Missouri Senate

House Committee Amendment

The act also modifies provisions of law relating to the licensing of speech-language pathologists and audiologists.

The act provides that a speech-language pathology assistant must work under the direction of a speech-language pathologist who has been practicing for at least one year and is licensed by the state, employed by a federal agency, or licensed by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

An applicant for registration with the Board as a speech-language pathology assistant must submit to the Board supervising speech-language pathologist information if employment is confirmed, and if not then such information must be provided after registration. An applicant must complete bachelor's level course work and clinical requirements in the field of speech-language pathology as established by the Board through rules and regulations.

The act repeals the requirement that a corporation engaged in the business of speech-language pathology or audiology who employs licensed persons must file a statement with the Board specifying that the corporation submits itself to the rules and regulations of the Board.

Current licensing requirements do not apply to a person who holds a valid certificate as a speech-language pathologist issued by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. This act states that licensing requirements shall not apply to such persons who hold a current certificate issued by the Department prior to January 1, 2016. Licensing requirements shall also not apply to a person completing the required number of clinical hours required to obtain registration as a speech-language pathology assistant as long as the person is under the direct supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist and has not completed more than the number of hours required.

The act repeals provisions of law which require an applicant for licensure as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist to present written evidence of completion of a clinical fellowship.

This act states that following administrative hearing proceedings and a finding that grounds for disciplinary action have been met the Board may restrict or limit the person's ability to practice for an indefinite period of time.

The act also states that no person who has served as a member of the Advisory Commission for Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologist for two consecutive terms may be reappointed until a lapse of a least two years has occurred following the completion of the persons two consecutive terms.

Provisions of this act are identical to SCS/SB 146 (2015) and similar to SB 885 (2014).

JESSI BAKER

HCA 1 - THIS AMENDMENT PROVIDES THAT INDIVIDUALS MAY ENGAGE IN THE OCCUPATION OF THEIR CHOICE, FREE FROM UNREASONABLE GOVERNMENT REGULATION. THE STATE MAY NOT IMPOSE A SUBSTANTIAL BURDEN ON AN INDIVIDUAL'S PURSUIT OF HIS OR HER OCCUPATION UNLESS THERE IS A COMPELLING INTEREST FOR THE STATE TO PROTECT THE GENERAL WELFARE.

ALL BILLS INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATURE TO REGULATE AN OCCUPATION FOR THE FIRST TIME SHALL BE REVIEWED ACCORDING TO THE CRITERIA PROVIDED IN THE AMENDMENT. ANY OCCUPATIONAL GROUP, ORGANIZATION, OR INDIVIDUAL PROPOSING THAT AN OCCUPATION OR PROFESSION BE REGULATED FOR THE FIRST TIME SHALL PROVIDE CERTAIN INFORMATION AND SUBMIT A WRITTEN REPORT TO LEGISLATIVE STANDING COMMITTEES DESIGNATED TO CONSIDER PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO REGULATE OCCUPATIONS NOT PREVIOUSLY REGULATED.

HCA 2 - THE AMENDMENT ADDS THAT THE DESIGNATED BOARD OR COMMISSION OR THE DIVISION OF PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION WHO REGULATES THE FOLLOWING PROFESSIONS MAY ISSUE EDUCATIONAL OPINIONS: CEMETERIES, BOXING AND WRESTLING, STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTANCY, BOARD FOR ARCHITECTS, PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS, PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYORS, AND PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS, BOARD OF COSMETOLOGY AND BARBER EXAMINERS, SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS AND AUDIOLOGISTS, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS, CLINICAL PERFUSIONISTS, DIETICIANS, MASSAGE THERAPY, INTERIOR DESIGN, ACUPUNCTURE, TATTOO ARTISTS, HOUSEMOVERS, AND PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS.

HCA 3 - THIS AMENDMENT PROVIDES THAT SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY ASSISTANTS SHALL PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION AS REQUIRED BY THE STATE BOARD OF REGISTRATION FOR THE HEALING ARTS.

HCA 4 - UNDER CURRENT LAW, A VICTIM OF A CRIME SHALL ONLY RECEIVE COMPENSATION FROM THE CRIME VICTIMS' COMPENSATION FUND FOR PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT OR COUNSELING SERVICES PROVIDED BY A PROVIDER LISTED IN STATUTE. THIS AMENDMENT ADDS CERTIFIED PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL HEALTH CLINICAL NURSE SPECIALIST OR BOARD CERTIFIED PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONER TO THIS LIST OF QUALIFIED PROVIDERS.

