SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST; TEMP. LICENSE                                  S.B. 811 (S-1):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                     REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

Senate Bill 811 (Substitute S-1 as reported)

Sponsor:  Senator Curtis S. VanderWall

Committee:  Health Policy and Human Services

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Public Health Code to modify provisions governing speech-language pathology educational temporary limited licenses.

The Code generally provides for the licensure of speech-language pathologists. An individual may apply for a temporary license for the purpose of completing a supervised graduate clinical experience. The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) must issue a temporary license for a period not exceeding 12 months. To be eligible for a temporary license, an applicant must meet certain requirements.

The bill would extend, from 12 months to 24 months, the maximum time period for which a temporary license was valid. Additionally, a temporary license could be renewed for three additional 12-month terms if the applicant continued to meet the Code's requirements.

MCL 333.17609                                                     Legislative Analyst:  Stephen Jackson

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have a minor negative fiscal impact on LARA and no fiscal impact on local units of government. As of February 2022, there were 228 temporary speech pathology education limited licensees. The license application fee is $102.70 for a 12-month license. Extending the license validity period to 24 months likely would result in revenue losses of approximately $23,000 for a one-year period; however, the actual revenue loss would depend on the exact renewal date of each licensee and the number of individuals pursuing temporary licensees in a given time period.

The ability of a licensee to renew a temporary license for up to three additional one-year terms would increase revenue if the applicant pursuing the renewals otherwise would have dropped out of the licensure pool.

Date Completed:  3-9-22                                         Fiscal Analyst:  Elizabeth Raczkowski

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.