Resolve, To Establish a Task Force Concerning Speech-language Pathologists Further amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and before the concept draft summary and inserting in its place the following: Emergency preamble. Whereas, Acts Legislature do not become effective adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and until and resolves of the days after Whereas, the State is experiencing a critical shortage in the number of speech-language pathologists available to provide services in schools to Maine children; and Whereas, the need for speech-language pathologists is expected to increase dramatically within the next 5 to 10 years; and Whereas, postsecondary, graduate training programs and professional development opportunities in speech-language pathology are severely limited in the State's postsecondary institutions that prepare professional personnel; and Page l-LR1280(2) COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 0989
Committee Amendment CA_A_S185 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to s. P • 330, L.D. 989, Bill, "An 
Act To Transfer Speech Pathologist Licensure Functions to the 
Department of Education" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting 
the following: 
'Resolve, To Establish a Task Force Concerning Speech-language 
Pathologists' 
Further amend the bill by striking out everything after the 
title and before the concept draft summary and inserting in its 
place the following: 
'Emergency preamble. 
Whereas, Acts 
Legislature 
do 
not 
become 
effective 
adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; 
and 
until 
and 
resolves 
of 
the 
days 
after 
Whereas, the State is experiencing a critical shortage in 
the number of speech-language pathologists available to provide 
services in schools to Maine children; and 
Whereas, 
the 
need 
for 
speech-language 
pathologists 
is 
expected to increase dramatically within the next 5 to 10 years; 
and 
Whereas, postsecondary, 
graduate 
training 
programs 
and 
professional 
development 
opportunities 
in 
speech-language 
pathology are 
severely 
limited 
in 
the 
State's postsecondary 
institutions that prepare professional personnel; and 
Page l-LR1280(2) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~ 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT .. A .. to S.P. 330, L.D. 989 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts 
create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of 
Maine 
and 
require 
the 
following 
legislation 
as 
immediately 
necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and 
safety; now, therefore, be it 
Sec. 1. Task force established. Resolved: 
That the Task Force to 
Address the Shortage of Speech-language Pathologists, referred to 
in this resolve as "the task force," is established; and be it 
further 
Sec. 2. Task force membership. Resolved: 
That the task force 
consists of the following 13 members: 
1. 
The 
Commissioner of Education or the 
commissioner's 
designee; 
2. 
The Chancellor of the University of Maine System or the 
chancellor's designee; 
3. 
One member representing the State Board of Education 
appointed by the President of the Senate upon recommendation of 
the Chair of the State Board of Education; 
4. 
Four 
members 
representing 
the 
Maine 
Speech-Language-Hearing 
Association, 3 of whom are school-based, 
appointed by the Speaker of the House upon recommendation of the 
President of the Maine Speech-Language Hearing Association; 
5. 
One member representing the Maine 
Association 
appointed 
by 
the 
President 
recommendation 
of 
the 
President 
of 
Superintendents Association; 
. 
One 
membe r 
Association 
appointed 
recommendation of 
the 
Association; 
representing 
the 
by 
the 
Speaker 
President of 
the 
School Superintendents 
of 
the 
Senate 
upon 
the 
Maine 
School 
Maine 
School 
Boards 
of 
the 
House 
upon 
Maine 
School 
Boards 
7. 
One 
member 
representing 
the 
Maine 
Principals' 
Senate 
upon 
Principals' 
Association 
appointed 
by 
the 
President 
of 
the 
recommendation 
of 
the 
President 
of 
the 
Maine 
Association; 
8. 
One 
member 
representing 
the 
Maine 
Directors of Special Education appointed by the 
House 
upon 
recommendation 
of 
the 
President 
Association of Directors of Special Education; 
Association 
of 
Speaker of the 
of 
the 
Maine 
9. 
One 
member 
representing 
the 
University 
of 
Maine, 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
C<,. 
\.:~ . 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to S.P. 330, L.D. 989 
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders appointed by 
the President of the Senate upon recommendation of the Chair of 
the University of Maine, Department of Communication Sciences and 
Disorders; and 
10. 
One parent of 
a 
student receiving speech pathology 
services appointed by the Speaker of the House; and be it further 
Sec. 3. Chair. Resolved: 
That the chair is selected by a vote 
of the task force membership at its first meeting; and be it 
further 
Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of task force. Resolved: 
That all 
appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the 
effective date of this resolve. 
The appointing authorities shall 
notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council once all 
appointments 
have 
been 
completed. 
Within 
days 
after 
appointment of all members, the executive director shall call and 
convene the first meeting of the task force; and be it further 
Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: 
That the task force shall provide 
leadership and direction for collaborative efforts 
among the 
Department of Education, the University of Maine System and the 
State 
Board 
of 
Education 
to 
increase 
the 
number 
of 
speech-language 
pathologists 
who 
provide 
services 
to 
Maine 
children by: 
1. 
