The bill amends sections 16807 and 17601 of the Public Health Code, specifically addressing the practice of audiology and speech-language pathology in Michigan. It clarifies that individuals employed by regionally accredited colleges or universities can perform duties related to communication disorders without being licensed as audiologists, provided they do not represent themselves as such. Additionally, it allows individuals employed by the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct hearing screenings and permits certified individuals to engage in hearing screening as part of a hearing conservation program. The language has been updated to replace gender-specific terms with gender-neutral terms, such as changing "he or she" to "the individual."

Furthermore, the bill defines the practice of speech-language pathology, outlining the responsibilities and limitations of speech-language pathologists. It specifies that this practice does not include medical diagnosis, management, or the fitting and dispensing of hearing aids, which has been explicitly removed from the previous legal language. The enactment of this bill is contingent upon the passage of House Bill No. 4883.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 333.16807, 333.17601