Subdivision 1. Membership. The commissioner shall appoint 12 persons to a Speech-Language Pathologist and Audiologist Advisory Council. The 12 persons must include:

(1) three public members, as defined in section 214.02. Two of the public members shall be either persons receiving services of a speech-language pathologist or audiologist, or family members of or caregivers to such persons, and at least one of the public members shall be either a hearing instrument user or an advocate of one;

(2) three speech-language pathologists licensed under sections 148.511 to 148.5198, one of whom is currently and has been, for the five years immediately preceding the appointment, engaged in the practice of speech-language pathology in Minnesota and each of whom is employed in a different employment setting including, but not limited to, private practice, hospitals, rehabilitation settings, educational settings, and government agencies;

(3) one speech-language pathologist licensed under sections 148.511 to 148.5198, who is currently and has been, for the five years immediately preceding the appointment, employed by a Minnesota public school district or a Minnesota public school district consortium that is authorized by Minnesota Statutes and who is licensed in speech-language pathology by the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board;

(4) three audiologists licensed under sections 148.511 to 148.5198, two of whom are currently and have been, for the five years immediately preceding the appointment, engaged in the practice of audiology and the dispensing of hearing instruments in Minnesota and each of whom is employed in a different employment setting including, but not limited to, private practice, hospitals, rehabilitation settings, educational settings, industry, and government agencies;

(5) one nonaudiologist hearing instrument dispenser recommended by a professional association representing hearing instrument dispensers; and

(6) one physician licensed under chapter 147 and certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery.

Subd. 2. Organization. The advisory council shall be organized and administered under section 15.059.

Subd. 3. Duties. The advisory council shall:

(1) advise the commissioner regarding speech-language pathologist and audiologist licensure standards;

(2) advise the commissioner regarding the delegation of duties to and the training required for speech-language pathology assistants;

(3) advise the commissioner on enforcement of sections 148.511 to 148.5198;

(4) provide for distribution of information regarding speech-language pathologist and audiologist licensure standards;

(5) review applications and make recommendations to the commissioner on granting or denying licensure or licensure renewal;

(6) review reports of investigations relating to individuals and make recommendations to the commissioner as to whether licensure should be denied or disciplinary action taken against the individual;

(7) advise the commissioner regarding approval of continuing education activities provided by sponsors using the criteria in section 148.5193, subdivision 2; and

(8) perform other duties authorized for advisory councils under chapter 214, or as directed by the commissioner.

History: 1996 c 363 s 14; 2000 c 460 s 31; 2003 c 87 s 46; 2004 c 279 art 1 s 18; 2005 c 147 art 7 s 8,19; 1Sp2017 c 5 art 12 s 22