received in the area of audiology.  
 22.33  Six contact hours of continuing education may be in areas 
 22.34  generally related to the ~~registrant's~~ licensee's areas of 
 22.35  ~~registration~~ licensure.  
 22.36     (d) If the ~~registrant~~ licensee is licensed by the board of 
 23.1   teaching: 
 23.2      (1) activities that are approved in the categories of 
 23.3   Minnesota Rules, part 8700.1000, subpart 3, items A and B, and 
 23.4   that relate to speech-language pathology, shall be considered: 
 23.5      (i) offered by a sponsor of continuing education; and 
 23.6      (ii) directly related to speech-language pathology; 
 23.7      (2) activities that are approved in the categories of 
 23.8   Minnesota Rules, part 8700.1000, subpart 3, shall be considered: 
 23.9      (i) offered by a sponsor of continuing education; and 
 23.10     (ii) generally related to speech-language pathology; and 
 23.11     (3) one clock hour as defined in Minnesota Rules, part 
 23.12  8700.1000, subpart 1, is equivalent to ~~1.2~~ 1.0 contact hours of 
 23.13  continuing education.  
 23.14     (e) Contact hours cannot be accumulated in advance and 
 23.15  transferred to a future continuing education period.  
 23.16     Sec. 26.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.5193, 
 23.17  subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
 23.18     Subd. 4.  [EARNING CONTINUING EDUCATION CONTACT HOURS 
 23.19  THROUGH CONTACT HOUR EQUIVALENTS.] (a) A ~~registrant~~ licensee who 
 23.20  teaches continuing education courses or presents or publishes 
 23.21  for educational purposes may obtain contact hour equivalents 
 23.22  according to paragraphs (b) to (d). 
 23.23     (b) The sponsor of the course must meet the requirements of 
 23.24  subdivision 2.  
 23.25     (c) A ~~registrant~~ licensee may not obtain more than six 
 23.26  contact hours in any two-year continuing education period by 
 23.27  teaching continuing education courses.  
 23.28     (d) A ~~registrant~~ licensee may obtain two contact hours for 
 23.29  each hour spent teaching a course.  Contact hours may be claimed 
 23.30  only once for teaching the same course in any two-year 
 23.31  continuing education period.  
 23.32     Sec. 27.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.5193, 
 23.33  subdivision 6, is amended to read: 
 23.34     Subd. 6.  [RECORDS OF ATTENDANCE.] (a) A ~~registrant~~ 
 23.35  licensee must maintain for four years records of attending the 
 23.36  continuing education contact hours required for ~~registration~~ 
 24.1   licensure renewal.  
 24.2      (b) An applicant for ~~registration~~ licensure renewal must 
 24.3   submit documentation demonstrating compliance with continuing 
 24.4   education requirements of the American Speech-Language-Hearing 
 24.5   Association on the American Board of Audiology or an equivalent, 
 24.6   or the following information on a form provided by the 
 24.7   commissioner:  the sponsoring organization, the dates of the 
 24.8   course, the course name, the number of contact hours completed, 
 24.9   and the name and signature of the ~~registrant~~ licensee. The form 
 24.10  must be submitted with the renewal application under section 
 24.11  148.5191, subdivision 1.  
 24.12     Sec. 28.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.5193, 
 24.13  subdivision 6a, is amended to read: 
 24.14     Subd. 6a.  [VERIFICATION OF ATTENDANCE.] An applicant 
 24.15  for ~~registration~~ licensure renewal must submit verification of 
 24.16  attendance as follows: 
 24.17     (1) a certificate of attendance from the sponsor with the 
 24.18  continuing education course name, course date, and ~~registrant's~~ 
 24.19  licensee's name.  If a certificate is not available, the 
 24.20  commissioner may accept other evidence of attendance such as a 
 24.21  confirmation or statement of registration for regional or 
 24.22  national annual conferences or conventions of professional 
 24.23  associations, a copy of the continuing education courses 
 24.24  indicating those attended, and an affidavit of attendance; 
 24.25     (2) a copy of a record of attendance from the sponsor of 
 24.26  the continuing education course; 
 24.27     (3) a signature of the presenter or a designee at the 
 24.28  continuing education activity on the continuing education report 
 24.29  form; 
 24.30     (4) a summary or outline of the educational content of an 
 24.31  audio or video educational activity if a designee is not 
 24.32  available to sign the continuing education report form; 
 24.33     (5) for self-study programs, a certificate of completion or 
 24.34  other documentation indicating that the individual has 
 24.35  demonstrated knowledge and has successfully completed the 
 24.36  program; ~~and~~ or 
 25.1      (6) for attendance at a university, college, or vocational 
 25.2   course, an official transcript. 
