HB 442: SPEECH/PATH/AUDIO: Provides relative to the practice of audiology and speech-language pathology - Louisiana

Senate Floor Bureau Note, #3091, McMath, Adopted → HB442 Act · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was finalized and enacted into law, transitioning from a draft amendment stage to an official act. The text was cleaned up to remove formatting errors and duplicate words (e.g., 'The The', 'Training Training') that appeared in the previous draft version. The substantive legal content regarding audiologist definitions, licensure requirements, and scope of practice remains consistent with the prior draft.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on regulating audiology and speech-language pathology in Louisiana; no new populations or geographic areas were added or removed.

TECHNICAL

Removed the header indicating 'Senate Floor Amendments' and replaced it with the official 'ENROLLED' status, signifying the bill has passed all legislative stages.

Corrected multiple instances of duplicated words (e.g., 'For the The', 'Training Training', 'making Making') to ensure the legal text is clear and readable.

Changed the page count reference from 'Page 1 of 1' to 'Page 1 of 6' to reflect the final length of the enrolled act.

Updated the session header to include the specific Act number (363) and confirmed the session year (2025).

DEFINITION

Clarified the definition of 'licensed audiologist' to explicitly exclude individuals holding only provisional or restricted licenses.

HB442 Original → Senate Floor Bureau Note, #3091, McMath, Adopted · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill was amended to fix a numbering error in the list of required coursework for audiologists. The Senate changed a reference from '(iii)(vii)' to '(iii)(vi)', ensuring the list of specific training topics aligns correctly with the bill's structure.

TECHNICAL

Corrected a line numbering error in the list of required coursework topics for audiologists, changing the reference from item (iii)(vii) to (iii)(vi).

HB442 Enrolled → HB442 Original · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was reclassified from 'Enrolled' to 'Original' status, indicating it is now in its initial drafting phase rather than its final approved version. Substantive text changes include the addition of a speech and pathology scope and the reorganization of audiologist licensing requirements, specifically renumbering clinical training hours and adding new business management coursework. These modifications appear to be part of a legislative revision process to refine the definitions and training standards for audiology practitioners.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include speech-language pathology in addition to audiology, and the specific training requirements for hearing aid dispensing were restructured to include business management and marketing strategies.

SCOPE

Added speech-language pathology to the bill's title and scope, broadening the legislation beyond just audiology.

REQUIREMENT

Reorganized the list of required coursework for hearing aid dispensing, adding business management and marketing strategies while renumbering existing items.

DEFINITION

Reordered the definition of a 'licensed audiologist' to clarify that it excludes individuals with provisional or restricted licenses.

TECHNICAL

Changed the document status from 'Enrolled' (final) to 'Original' (draft) and updated page counts from 6 to 8.

HB442 Engrossed → HB442 Enrolled · 4 edits · Jun 20, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was finalized as an enrolled version, removing a speech-language pathology title and streamlining the text. Substantively, it expanded the definition of audiology to include vestibular system disorders and clarified that 'licensed audiologists' do not include those with provisional or restricted licenses. It also updated the specific coursework and clinical training requirements for audiologists who fit and sell hearing aids.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed by removing the speech-language pathology title and clarifying that individuals with provisional or restricted licenses are excluded from the definition of 'licensed audiologist'.

DEFINITION

Removed the title 'Speech-Language Pathology/Audiology' and the associated prefile statement.

Added a clause stating that 'licensed audiologist' does not apply to individuals holding provisional or restricted licenses.

Expanded the definition of 'practice of audiology' to explicitly include services for vestibular system disorders upon physician referral.

REQUIREMENT

Reorganized and clarified the specific coursework and clinical practicum hours required for audiologists fitting and selling hearing aids.

SPEECH/PATH/AUDIO: Provides relative to the practice of audiology and speech-language pathology

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