A highlight of the twelfth annual conference of the National Council of State Boards of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (NCSB) occurred when Suzanne Pevey, LBESPA Board Administrator was presented with the Honors of the Association. Ms. Pevey, the first Executive Secretary for NCSB, was recognized for the many contributions she has made to licensure boards through the years. LBESPA has been the fortunate recipient of so many of those contributions. The Board is grateful that the excellence, and energies of our Board Administrator have earned this national recognition.

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EXAMS COPYRIGHTED

Following the passage of ACT 892 in 1995, and the adoption of the Rules and Regulations, LBESPA developed multiple choice examinations covering each of these documents. The exams, developed as an educational tool, are given in an open book format. A third examination on Ethical Questions and Situations has also been developed. This examination draws from a pool of ethical questions/situations related to the area of licensure, the level of the licensee, and the reason for which the exam is being administered.

The examinations have been used in a variety of situations primarily to educate and inform the licensee. Education of licensees is a primary commitment of LBESPA in its consumer protection efforts. The exams may also be used among the sanctions resulting from hearings, or as a condition of a consent order/agreement signed by individuals who begin working before applying for a license.

Because of the interest generated by the examinations on the Act and on Rules and Regulations, LBESPA applied for copyrights on each of them. Copyright assures that the examinations cannot be circulated. Effective May 19, 1999, these examinations were registered as a secure test with the US Copyright Office in Washington, D.C. and are now stamped with an official Library of Congress seal. LBESPA has not yet applied for copyright on the Ethical Questions and Situations test. Several other states have developed examinations on their statutes, but LBESPA is the first state board to obtain a copyright.

LBESPA Board Member, Glenn Waguespack, was the Program Chair and President-Elect of the National Council of State Boards of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (NCSB). The theme of this year's conference, held in Wilmington, North Carolina in October 1999 was "Legal Issues in the Regulation and Practice of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology."

LBESPA was represented by board members, Theresa Rodgers, Annie Mouton, Steve Harris, Hope Hebert and Waguespack, as well as Board Administrator, Suzanne Pevey, and Board Attorney, Ayn Stehr.

Waguespack reports, "It was a pleasure 'showing off' how Louisiana board members, the board administrator, and the board attorney all worked together for a common goal."

Theresa Rodgers is the Program Chair for next year's meeting in San Diego, continuing to focus a national spotlight on the Louisiana Board.

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LBESPA MEMBERS PRESENT AT ASHA

Board members, Robin Morehouse, Theresa Rodgers, and Glenn Waguespack presented a seminar entitled "Support Personnel: A Model for the Millennium" at the November 1999 ASHA convention. Information shared included the implementation of guidelines for use of assistants and provisional speech-language pathology assistants in Louisiana, and results of 1996 and 1998 surveys of assistants and supervisors.

Audience members were from both states with guidelines for use of support personnel and states contemplating the implementation of guidelines. Lively discussion revealed varying opinions on educational and practicum requirements for assistants.

LBESPA board members urged development of guidelines representing best practice patterns in respective states. The bottom-line is insurance of protection for consumers of speech-language pathology and audiology services.

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LICENSE SURRENDER FOR PROVISIONAL ASSISTANTS

Board Chair, Robin Morehouse, informed Provisional Speech-Language Pathology Assistants by memorandum of the Board decision to permit provisional assistants to surrender their license if they are unable to find employment in the area of speech-language pathology. Surrender freezes the time remaining on the three-year period allowed to complete the license requirements. This decision was the result of the Board's recognition of the shortage of positions for Provisional Speech-Language Pathology Assistants in Louisiana at this time.

Requirements to surrender a license include:

Requirements on reinstatement of a license include:

In addition to attending the NCSB and ASHA meetings some board members participated in other national meetings related to licensure. Hope Hebert, Public Member of LBESPA, attended the Citizen Advocacy Center Annual Convention in November 1999. Issues of concern to consumers of services discussed at this convention included: continuing education and competence, a national database of practitioner profiles, prevention of health problems, education of consumers and effective use of public members on licensure boards. An underlying theme of the conference was the important role of the Public Member in focusing all Board Members on their job of representing consumers. Hebert states, "I am proud and honored to sit . . . on this board and am very confident that we are all looking out for the consumer's best interest."

