OAA Advocacy Alert:

The OAA Legislation and Policy Committee is following Oregon SB 124, a bill which would add a SLPA member to the Oregon Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.  The board is currently comprised of two audiologists, two speech-language pathologists, two consumers, and one ENT. 

Oregon Academy of Audiology opposes this bill as it is written.  OAA, the primary organization representing audiologists in Oregon, was not involved in the process of drafting of this legislation.  This limited audiology’s voice in the creation of legislation that directly affects audiologists’ licensing board. 

Additionally, OAA is concerned that adding a SLPA board member will create an imbalance between audiology and SLP representation.  OAA cannot offer support to a bill which would effectively reduce the weight of audiology’s voice in any policy making body.

Finally, while SLPAs are certified by the licensing board, they are not licensed providers.  Their scopes of practice and day-to-day activities are largely dictated by their supervising SLPs.  Practical, administrative, and ethical issues that may arise around SLPAs would predominantly need to be remedied at the level of the SLPs.  Further, even without a board member SLPAs still retain the right to attend board meetings and access to the members and resources of the licensing board.

Unfortunately, SB 124 has already passed the Oregon Senate and has moved on to the House.  It is currently in the House Committee on Healthcare, where it has a public hearing scheduled for Thursday, April 29^th.  OAA encourages all its members to submit testimony – either written or oral – to share their views on this legislation.  Below is information on the bill as well as on how to submit testimony.

Bill Information:

• ·       SB 124 text:  https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2021R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/SB124/Introduced
• ·       SB 124 legislation page:  https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2021R1/Measures/Overview/SB124
• ·       Public hearing information:
• ·       https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2021R1/Committees/HHC/2021-04-29-03-15/Agenda

Written Testimony:

• ·       Electronically: https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2021R1/Testimony/HHC
• ·       Mail: House Committee on Health Care
• 900 Court Street NE, Room 453

                         Salem, OR 97301

• ·       Written testimony may be submitted up to 24 hours after the meeting start time.

Register to Testify Live Remotely:

• Registration is required to testify by phone or video.
• Register online: https://survey.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9GGcXHWVskYPXZI

• You will see a confirmation screen and be sent an email with information on how to join the meeting.

• Register by phone: 833-588-4500. You will be given a phone number to call into the meeting.
• Registration closes at the time the meeting is scheduled to begin.