 25.3      Sec. 29.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.5193, 
 25.4   subdivision 7, is amended to read: 
 25.5      Subd. 7.  [VERIFICATION OF CONTINUING EDUCATION REPORTS.] 
 25.6   The commissioner may request a ~~registrant~~ licensee or continuing 
 25.7   education sponsor to verify the continuing education to which 
 25.8   the ~~registrant~~ licensee attested.  Documentation may come 
 25.9   directly from the ~~registrant~~ licensee, the continuing education 
 25.10  sponsor, or from a national accrediting or certifying 
 25.11  organization which maintains the records.  
 25.12     Sec. 30.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.5193, 
 25.13  subdivision 8, is amended to read: 
 25.14     Subd. 8.  [WAIVER OF CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS.] 
 25.15  The commissioner may grant a waiver of the requirements of this 
 25.16  section in cases where the requirements would impose an undue 
 25.17  burden on the ~~registrant~~ licensee.  A ~~registrant~~ licensee must 
 25.18  request in writing a waiver of the requirements of this 
 25.19  section.  The request for a waiver must cite this section, the 
 25.20  reasons for requesting the waiver, the period of time 
 25.21  the ~~registrant~~ licensee wishes to have the continuing education 
 25.22  requirement waived, and the alternative measures that will be 
 25.23  taken if a waiver is granted.  The commissioner shall set forth, 
 25.24  in writing, the reasons for granting or denying the waiver.  
 25.25  Waivers granted by the commissioner shall specify in writing the 
 25.26  time limitation and required alternative measures to be taken by 
 25.27  the ~~registrant~~ licensee. 
 25.28     Sec. 31.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.5194, 
 25.29  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 25.30     Subdivision 1.  [FEE PRORATION.] The commissioner shall 
 25.31  prorate the ~~registration~~ licensure fee for clinical fellowship, 
 25.32  doctoral externship, temporary, and first time ~~registrants~~ 
 25.33  licensees according to the number of months that have elapsed 
 25.34  between the date ~~registration~~ the license is issued and the date 
 25.35  ~~registration~~ the license must be renewed under section 148.5191, 
 25.36  subdivision 4.  
 26.1      Sec. 32.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.5194, 
 26.2   subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 26.3      Subd. 2.  [BIENNIAL ~~REGISTRATION~~ LICENSURE FEE.] The fee 
 26.4   for initial ~~registration~~ licensure and biennial ~~registration~~ 
 26.5   licensure, temporary ~~registration~~ licensure, or renewal is $200. 
 26.6      Sec. 33.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.5194, 
 26.7   subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 26.8      Subd. 3.  [BIENNIAL ~~REGISTRATION~~ LICENSURE FEE FOR DUAL 
 26.9   ~~REGISTRATION~~ LICENSURE AS A SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST AND 
 26.10  AUDIOLOGIST.] The fee for initial ~~registration~~ licensure and 
 26.11  biennial ~~registration~~ licensure, clinical fellowship, doctoral 
 26.12  externship, temporary ~~registration~~ license, or renewal is $200. 
 26.13     Sec. 34.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.5194, 
 26.14  subdivision 3a, is amended to read: 
 26.15     Subd. 3a.  [SURCHARGE FEE.] Notwithstanding section 
 26.16  16A.1285, subdivision 2, for a period of four years following 
 26.17  July 1, 1999, an applicant for ~~registration~~ licensure or 
 26.18  ~~registration~~ licensure renewal must pay a surcharge fee of $25 
 26.19  in addition to any other fees due upon ~~registration~~ licensure or 
 26.20  ~~registration~~ licensure renewal.  This subdivision expires June 
 26.21  30, 2003. 