Board Administrator, Suzanne Pevey, attended the 19th annual meeting of the Council for Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation (CLEAR) in September 1999. Individual sessions of particular interest included: scopes of practice and continuing competence, strategic planning, supervising problem employees, dealing with difficult complainants and licensees, staff and board relationships, providing consumer education, and data management to eliminate paperwork. Pevey "feel[s] that it is a worthwhile expenditure of the Board's resources for board members and staff to attend [CLEAR] on a regular basis."

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

a. July 1-31: The fee is raised to $100.

b. August 1-October 31: The fee is raised to $200.

C. After October 31, the license is lapsed. To reinstate with a new application prior to the following June 30, the fees are: application fee $100, delinquency fee $200.

When the licensure law was revised in 1995, much of the detail of implementation was established in the rules and regulations. This makes it possible to maintain flexibility to change requirements when necessary. The Board plans to reevaluate the Rules and Regulations in early 2000. Input from licensees about perceived areas of difficulty is welcome.

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NEW VIDEOS

The following titles have been acquired for LBESPA's video lending library. This library is maintained for licensees' use for continuing education. Additional titles are available from the Board Office.

Individuals with Communication Disabilities by Marc Fey, Ph.D., University of Kansas Medical Center

Facilitating Change in Preschoolers with Language Disorders during Intervention by Jeanette Leonard, M.S. and Lisa Goffman, Ph.D., Purdue University

Literacy Based Strategies for Improving Speech and Language Skills in Young Children by Lori Stewart Gonzalez, Ph.D., and Sharon Stewart, Ed.D., University of Kentucky

Hispanic Preschoolers: Second Language Acquisition, Classroom Intervention, and Parents Program by Hortencia Kayser, Ph.D., New Mexico State University.

Providing to Children with Hearing Loss by Mary Pat Moeller, M.S.

Measuring Outcomes as Proof of Quality in School Programs for Children with Communication Disorders by Diane L. Eger, Ph.D.

Oral-Motor Skills: Development and Implications for Speaking and Eating by Julie Haarbauer-Krupa, M A.

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OPEN BOOK EXAMINATION

The individuals listed practiced more than 10 days in the State of Louisiana without applying for a license in accordance with La. R.S. 37: 2652. By Board policy, these individuals took and passed an Open Book Examination on the Practice Act, Rules, Regulations and Procedures and Ethical Situations in order to receive their license.

Patricia Carbajal, License #2969, was sanctioned by the Board on December 27, 1998, and given a public reprimand for violation of LSA R.S. 37:2652, R.S. 2662, A. (4), (5), (6), and (8) and Chapter 7. Code of Ethics, Rules No. 701.A., B., C., D., 1., 1., and E.1.I., Principle of Ethics 701. E.II., 701 E. 11.a.b., and e., Principle of Ethics 701. E. III. a., c., and d., Principle of Ethics 701. E. II., 701. E. IV., b., d., and g., relative to her practice as a speech-language pathologist without a license.

Loretta C. Jacobs, License #1414, was sanctioned by the board on October 12, 1998, and given a public reprimand for violation of LSA R.S. 37: 2652, R.S. 37: 2662. A. (2), (4), and (6), and Chapter 7. Code of Ethics, Principle of Ethics III. (A), Principle of Ethics IV. (B), and (g)., relative to her practice as a speech-language pathologist without a current license.

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MEETING DATES FOR 2000

Robin Morehouse, L-AUD, Chair

Glenn M. Waguespack, L-AUD, Vice-Chair

Stephen J. Harris, L-AUD/L-SLP, Sec./Treas

Theresa H. Rodgers, L-SLP, Board Member

Annie L. Mouton, L-SLP, Board Member

Hope D. Hebert, Public Member

Lawrence Braud, M.D., Medical Advisor

Make plans now to attend the continuing education workshop to be help in Lafayette on April 1, 2000. Details will be forthcoming.

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