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COMMITTEE REPORT
April 26, 2000
S. 1222
S. Printed 4/26/00--S. [SEC 4/27/00 12:45 PM]
Read the first time March 7, 2000.
To whom was referred a Bill (S. 1222), to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section 59-26-86 so as to provide that speech-language pathologists certified by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, etc., respectfully
That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting the following:
/ SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-26-86. (A)(1) Speech-language pathologists certified by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) shall enter a recertification cycle for their South Carolina certificate consistent with the recertification cycle for ASHA certification and ASHA certified speech-language pathologists moving to this State are exempted from initial certification requirements and are eligible for continuing contract status and their recertification cycle will be consistent with ASHA certification. Speech-language pathologists receiving national certification from ASHA shall receive an increase in pay for the life of the certification. The pay increase must be determined annually in the general appropriations act; however, it is the intent of the General Assembly that the increase must be at least seven thousand five hundred dollars. The established amount must be added to the annual pay of the nationally certified speech-language pathologist.
(2) The State Department of Education shall develop guidelines and administer the programs whereby speech-language pathologists applying to ASHA for certification may receive a loan equal to the amount of the application fee. One-half of the loan principal amount and interest must be forgiven when the required portfolio is submitted to ASHA. Speech-language pathologists attaining certification within three years of receiving the loan shall have the full loan principal amount and interest forgiven.
(B)(1) School psychologists certified by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) shall enter a recertification cycle for their South Carolina certificate consistent with the recertification cycle for NASP certification, and NASP certified school psychologists moving to this State are exempted from initial certification requirements and are eligible for continuing contract status and their recertification cycle will be consistent with NASP certification. School psychologists receiving national certification from NASP shall receive an increase in pay for the life of the certification. The pay increase must be determined annually in the general appropriations act. However, it is the intent of the General Assembly that the increase must be at least seven thousand five hundred dollars. The established amount must be added to the annual pay of the nationally certified school psychologist.
(2) The State Department of Education shall develop guidelines and administer the programs whereby school psychologists applying to NASP for certification may receive a loan equal to the amount of the application fee. One-half of the loan principal amount and interest must be forgiven when the required portfolio is submitted to NASP. School psychologists attaining certification within three years of receiving the loan shall have the full loan principal amount and interest forgiven.
(C)(1) School counselors certified by the National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. (NBCC) shall enter a recertification cycle for their South Carolina certificate consistent with the recertification cycle for NBCC certification, and NBCC certified school counselors moving to this State are exempted from initial certification requirements and are eligible for continuing contract status and their recertification cycle will be consistent with NBCC certification. School counselors receiving national certification from NBCC shall receive an increase in pay for the life of the certification. The pay increase must be determined annually in the general appropriations act. However, it is the intent of the General Assembly that the increase must be at least seven thousand five hundred dollars. The established amount must be added to the annual pay of the nationally certified school counselor.
(2) The State Department of Education shall develop guidelines and administer the programs whereby school counselors applying to NBCC for certification may receive a loan equal to the amount of the application fee. One-half of the loan principal amount and interest must be forgiven when the required portfolio is submitted to NBCC. School counselors attaining certification within three years of receiving the loan shall have the full loan principal amount and interest forgiven.
(D) The Department of Education is directed to review the purposes and certification standards of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) and examine the purposes and certification standards of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA), National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. (NBCC), and National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) to determine comparability with state standards and make recommendations regarding recertification cycles, initial certification requirements for these personnel certified out-of-state, and incentives for these national certifications. The State Department of Education shall report its findings to the Senate Education Committee and the House Education and Public Works Committee no later than December 1, 2000. The provisions of this section relating to initial certification, recertification, and pay increases of speech-language pathologists, school psychologists, and school counselors shall not take effect until the Department of Education completes its report required by this subsection, and the General Assembly based on this report by concurrent resolution finds that the standards of these national certifying organizations are at least comparable to existing state standards thereby warranting the implementation of the provisions of subsections (A), (B), and (C) of this section."
SECTION 2. Except as otherwise stated, this act takes effect upon approval by the Governor. /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
NIKKI G. SETZLER, for Committee.
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-26-86 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS CERTIFIED BY THE AMERICAN SPEECH-LANGUAGE HEARING ASSOCIATION (ASHA) SHALL HAVE A RECERTIFICATION CYCLE CONSISTENT WITH THE RECERTIFICATION CYCLE FOR ASHA CERTIFICATION, AND THAT SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS MOVING INTO THIS STATE SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM CERTAIN STATE CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS SHALL RECEIVE A SPECIFIED INCREASE IN PAY AND MAY BE REIMBURSED ON A LOAN AND FORGIVENESS BASIS FOR THE COST OF ASHA CERTIFICATION.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-26-86. (A) Speech-language pathologists certified by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) shall enter a recertification cycle for their South Carolina certificate consistent with the recertification cycle for ASHA certification and ASHA certified speech-language pathologists moving to this State are exempted from initial certification requirements and are eligible for continuing contact status and their recertification cycle will be consistent with ASHA certification. Speech-language pathologists receiving national certification from ASHA shall receive an increase in pay for the life of the certification. The pay increase must be determined annually in the appropriation act; however it is the intent of the General Assembly that the increase must be at least seven thousand five hundred dollars. The established amount must be added to the annual pay of the nationally certified speech-language pathologist.
(B) The State Department of Education shall develop guidelines and administer the programs whereby speech-language pathologists applying to ASHA for certification may receive a loan equal to the amount of the application fee. One-half of the loan principal amount and interest must be forgiven when the required portfolio is submitted to ASHA. Speech-language pathologists attaining certification within three years of receiving the loan shall have the full loan principal amount and interest forgiven.
(C) The State Department of Education shall review the certification standards of ASHA regarding speech-language pathologists to ensure they are at least comparable to those of NBPTS regarding teachers. The State Department of Education shall report its findings to the General Assembly on or before July 1, 2000."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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