USVI Public Records

Document text

COMMITTEE ON RULES AND JUDICIARY 12/12/2024-REPORTED OUT TO THE FLOOR BILL NO. 35-0419 Thirty-Fifth Legislature of the Virgin Islands December 10, 2024 An Act amending title 27 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 1A by establishing the Virgin Islands Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology PROPOSED BY: Senator Diane T. Capehart Be it enacted by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands: 1 SECTION 1. Title 27 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 1A is amended by adding section 2 168q that reads: 3 “§ 168q. Board established 4 (a) The Virgin Islands Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology 5 (“Board”) is established within the Virgin Islands Department of Health. The Board shall 6 regulate the practice of audiology and speech-language pathology. 7 (b) The Board is composed of five members appointed by the Governor, with the 8 advice and consent of the Legislature, who are citizens of the United States and residents of 9 the Virgin Islands. Two members shall reside on St. Croix, two members shall reside on St. 10 Thomas, and one member shall reside on St. John. 11 (c) Two members must be licensed to practice as a speech-language pathologist, two 12 members must be licensed to practice as an audiologist, and one member must be licensed to 13 practice as a speech-language pathology assistant or an audiology assistant. All members must 14 2 hold licenses in the respective practices for at least five years before the date of appointment 1 and must be 21 years of age or older. 2 (d) Each member is appointed for a term of three years or until a successor is 3 appointed, except that the terms of the first appointees may be for shorter periods to permit a 4 staggering of terms. Any person appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration 5 of the term for which his predecessor was appointed, shall be appointed only for the remainder 6 of such term. Each member shall serve until the member’s successor is appointed by the 7 Governor and confirmed by the Legislature. 8 (e) The Commission shall annually elect one of its members to serve as Chairperson. 9 (f) Three members constitute a quorum for the transaction of all business of the Board. 10 (g) The Governor may remove a member of the board for neglect of duty, malfeasance, 11 incompetence, misconduct, or conviction of a felony. 12 (h) Board members shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for travel 13 expenses in the performance of official Board business as provided under Title 3 Virgin Islands 14 Code, chapter 5, subchapter I, section 65.” 15 BILL SUMMARY 16 This bill amends title 27, chapter 1A by adding section 168q to establish the Virgin 17 Islands Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (“Board”). The bill establishes 18 the composition of the Board, the term limits and qualifications of its members, and matters 19 related thereto. 20 BR24-1211B/December 9, 2024/GC 21 DRAFTER’S NOTE 22 This bill is a companion bill to BR24-1211A. Both bill requests should go through the 23 pro-forma process together and be heard in committee together. 24