By Samantha Fidel
On September 6, 2024, the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board (SLPA) adopted a regulatory change regarding continuing professional development requirements. The proposed changes would amend sections 1399.160, 1399.160.1, 1399.160.2, 1399.160.3, and 1399.160.4 of Division 13.4 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations.
The SLPA Board establishes requirements regarding the number of hours licensees must complete for continuing professional development (CPD). Additionally, the Board is responsible for approving and certifying CPD providers and courses. The Board permits some CPD to be completed through self-study, where a licensee can learn at the time and place of their choosing. According to its Initial Statement of Reasons, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it became unclear to licensees whether a CPD course delivered online is considered self-study. The Board asserts that the proposed regulatory changes will clarify definitions to reflect advancements made to CPD courses offered online, increase the number of self-study hours allowed to half the total required CPD hours, and clarify current regulations by making CPD requirements consistent with the Board’s CPD audit process and professional learning requirements for similar license types and course content.
The Board published its notice of proposed regulatory action on June 28, 2023, and held several notice and comment periods after that. The initial 45-day public comment period began on October 6, 2023, and ended on November 21, 2023. The Board did not hold a public hearing for this proposed regulatory action, nor was one requested from any interested person. During this comment period, the Board received fifteen written comments, and during their December 2023 Board meeting, the Board considered the comments and modified the proposed regulatory text. On December 8, 2023, the Board issued a 15-day notice of availability of the modified text, and the comment period closed on December 26, 2023. The Board received a total of twelve comments regarding the modified text. During its March 2024 meeting, the Board considered these comments and issued a proposed second modified regulatory text.
On March 8, 2024, the Board issued a 15-day notice of availability of the second modified text and new documents, and the comment period closed on March 25, 2024. The Board received a total of six comments during this comment period. During the June 12, 2024, Board meeting, the Board considered these written comments and declined to change the proposed regulatory text. However, the Board issued a third modified text due to the Office of Administrative (OAL) recommendations regarding a separate proposed rulemaking. On May 14, 2024, the Board issued a 15-day notice of availability of the third modified text and new documents, and the comment period closed on May 29, 2024. The Board received two hundred ninety-three comments on the third modified text, but the Board opined that all the comments were unrelated to the proposed modified text. Therefore, during the July 18, 2024, Board meeting, the Board declined to change the third proposed regulatory language. Subsequently, the Board closed and reopened rulemaking several times to incorporate recommended modifications from OAL but claimed these changes were without regulatory effect. The Board submitted its Final Statement of Reason in July 2024.
OAL approved the amendments and filed the approved text with the Secretary of State on September 6, 2024. These amendments will become effective January 1, 2025.