(a)  There exists within the department of health a board of examiners of speech-language pathology and audiology. The board shall consist of five (5) persons who are residents of the state and who have worked within the state for at least one year prior to their appointments.

(1)  Two (2) members shall be speech-language pathologists who have practiced speech-language pathology for at least five (5) years preceding appointment, are currently practicing speech-language pathology, and hold active and valid licensure for the practice of speech-language pathology in this state.

(2)  One member shall be an audiologist who has practiced audiology for at least five (5) years immediately preceding appointment, is currently practicing audiology, and holds active and valid licensure for the practice of audiology in this state.

(3)  One member shall be an otolaryngologist who holds certification by the American Academy of Otolaryngology — head and neck surgery, who is currently practicing otolaryngology, and holds active and valid licensure as a physician within this state.

(4)  One member shall be a representative of the consumer public who is not associated with or financially interested in the practice or business of speech-language pathology or audiology.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 5-48-2

  • Audiologist: means an individual licensed by the board to practice audiology. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-48-1
  • Audiology: means the application of principles, methods, and procedures related to hearing and the disorders of the hearing and balance systems, to related language and speech disorders, and to aberrant behavior related to hearing loss. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-48-1
  • Board: means the state board of examiners of speech-language pathology and audiology. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-48-1
  • Department: means the Rhode Island department of health. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-48-1
  • Director: means the director of the Rhode Island department of health. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-48-1
  • Person: means an individual, partnership, organization, or corporation, except that only individuals can be licensed under this chapter. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-48-1
  • Practice of audiology: means rendering or offering to render any service in audiology, including prevention, screening, and identification, evaluation, habilitation, rehabilitation; participating in environmental and occupational hearing-conservation programs, and habilitation and rehabilitation programs including hearing aid and assistive-listening-device evaluation, prescription, preparation, dispensing, and/or selling and orientation; auditory training and speech reading; conducting and interpreting tests of vestibular function and nystagmus; conducting and interpreting electrophysiological measures of the auditory pathway; cerumen management; evaluating sound environment and equipment; calibrating instruments used in testing and supplementing auditory function; and planning, directing, conducting, or supervising programs that render or offer to render any service in audiology. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-48-1
  • Practice of speech-language pathology: means rendering or offering to render any service in speech-language pathology including prevention, identification, evaluation, consultation, habilitation, rehabilitation; determining the need for augmentative communication systems, dispensing and selling these systems, and providing training in the use of these systems; and planning, directing, conducting, or supervising programs that render or offer to render any service in speech-language pathology. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-48-1
  • Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
  • Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
  • Speech-language pathology: means the application of principles, methods, and procedures for prevention, identification, evaluation, consultation, habilitation, rehabilitation, instruction, and research related to the development and disorders of human communication. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-48-1

(b)  All appointments to the board shall be for the term of three (3) years. Members shall serve until the expiration of the term for which they have been appointed or until their appointed successors are qualified.

(c)  When a vacancy upon the board occurs, the director of the department of health shall, with the approval of the governor, appoint persons who are working within the state to fill the remainder of the vacant term.

(d)  The board shall reorganize annually during the month of January and shall select a chairperson.

(e)  A majority of currently filled positions shall constitute a quorum to do business.

(f)  No person shall be appointed to serve more than two (2) consecutive terms.

(g)  The first board and all future members shall be appointed by the director of the department of health, with the approval of the governor.

(h)  The director of the department of health, with the approval of the governor, may remove any member of the board for dishonorable conduct, incompetency, or neglect of duty.

History of Section.
P.L. 1973, ch. 143, § 1; P.L. 1991, ch. 329, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 366, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 354, § 14; P.L. 2007, ch. 33, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 39, § 1.