Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 63.

This bill enacts the: (1) Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact; and (2) Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact. OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY LICENSURE COMPACT The stated purpose of this compact is to facilitate interstate practice of occupational therapy with the goal of improving public access to occupational therapy services. The compact contains provisions that will govern: (1) State participation in the compact. These provisions include requirements for, among other things, the state to fully participate in the data system created pursuant to the compact and have a mechanism in place for receiving and investigating complaints about licensees. The compact authorizes member states to charge a fee for granting a compact privilege; (2) Compact privileges. The compact sets out the requirements for a licensee to exercise privileges under the compact; (3) Obtaining a new home state license by virtue of compact privilege; (4) Active military personnel and spouses designating a home state under the compact; (5) Adverse actions. The compact specifies the power the home state has to impose adverse action against a licensee; (6) Establishment of the occupational therapy compact commission. The compact sets out in detail requirements for the commission; (7) Data system. The compact requires the commission to provide for the development, maintenance, and utilization of a coordinated database and reporting system containing licensure, adverse action, and investigative information on all licensed individuals in member states; and requires a member state to submit a uniform data set to the data system on all individuals to whom the compact is applicable; (8) Rulemaking; (9) Oversight, dispute resolution, and enforcement; and (10) Date of implementation of the compact, withdrawal, and amendment. The compact will come into effect on the date on which the compact statute is enacted into law in the 10th member state. The provisions, which become effective at that time, will be limited to the powers granted to the commission relating to assembly and the promulgation of rules. AUDIOLOGY AND SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY INTERSTATE COMPACT The stated purpose of the compact is to facilitate interstate practice of audiology and speech-language pathology with the goal of improving public access to audiology and speech-language pathology services. The compact contains provisions that will govern: (1) State participation in the compact. These provisions include a requirement for, among other things, the state to implement or utilize procedures for considering the criminal history records of applicants for initial privilege to practice. The compact authorizes member states to charge a fee for granting a compact privilege; (2) Compact privilege. The compact sets out the requirements for a licensee to exercise privileges under the compact; (3) Compact privilege to practice telehealth; (4) Active duty military personnel and spouses designating a home state under the compact; (5) Adverse actions. The compact specifies the power the home state has to impose adverse action against a licensee; (6) Establishment of the audiology and speech-language pathology compact commission. The compact sets out in detail requirements for the commission; (7) Data system. The compact requires the commission to provide for the development, maintenance, and utilization of a coordinated database and reporting system containing licensure, adverse action, and investigative information on all licensed individuals in member states; and requires a member state to submit a uniform data set to the data system on all individuals to whom the compact is applicable; (8) Rulemaking; (9) Oversight, dispute resolution, and enforcement; and (10) Date of implementation of the compact, withdrawal, and amendment. The compact will come into effect on the date on which the compact statute is enacted into law in the 10th member state. The provisions, which become effective at that time, will be limited to the powers granted to the commission relating to assembly and the promulgation of rules. ON MARCH 24, 2022, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENTS #1 AND #2 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2561, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 specifies that a license issued to an audiologist or speech-language pathologist by a home state will be recognized by each member state under a privilege to practice, if the licensee obtains such a privilege in that state. This amendment also clarifies that if an audiologist or speech-language pathologist moves to a nonmember state, then the person's privilege to practice in a member state will be deactivated. This amendment adds language to the compact text that a licensee providing audiology or speech-language pathology services in a remote state under the compact privilege must function within the laws and regulations of the state where the patient/client is located. This amendment also adds that if a member state takes action against an audiologist or speech-language pathologist, the administrator of the data system must notify any remote states in which the licensee has a privilege to practice, in addition to notifying the home state. This amendment also clarifies that the commission will have no authority to change or modify the laws of the member states which define the practice of audiology and speech-language pathology in the respective states. This amendment adds that all minutes and documents of meetings other than closed meetings must be made available to members of the public upon request at the requesting person's expense. AMENDMENT #2 places the compacts in the June 30, 2024, sunset review cycle.