Governmental Affairs

Deborah Harman, Committee Chair & President-Elect

Legislator Information by District...click here

Greetings ISHA Members!

The 2008 legislative session of the Indiana General Assembly has recently come to a close.   As you may have noticed, this was a relatively quiet year for ISHA’s most influential lobbyists…YOU!   However the legislative team wants to thank ISHA members from key districts called upon to educate their legislators about the dangers of lowering of licensure standards for school-based SLPs.  The specific talking points document developed as a resource for these members titled, “Talking Points: Maintaining Standards for SLPs” is available for you to download at www.islha.org.  The legislative team will continue to monitor this issue.

The Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board under the Professional Licensing Agency continues to work on the rules (Title 880) associated with our state licensure law which was revised in 2005.  ISHA had representation at each of the SLPA Board meetings again this year.  The rulemaking process continues to move painfully slowly.  A “Notice of Intent to Adopt a Rule” was posted on October 17, 2007.  ISHA hoped to advance the rulemaking process by suggesting specific revisions that streamline the process for registration and renewal of registration for support personnel.   A hearing date is in the process of being scheduled.  You may be called upon to attend this meeting!  Please watch your email for details!  Meanwhile, you may indicate your support for adoption of rules to implement our 2005 statute by signing the petition being circulated during Convention.

Note: If you are interested in attending a meeting of the SLPA Board, visit their home page at http://www.in.gov/pla/bandc/slpab/ and click on “Meeting Dates” for the schedule. 

The Indiana Department of Education’s Division of Professional Standards has resolved all issues related to licensing Clinical Fellows in Speech-Language Pathology as of August 2007.  Anyone wishing to complete their Clinical Fellowship in the schools will be given an “Initial Practitioner” license and use the CF experience as an equivalent to the Indiana Mentoring and Assessment Program (IMAP).  A handout with details is available at www.ishla.org.  Once a clinician has proof of holding the CCC-SLP and a current license from the IPLA, they may obtain the Proficient Practitioner license from the Division of Professional Standards. 

Proposed Article 7 is complete and the Notice of Intent to Adopt a Rule has been posted.  Locations and times for public hearings to be held across the state are available at http://www.doe.state.in.us/exceptional/advisory/welcome.html along with a draft of the proposed Article 7 you can download.  The scheduled hearings are your opportunity to comment on the revisions included in the proposed rule.  Our thanks go to those members who attended the public forums on Article 7 held in September and shared the ISHA Talking Points.  Most of the recommendations provided during the public forums and in follow-up conversations with the Division of Exceptional Learners have been included in the current proposed rule.  A chart outlining our successful advocacy efforts is posted at www.islha.org.  Soon, ISHA’s Legislative Team in collaboration with ISHA’s School Services Team will review the proposed rule and testify as appropriate on behalf of the association during the public hearings.  Please send constructive comments and concerns regarding proposed Article 7 to our attention at dharmanslp@aol.com and I will forward them to the legislative team members.

Legislative Day took on different look during the 2008 short session.  We are pleased to report that ISHA effectively modified its approach to grassroots advocacy by having a boxed lunch delivered to YOUR senator in the senate chamber on February 27th .    IndyAnna’s Catering handled the job is style!  Please consider contacting your legislator and being a “lunchtime lobbyist” this summer.  Our legislators need to be educated regarding issues related to reimbursement and encroachment in Indiana as well as problems associated with lowering standards for licensure and high caseloads in our schools.  Each of these issues impacts Indiana consumers.  As a constituent you have the greatest chance of making an impact!    

Finally, and most importantly…

WE NEED ISHA MEMBERS in every Indiana legislative district!  We STILL have key districts where we have NO MEMBERS!  Please invite your colleagues to join ISHA and grow our grassroots advocacy network!

Thank You!

Debbie Harman, President-Elect

Legislative Team Leader

Team Members

Mary Jo Germani, President

Bonnie Hertzog, SEAL

Kristi Lofland, ISHA/ICASE Task Force

Paul Kreimer, VP Audiology

Kay Olges, Past President

Ann Bilodeau, Past President

Mark Scherer, Lobbyist