 26.22     Sec. 35.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.5195, 
 26.23  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 26.24     Subd. 2.  [RIGHTS OF APPLICANTS AND ~~REGISTRANTS~~ LICENSEES.] 
 26.25  The rights of an applicant denied ~~registration~~ licensure are 
 26.26  stated in section 148.519, subdivision 2, paragraph (d).  
 26.27  A ~~registrant~~ licensee shall not be subjected to disciplinary 
 26.28  action under this section without first having an opportunity 
 26.29  for a contested case hearing under chapter 14.  
 26.30     Sec. 36.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.5195, 
 26.31  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 26.32     Subd. 3.  [GROUNDS FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION BY 
 26.33  COMMISSIONER.] The commissioner may take any of the disciplinary 
 26.34  actions listed in subdivision 4 on proof that the individual has:
 26.35     (1) intentionally submitted false or misleading information 
 26.36  to the commissioner or the advisory council; 
 27.1      (2) failed, within 30 days, to provide information in 
 27.2   response to a written request, via certified mail, by the 
 27.3   commissioner or advisory council; 
 27.4      (3) performed services of a speech-language pathologist or 
 27.5   audiologist in an incompetent or negligent manner; 
 27.6      (4) violated sections 148.511 to 148.5196; 
 27.7      (5) failed to perform services with reasonable judgment, 
 27.8   skill, or safety due to the use of alcohol or drugs, or other 
 27.9   physical or mental impairment; 
 27.10     (6) violated any state or federal law, rule, or regulation, 
 27.11  and the violation is a felony or misdemeanor, an essential 
 27.12  element of which is dishonesty, or which relates directly or 
 27.13  indirectly to the practice of speech-language pathology or 
 27.14  audiology.  Conviction for violating any state or federal law 
 27.15  which relates to speech-language pathology or audiology is 
 27.16  necessarily considered to constitute a violation, except as 
 27.17  provided in chapter 364; 
 27.18     (7) aided or abetted another person in violating any 
 27.19  provision of sections 148.511 to 148.5196; 
 27.20     (8) been or is being disciplined by another jurisdiction, 
 27.21  if any of the grounds for the discipline is the same or 
 27.22  substantially equivalent to those under sections 148.511 to 
 27.23  148.5196; 
 27.24     (9) not cooperated with the commissioner or advisory 
 27.25  council in an investigation conducted according to subdivision 
 27.26  1; 
 27.27     (10) advertised in a manner that is false or misleading; 
 27.28     (11) engaged in conduct likely to deceive, defraud, or harm 
 27.29  the public; or demonstrated a willful or careless disregard for 
 27.30  the health, welfare, or safety of a client; 
 27.31     (12) failed to disclose to the consumer any fee splitting 
 27.32  or any promise to pay a portion of a fee to any other 
 27.33  professional other than a fee for services rendered by the other 
 27.34  professional to the client; 
 27.35     (13) engaged in abusive or fraudulent billing practices, 
 27.36  including violations of federal Medicare and Medicaid laws, Food 
 28.1   and Drug Administration regulations, or state medical assistance 
 28.2   laws; 
 28.3      (14) obtained money, property, or services from a consumer 
 28.4   through the use of undue influence, high pressure sales tactics, 
 28.5   harassment, duress, deception, or fraud; 
 28.6      (15) performed services for a client who had no possibility 
 28.7   of benefiting from the services; 
 28.8      (16) failed to refer a client for medical evaluation or to 
 28.9   other health care professionals when appropriate or when a 
 28.10  client indicated symptoms associated with diseases that could be 
 28.11  medically or surgically treated; 
 28.12     (17) if the individual is a dispenser of hearing 
 28.13  instruments as defined by section 153A.13, subdivision 5, had 
 28.14  the certification required by chapter 153A, denied, suspended, 
 28.15  or revoked according to chapter 153A; or 
 28.16     (18) used the term doctor of audiology, doctor of 
 28.17  speech-language pathology, AuD, or SLPD without having obtained 
 28.18  the degree from an institution accredited by the North Central 
 28.19  Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools ~~or the American~~ 
