An Act To Eliminate Dual Certification Requirements for Speech-language Pathologists
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 0129
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: HARVELL
Amends: 20-A MRSA §13011, 32 MRSA §17104

Legislative Document 
No. 129 
H.P. 111 
House of Representatives, January 20, 2011 
An Act To Eliminate Dual Certification Requirements for Speech-
language Pathologists 
Reference to the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
suggested and ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative HARVELL of Farmington. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §13011, sub-§11 is enacted to read: 
11.  Certification of license holders as speech and language clinicians.  A person 
holding a valid license as a speech-language pathologist under Title 32, section 17301 
meets the education and professional requirements established in rule adopted under 
subsection 1 for certification as a speech and language clinician.  For the purposes of this 
subsection, "speech and language clinician" means an education specialist who provides 
speech and language assessments, speech and language services for students with 
disabilities and consultative assistance for the modification and adaptation of regular 
education programs based on speech and language development. 
Sec. 2.  32 MRSA §17104, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §3 and 
affected by §5, is amended to read: 
2.  Individual holding valid and current certificate. An individual who holds a 
valid and current credential certificate as a speech-language speech and language 
clinician or a hearing clinician, issued by the Department of Education, from providing 
services within a local educational agency or an individual employed as a speech-
language pathologist or audiologist by the Federal Government, if the individual performs 
speech-language pathology or audiology services solely within the confines or under the 
jurisdiction of the organization by which that individual is employed. The individual may, 
without obtaining a license under this chapter, consult with or disseminate research 
findings and other scientific information to speech-language pathologists and audiologists 
outside the jurisdiction of the organization by which that individual is employed. The 
individual may also offer lectures to the public for a fee, monetary or other, without being 
licensed under this chapter. The individual may additionally elect to be subject to this 
chapter; or 
Sec. 3.  State Board of Education to revise rules.  The State Board of 
Education shall revise rules adopted under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, 
section 13011 to be consistent with that section of this Act that enacts Title 20-A, section 
13011, subsection 11.  Revisions to Rule 05-071, Chapter 115: Certification, 
Authorization, and Approval of Education Personnel and any other rule revisions 
necessary to implement this Act are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 
375, subchapter 2-A and must be in effect no later than December 1, 2011. 
SUMMARY 
This bill requires the State Board of Education to accept a speech-language 
pathologist licensed by the Board of Speech-language Pathology, Audiology and Hearing 
Aid Dealing and Fitting as meeting the education and professional requirements to work 
in schools as a speech and language clinician.  It directs the State Board of Education to 
revise its rules establishing eligibility requirements for speech and language clinicians 
accordingly.