An Act Regarding Speech-language Pathology Aides
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1277
Committee: Business, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: SHERMAN, MILLS, ANNIS, BIERMAN, CARR, CHURCHILL, CURLEY, JACKSON, JOY, MOORE

Legislative Document 
No. 1277 
H.P.874 
House of Representatives, March 15,2005 
An Act Regarding Speech-language Pathology Aides 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development suggested 
and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative SHERMAN of Hodgdon. 
Cosponsored by Senator MILLS of Somerset and 
'71/~ m.I!/O£~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: ANNIS of Dover-Foxcroft, BIERMAN of Sorrento, CARR of Lincoln, 
CHURCHILL of Washburn, CURLEY of Scarborough, JACKSON of Fort Kent, JOY of 
Crystal, MOORE of Standish. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Emergency preamble. Whereas. acts of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjourrunent unless enacted 
as emergencies; and 
Whereas, this 
legislation 
authorizes 
the 
Department 
of 
Professional 
and Financial Regulation, 
Board of 
Examiners 
on 
Speech-language 
Pathology 
and 
Audiology 
to 
issue 
renewal 
registrations to speech-language pathology aides who held valid 
registrations on December 31, 2004, prior to the enactment of new 
requirements beginning January 1, 2005; and 
Whereas, if 
the 
Board 
of 
Examiners 
on 
Speech-language 
Pathology and Audiology is not granted additional authority, it 
will not be feasible for many speech-language pathology aides to 
comply with the new requirements for registration and they will 
therefore 
be 
denied 
an 
opportunity 
to 
continue 
providing 
a 
valuable service to the citizens of the State: and 
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 enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 
Transition provisions. 
Notwithstanding 
the 
Maine 
Revised Statutes, Title 
32, 
section 
6004, 
subsection 
2, 
the 
Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, 
Board of 
Examiners 
on 
Speech-language 
Pathology 
and 
Audiology 
is 
authorized to delay application of the requirements of Title 32, 
section 6004, subsection 2 to speech-language pathology aides who 
held valid registrations on December 31, 2004. 
These registrants 
will be accorded not less than 2 years but no more than 4 years 
to 
comply 
with 
these 
requirements. 
This 
transition is 
not 
intended 
to 
prevent 
timely 
consideration 
by 
the 
Board 
of 
Examiners 
on 
Speech-language 
Pathology 
and 
Audiology 
of 
applications for registration for individuals who have or will 
have complied with the requirements under Title 32, section 6004, 
subsection 2. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this Act takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This 
bill 
provides 
speech-language 
additional time to meet 
the requirements for 
speech-language pathology assistants. 
pathology 
aides 
registration as