in-20260805-IR-880260258FNA: INTERSTATE COMPACT AND LATE LICENSE RENEWAL FEES

TITLE 880 SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY AND AUDIOLOGY BOARD Notice of First Public Comment Period LSA Document #26-258 INTERSTATE COMPACT AND LATE LICENSE RENEWAL FEES PURPOSE OF NOTICE The Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board (board) is soliciting public comment on amending 880 IAC 1-1-5 concerning the addition of: (1) a late license renewal fee of $50; (2) an Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact privilege application fee of $50; and (3) an Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact privilege renewal fee of $50. ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS Regulatory Analysis: 20260805-IR-880260258RAA Notice of Public Hearing: 20260805-IR-880260258PHA CITATIONS AFFECTED: 880 IAC 1-1-5 AUTHORITY: IC 25-1-8-2; IC 25-35.6-2-2 OVERVIEW Basic Purpose and Background Prior to the passing of House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1623-2023, the Indiana professional licensing agency and its various professional boards historically charged a $50 late license renewal fee. Licensees that are licensed under the board are required to renew their licenses biannually in odd-numbered years. The purpose of the proposed addition of the $50 late license renewal fee is to reinstate the ability to collect late renewal fees charged to licensees by the board in conformance with IC 4-22-2-19.6(b), enacted after HEA 1623, and IC 25-1-8-6. The late license renewal fee was reviewed and approved by the budget committee on April 19, 2024. Licensees who fail to renew on a timely basis are the primary parties impacted by the amendment. Secondly, Senate Enrolled Act 5-2022 adopted the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact (interstate compact) on July 1, 2022. The interstate compact is a multi-state agreement that creates a new pathway to practice in Indiana, and allows audiologists and speech-language pathologists that are licensed in a member state to obtain mutual recognition of their licenses in other member states through a single platform. The board determined that a $50 fee for the issuance of a compact privilege is necessary to cover administrative expenditures, as well as a $50 fee to renew a compact privilege every two years, in accordance with the profession's renewal cycle. The parties impacted by the interstate compact fees are audiologists and speech-language pathologists who are licensed in good standing and who wish to become a member of the interstate compact. The implementation costs of the proposed rule are not expected to exceed the threshold set in IC 4-22-2-22.7(c)(6). For purposes of IC 4-22-2-28.1, small businesses affected by this rulemaking may contact the Small Business Regulatory Coordinator: For purposes of IC 4-22-2-28.1, the Small Business Ombudsman designated by IC 5-28-17-6 is: Resources available to regulated entities through the small business ombudsman include the ombudsman's duties stated in IC 5-28-17-6, specifically IC 5-28-17-6(9), investigating and attempting to resolve any matter regarding compliance by a small business with a law, rule, or policy administered by a state agency, either as a party to a proceeding or as a mediator. REQUEST FOR PUBLIC COMMENT The board is soliciting public comment on the proposed rule. Comments may be submitted in one of the following ways: COMMENT PERIOD DEADLINE All comments must be postmarked or time-stamped not later than September 4, 2026. The rule, Regulatory Analysis, appendices referenced in the Regulatory Analysis, and materials incorporated by reference (if applicable) are on file at the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, 402 West Washington Street, Room W072, Indianapolis, Indiana and are available for public inspection. Copies of the rule, Regulatory Analysis, and appendices referenced in the Regulatory Analysis are available at the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency office. If the board does not receive substantive comments during the public comment period or public hearing, the rule may be adopted with text that is the same as or does not substantially differ from the text of the proposed rule published in this notice. PROPOSED RULE 880 IAC 1-1-5 Fees Sec. 5. The following fees apply to licensed speech-language pathologists and audiologists: Application/issuance fee (nonrefundable) $150 License renewal (December 31 of each odd-numbered year) $100 Support personnel registration $50 Renewal of support personnel registration (annually on December 31) $25 Registration of an individual participating in a supervised experience year $50 Duplicate license $10 Verification of licensure $10 Late license renewal fee $50 Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact privilege application $50 Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact privilege renewal $50 (Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board; Reg PA-1, Ch V; filed Dec 4, 1974, 12:54 p.m.: Rules and Regs. 1975, p. 323; filed Jan 5, 1977, 3:30 p.m.: Rules and Regs. 1978, p. 317; filed May 30, 1985, 10:25 a.m.: 8 IR 1306; filed Apr 30, 1986, 9:42 a.m.: 9 IR 2206; filed Mar 8, 1988, 2:08 p.m.: 11 IR 2631; filed May 20, 1996, 3:00 p.m.: 19 IR 2881; readopted filed Dec 2, 2001, 12:35 p.m.: 25 IR 1345; readopted filed Jul 19, 2007, 12:51 p.m.: 20070808-IR-880070069RFA; filed Aug 25, 2008, 3:07 p.m.: 20080924-IR-880070671FRA; readopted filed Dec 1, 2014, 8:41 a.m.: 20141231-IR-880140397RFA; readopted filed Oct 28, 2020, 1:59 p.m.: 20201125-IR-880200444RFA) Documents Incorporated by Reference: None Received by Publisher Small Business Regulatory Coordinator: Barbara A. Killian, Associate General Counsel, Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, 402 West Washington Street, Room W072, Indianapolis, IN 46204, (317) 489-3444, bkillian@pla.in.gov