Establishing a plan and schedule for the task force' s 
work; 
2. 
Meeting regularly to gather and review information and 
data on the conditions affecting recruitment and retention of 
speech-language 
pathologists 
in 
Maine 
schools 
and 
develop 
recommendations for recruitment and retention of speech-language 
pathologists; 
3. 
Developing a plan to support and enhance the capacity of 
graduate 
training 
programs 
at 
institutions 
that 
prepare 
speech-language pathologists and ensure adequate opportunities 
for professional growth and development through the University of 
Maine System and other public and private organizations; 
4. 
Examining trends related to the existing vacancy rates 
in Maine schools of speech-language pathologists, trends in use 
of Medicaid funding to enhance speech-language pathology services 
and 
demographics 
of 
currently 
employed 
school-based 
speech-language pathologists to identify current capacity and 
anticipated need by 2010; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
>. c, 
~ :;. ... 
~" 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to S.P. 330, L.D. 989 
5. 
Reviewing 
current 
licensure 
requirements 
of 
speech-language pathologists and making any recommendations for 
revisions to such requirements in order to ensure quality of 
services and to increase the number of individuals qualified for 
licensure as speech-language pathologists; and 
6. 
Examining the potential for 
assignment 
school 
personnel 
who 
can 
provide 
services 
of certified 
while 
being 
speech-language 
appropriately 
supervised 
by 
licensed 
pathologists; and be it further 
Sec. 6. Advisory capacity. Resolved: 
That the task force shall 
serve in an advisory capacity to the Legislature and the agencies 
involved with the 
requirements, 
licensure and preparation of 
speech-language pathologists; and be it further 
Sec. 7. Recommendation. Resolved: 
That the task force shall 
recommend to the Legislature, the State 
the 
Commissioner 
of 
Education 
a 
plan 
educational 
training 
opportunities 
Board of Education and 
to 
ensure 
access 
to 
for 
speeCh-language 
and be it further 
pathologists in postsecondary institutions; 
Sec. 8. Staff assistance. Resolved: 
That the Department of 
Education shall provide necessary staffing services to the task 
force; and be it further 
Sec. 9. Compensation. Resolved: 
That the public members of 
the task force not otherwise compensated by their employers or 
other entities that they represent 
are entitled to 
receive 
reimbursement of necessary expenses and, upon a demonstration of 
financial hardship, a per diem equal to the legislative per diem 
as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, section 2 for 
their attendance at authorized meetings of the task force; and be 
it further 
Sec. 10. Report. Resolved: 
That the task force shall submit a 
report that includes its findings and recommendations, including 
suggested 
legislation, 
to 
the 
Joint 
Standing 
Committee 
on 
Education and Cultural Affairs, to the Commissioner of Education 
and the State Board of Education by January 15, 2004. 
Following 
receipt and review of the report, the Joint Standing Committee on 
Education and Cultural Affairs may report out a bill to the 
Sec. 11. Extension. Resolved: 
That, if the task force requires 
a limited extension of time to complete its study and make its 
report, it may apply to the Legislative Council, which may grant 
an extension; and be it further 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
,'/' 
'S 
~~, 
~.t:' 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 330, L.D. 989 
Sec. 12. Task force budget. Resolved: 
That expenses incurred by 
the task force in completing its work must be absorbed by the 
respective agencies and entities represented on the task force. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this resolve takes effect when approved.' 
SUMMARY 
This 
amendment 
replaces 
the bill, 
which 
was 
a 
concept 
draft. 
The amendment is a resolve creating a task force that is 
directed to study ways to increase the number of speech-language 
pathologists 
who 
provide 
services 
in Maine 
schools 
and 
the 
opportunities 
for 
postsecondary 
training 
and 
professional 
development programs in the State. 
The task force is directed to 
submit 
a 
report, 
including 
findings, 
recommendations 
and 
recommended 
legislation, 
by 
January 
15, 
2004 
to 
the 
Joint 
Standing 
Committee 
on 
Education 
and 
Cultural 
Affairs, 
the 
Commissioner of Education and the State Board of Education. 
In 
addition, 
the resolve directs that the agencies and entities 
represented on the task force will absorb expenses incurred by 
the task force. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Legislative Study 
Revised: 05/09/03 ;:t;!.?ac 
Office of Fiscal and Program Review 
LD989 
Resolve, To Establish a Task Force Concerning Speech Language 
Pathologists 
LR 1280(02) 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'i4"s -J??E 
Committee: Business and Economic Development 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Any additional costs to the Department of Education, the State Board of Education and the University of Maine 
System can be absorbed utilizing existing budgeted resources. 
LR1280(2) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1