 28.20  ~~Speech-Language-Hearing Association~~, the Council on Academic 
 28.21  Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, the 
 28.22  United States Department of Education, or an equivalent. 
 28.23     Sec. 37.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.5195, 
 28.24  subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
 28.25     Subd. 4.  [DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS.] If the commissioner finds 
 28.26  that an individual should be disciplined according to 
 28.27  subdivision 3, the commissioner may take any one or more of the 
 28.28  following actions:  
 28.29     (1) refuse to grant or renew ~~registration~~ licensure; 
 28.30     (2) suspend ~~registration~~ licensure for a period not 
 28.31  exceeding one year; 
 28.32     (3) revoke ~~registration~~ licensure; or 
 28.33     (4) take any reasonable lesser action against an individual 
 28.34  upon proof that the individual has violated sections 148.511 to 
 28.35  148.5196; or 
 28.36     (5) impose, for each violation, a civil penalty not 
 29.1   exceeding $7,500 that deprives the licensee of any economic 
 29.2   advantage gained by the violation and that reimburses the 
 29.3   department of health for costs of the investigation and 
 29.4   proceedings resulting in disciplinary action, including the 
 29.5   amount paid for services of the administrative hearings, the 
 29.6   amount paid for services of the office of the attorney general, 
 29.7   attorney fees, court reporters, witnesses, reproduction of 
 29.8   records, advisory council members' per diem compensation, 
 29.9   department staff time, and expense incurred by advisory council 
 29.10  members and department staff.  
 29.11     Sec. 38.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.5195, 
 29.12  subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
 29.13     Subd. 5.  [CONSEQUENCES OF DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS.] Upon the 
 29.14  suspension or revocation of ~~registration~~ licensure, the 
 29.15  speech-language pathologist or audiologist shall cease to 
 29.16  practice speech-language pathology or audiology, to use titles 
 29.17  protected under sections 148.511 to 148.5196, and ~~shall cease~~ to 
 29.18  represent to the public that the speech-language pathologist or 
 29.19  audiologist is ~~registered~~ licensed by the commissioner.  
 29.20     Sec. 39.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.5195, 
 29.21  subdivision 6, is amended to read: 
 29.22     Subd. 6.  [REINSTATEMENT REQUIREMENTS AFTER DISCIPLINARY 
 29.23  ACTION.] A speech-language pathologist or audiologist who has 
 29.24  had ~~registration~~ licensure suspended may petition on forms 
 29.25  provided by the commissioner for reinstatement following the 
 29.26  period of suspension specified by the commissioner.  The 
 29.27  requirements of section 148.5191 for renewing ~~registration~~ 
 29.28  licensure must be met before ~~registration~~ licensure may be 
 29.29  reinstated.  
 29.30     Sec. 40.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 148.5196, is 
 29.31  amended to read: 
 29.32     148.5196 [SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST AND AUDIOLOGIST 