HCA 5- THIS AMENDMENT ALLOWS CERTAIN ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS, AND ASSISTANT PHYSICIANS TO PRESCRIBE SCHEDULE II - HYDROCODONE. HYDROCODONE PRESCRIPTIONS ARE LIMITED TO A ONE FIVE DAY SUPPLY WITHOUT REFILL.

HCA 6 - THE AMENDMENT ALSO STATES THAT A PERSON WHO OWNS A CEMETERY IS AUTHORIZED TO DISINTER AN INDIVIDUAL'S REMAINS AND REBURY OR REINTER THE REMAINS AT ANOTHER LOCATION PURSUANT TO WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS SIGNED AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY A PERSON WHO WAS THE NEXT-OF KIN, AS DEFINED IN STATUTE, AT THE TIME OF DEATH. IF THE NEXT-OF-KIN AT THE TIME OF DEATH IS NO LONGER LIVING THEN A MAJORITY OF CERTAIN ADULT MEMBERS, AS SPECIFIED IN STATUTE, MAY AUTHORIZE THE DISINTERMENT.

CURRENTLY, CEMETERY OWNERS ARE NOT LIABLE TO THE DECEASED PERSON'S FAMILY FOR A DISINTERMENT, RELOCATION OR DELIVERY OF DECEASED HUMAN REMAINS PERFORMED PURSUANT TO STATUTE. THIS AMENDMENT PROVIDES THAT CEMETERY OWNERS, CEMETERY OPERATORS, FUNERAL DIRECTORS, FUNERAL ESTABLISHMENT OR ANY OTHER ENTITY INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE IN SUCH SITUATIONS.

HCA 7- THE AMENDMENT ADDS ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES, ASSISTANT PHYSICIANS, AND PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS TO THE LIST OF THOSE WHO MAY COMPLETE THE MEDICAL CERTIFICATION OF DEATH, DEATH CERTIFICATE, AND AUTHORIZATION FOR THE FINAL DISPOSITION OF A THE DECEDENT'S BODY. THE PERSON AUTHORIZED TO COMPLETE MEDICAL CERTIFICATION MAY DESIGNATE ANOTHER PERSON TO ENTER THE MEDICAL CERTIFICATION INFORMATION INTO THE ELECTRONIC DEATH REGISTRATION SYSTEM IF THE AUTHORIZED PERSON HAS ALREADY SIGNED A STATEMENT STATING THE CAUSE OF DEATH. ANY PERSON COMPLETING THE MEDICAL CERTIFICATION OR ENTERING DATE INTO THE ELECTRONIC DEATH REGISTRATION SYSTEM SHALL BE IMMUNE FROM CIVIL LIABILITY.

HCA 8 - THIS AMENDMENT REMOVES PROVISIONS OF LAW STATING THAT THE STATE BOARD OF REGISTRATION FOR THE HEALING ARTS SHALL NOT ISSUE PHYSICIAN OR SURGEON'S LICENSES OR ADMINISTER THE MISSOURI STATE BOARD EXAMINATION TO ANYONE WHO HAS FAILED TO ACHIEVE A PASSING SCORE ON LICENSING EXAMINATIONS WITHIN THREE ATTEMPTS.

THE AMENDMENT ALSO REMOVES THE REQUIREMENT THAT STEPS ONE, TWO, AND THREE OF THE UNITED STATES MEDICAL LICENSING EXAMINATION MUST BE TAKEN WITHIN A SEVEN YEAR PERIOD WITH NO MORE THAN THREE ATTEMPTS ON ANY STEP OF THE EXAM.

THIS AMENDMENT ALSO PROVIDES THAT THE STATE SHALL NOT REQUIRE MAINTENANCE OF LICENSURE, AS DEFINED IN THE AMENDMENT, AS A CONDITION OF PHYSICIAN LICENSURE OR ANY FORM OF SPECIALTY MEDICAL BOARD CERTIFICATION TO PRACTICE MEDICINE WITHIN THE STATE. THE STATE BOARD OF REGISTRATION FOR THE HEALING ARTS OR ANY OTHER STATE AGENCY SHALL NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST PHYSICIANS WHO DO NOT MAINTAIN SPECIALTY MEDICAL BOARD CERTIFICATION.

HCA 9 - THIS AMENDMENT ADDS LICENSED PHYSICAL THERAPISTS TO THE LIST OF HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS WHO ARE AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE STATEMENTS FOR THOSE WITH PHYSICAL CONDITIONS IN ORDER TO OBTAIN A DISABLED WINDSHIELD PLACARD FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE.