WSR 15-03-068

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed January 15, 2015, 1:29 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 246-828 WAC, Hearing and speech, the board of hearing and speech (board) will open the chapter to implement EHB 2108 (chapter 189, Laws of 2014) to establish standards for a nine-month certificate as a route to licensure for hearing aid specialists. The board will consider general housekeeping amendments, continuing education and exam standard updates, adding a provision for temporary practice permits for military spouses, and updating sexual misconduct rules.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapter 18.35 RCW, EHB 2108, RCW 18.35.161, 18.130.062, and 18.130.020.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The board is considering adding continuing education (CE) requirements for speech-language pathology assistants, adding multicultural education as an acceptable CE category, updating exam standards, updating sexual misconduct rules, and adding a provision for a temporary practice permit for military spouses. In addition, EHB 2108 changed the hearing instrument fitter/dispenser credential to a hearing aid specialist credential and added a route to licensure for hearing aid specialists that includes a practical exam and a nine-month certificate from a hearing aid specialist program. Rules are needed to implement the requirements. The board will also consider general housekeeping updates to the chapter.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: State board for community and technical colleges, the board is coordinating with hearing aid specialist programs to identify nine-month certificate programs that may be available.

Process for Developing New Rule: Collaborative rule making.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication. Interested parties can participate in the rule-making process by providing comments on proposed language and/or attending a rules workshop. Notices will be sent to interested parties through listserv and e-mail. Send written comments to Janette Benham, Program Manager, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, phone (360) 236-4857, fax (360) 236-2901, or e-mail janette.benham@doh.wa.gov.

January 14, 2015

James E. Deal

Chair