 29.33  ADVISORY COUNCIL.] 
 29.34     Subdivision 1.  [MEMBERSHIP.] The commissioner shall 
 29.35  appoint ~~seven~~ eight persons to a speech-language pathologist and 
 29.36  audiologist advisory council.  The ~~seven~~ eight persons must 
 30.1   include: 
 30.2      (1) two public members, as defined in section 214.02.  The 
 30.3   public members shall be either persons receiving services of a 
 30.4   speech-language pathologist or audiologist, or family members of 
 30.5   or caregivers to such persons; 
 30.6      (2) two speech-language pathologists ~~registered~~ licensed 
 30.7   under sections 148.511 to 148.5196, one of whom is currently and 
 30.8   has been, for the five years immediately preceding the 
 30.9   appointment, engaged in the practice of speech-language 
 30.10  pathology in Minnesota and each of whom is employed in a 
 30.11  different employment setting including, but not limited to, 
 30.12  private practice, hospitals, rehabilitation settings, 
 30.13  educational settings, and government agencies; 
 30.14     (3) one speech-language pathologist ~~registered~~ licensed 
 30.15  under sections 148.511 to 148.5196, who is currently and has 
 30.16  been, for the five years immediately preceding the appointment, 
 30.17  employed by a Minnesota public school district or a Minnesota 
 30.18  public school district consortium that is authorized by 
 30.19  Minnesota Statutes and who is licensed in ~~communication~~ 
 30.20  ~~disorders~~ speech-language pathology by the Minnesota board of 
 30.21  teaching; ~~and~~ 
 30.22     (4) two audiologists ~~registered~~ licensed under sections 
 30.23  148.511 to 148.5196, one of whom is currently and has been, for 
 30.24  the five years immediately preceding the appointment, engaged in 
 30.25  the practice of audiology in Minnesota and each of whom is 
 30.26  employed in a different employment setting including, but not 
 30.27  limited to, private practice, hospitals, rehabilitation 
 30.28  settings, educational settings, industry, and government 
 30.29  agencies; and 
 30.30     (5) one physician licensed under chapter 147 and certified 
 30.31  by the American Board of Otolaryngology as a head and neck 
 30.32  specialist.  
 30.33     Subd. 2.  [ORGANIZATION.] The advisory council shall be 
 30.34  organized and administered under section 15.059.  
 30.35     Subd. 3.  [DUTIES.] The advisory council shall:  
 30.36     (1) advise the commissioner regarding speech-language 
 31.1   pathologist and audiologist ~~registration~~ licensure standards; 
 31.2      (2) advise the commissioner on enforcement of sections 
 31.3   148.511 to 148.5196; 
 31.4      (3) provide for distribution of information regarding 
 31.5   speech-language pathologist and audiologist ~~registration~~ 
 31.6   licensure standards; 
 31.7      (4) review applications and make recommendations to the 
 31.8   commissioner on granting or denying ~~registration~~ licensure or 
 31.9   ~~registration~~ licensure renewal; 
 31.10     (5) review reports of investigations relating to 
 31.11  individuals and make recommendations to the commissioner as to 
 31.12  whether ~~registration~~ licensure should be denied or disciplinary 
 31.13  action taken against the individual; 
 31.14     (6) advise the commissioner regarding approval of 
 31.15  continuing education activities provided by sponsors using the 
 31.16  criteria in section 148.5193, subdivision 2; and 
 31.17     (7) perform other duties authorized for advisory councils 
 31.18  under chapter 214, or as directed by the commissioner. 
 31.19     Sec. 41.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 153A.14, 
 31.20  subdivision 2a, is amended to read: 
 31.21     Subd. 2a.  [EXEMPTION FROM WRITTEN EXAMINATION 
 31.22  REQUIREMENT.] Persons completing the audiology registration 
 31.23  requirements of section 148.515 after January 1, 1996, are 
 31.24  exempt from the written examination requirements of subdivision 
 31.25  2h, paragraph (a), clause (1).  Minnesota ~~registration or~~ 
 31.26  ~~American Speech-Language-Hearing Association certification~~ 
 31.27  licensure, a current certification of clinical competence issued 
 31.28  by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, board 
 31.29  certification in audiology by the American Board of Audiology, 
 31.30  or an equivalent, as an audiologist is not required but may be 
 31.31  submitted as evidence qualifying for exemption from the written 
 31.32  examination if the requirements are completed after January 1, 
 31.33  1996.  Persons qualifying for written examination exemption must 
 31.34  fulfill the other credentialing requirements under subdivisions 
 31.35  1 and 2 before a certificate may be issued by the commissioner. 
