(1) The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that:
Speech-language pathology services are provided for the purpose of improving theabilities of those who have congenital or acquired speech, language, cognitive, feeding, and swallowing deficits;
Speech-language pathologists provide specific therapy and treatments that are relatedto the effects of medical or dental diagnoses or congenital, genetic, or developmental conditions but do not provide medical or dental procedures, medications, or interventions that constitute the practice of medicine or dentistry;
The professional roles and activities in speech-language pathology include clinicaland educational services, which include evaluation, assessment, planning, and treatment; prevention and advocacy; education; administration; and research;
This article 305 is necessary to safeguard public health, safety, and welfare and toprotect the public from incompetent, unethical, or unauthorized persons.
(2) The general assembly further determines that it is the purpose of this article 305 to:
Regulate persons who are representing or holding themselves out as speech-languagepathologists or who are performing services that constitute speech-language pathology; and
Exclude from regulation under this article 305 those school speech-language pathologists who are paid solely by an administrative unit or state-operated program.
Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 1591, § 1, effective October 1.
Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 12-43.7-102 as it existed prior to 2019.