 31.36     Sec. 42.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 153A.14, 
 32.1   subdivision 2i, is amended to read: 
 32.2      Subd. 2i.  [CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENT.] On forms 
 32.3   provided by the commissioner, each certified dispenser must 
 32.4   submit with the application for renewal of certification 
 32.5   evidence of completion of ten course hours of continuing 
 32.6   education earned within the 12-month period of July 1 to June 30 
 32.7   immediately preceding renewal.  Continuing education courses 
 32.8   must be directly related to hearing instrument dispensing and 
 32.9   approved by the International Hearing Society or qualify for 
 32.10  continuing education approved for Minnesota ~~registered~~ licensed 
 32.11  audiologists.  Evidence of completion of the ten course hours of 
 32.12  continuing education must be submitted with renewal applications 
 32.13  by October 1 of each year.  This requirement does not apply to 
 32.14  dispensers certified for less than one year.  The first report 
 32.15  of evidence of completion of the continuing education credits 
 32.16  shall be due October 1, 1997.  
 32.17     Sec. 43.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 153A.17, is 
 32.18  amended to read: 
 32.19     153A.17 [EXPENSES; FEES.] 
 32.20     The expenses for administering the certification 
 32.21  requirements including the complaint handling system for hearing 
 32.22  aid dispensers in sections 153A.14 and 153A.15 and the consumer 
 32.23  information center under section 153A.18 must be paid from 
 32.24  initial application and examination fees, renewal fees, 
 32.25  penalties, and fines.  All fees are nonrefundable.  The 
 32.26  certificate application fee is $165 for audiologists ~~registered~~ 
 32.27  licensed under section 148.511 and $490 for all others, the 
 32.28  examination fee is $200 for the written portion and $200 for the 
 32.29  practical portion each time one or the other is taken, and the 
 32.30  trainee application fee is $100.  Notwithstanding the policy set 
 32.31  forth in section 16A.1285, subdivision 2, a surcharge of $165 
 32.32  for audiologists ~~registered~~ licensed under section 148.511 and 
 32.33  $330 for all others shall be paid at the time of application or 
 32.34  renewal until June 30, 2003, to recover the commissioner's 
 32.35  accumulated direct expenditures for administering the 
 32.36  requirements of this chapter.  The penalty fee for late 
 33.1   submission of a renewal application is $200.  All fees, 
 33.2   penalties, and fines received must be deposited in the state 
 33.3   government special revenue fund.  The commissioner may prorate 
 33.4   the certification fee for new applicants based on the number of 
 33.5   quarters remaining in the annual certification period. 
 33.6      Sec. 44.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 153A.20, 
 33.7   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 33.8      Subdivision 1.  [MEMBERSHIP.] The commissioner shall 
 33.9   appoint nine persons to a hearing instrument dispenser advisory 
 33.10  council. 
 33.11     (a) The nine persons must include: 
 33.12     (1) three public members, as defined in section 214.02.  At 
 33.13  least one of the public members shall be a hearing instrument 
 33.14  user and one of the public members shall be either a hearing 
 33.15  instrument user or an advocate of one; and 
 33.16     (2) three hearing instrument dispensers certified under 
 33.17  sections 153A.14 to 153A.20, each of whom is currently, and has 
 33.18  been for the five years immediately preceding their appointment, 
 33.19  engaged in hearing instrument dispensing in Minnesota and who 
 33.20  represent the occupation of hearing instrument dispensing and 
 33.21  who are not audiologists; and 
 33.22     (3) three audiologists who are certified hearing instrument 
 33.23  dispensers or are ~~registered~~ licensed as audiologists under 
 33.24  chapter 148. 
 33.25     (b) The factors the commissioner may consider when 
 33.26  appointing advisory council members include, but are not limited 
 33.27  to, professional affiliation, geographical location, and type of 
 33.28  practice. 
 33.29     (c) No two members of the advisory council shall be 
 33.30  employees of, or have binding contracts requiring sales 
 33.31  exclusively for, the same hearing instrument manufacturer or the 
 33.32  same employer. 
 33.33     Sec. 45.  [REVISOR INSTRUCTION.] 
 33.34     The revisor shall renumber Minnesota Statutes, section 
 33.35  148.517, subdivision 4, as Minnesota Statutes, section 148.5175. 
 33.36     Sec. 46.  [REPEALER.] 
 34.1      Minnesota Statutes 2002, sections 148.512, subdivision 11; 
 34.2   and 148.515, subdivisions 3 and 5, are repealed.