Senate Bill No. 1042 amends the existing law regarding the Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology in Oklahoma. The bill re-creates the Board, which will continue until July 1, 2027, and modifies the appointment process for its members. Specifically, it removes the requirement that successors for the three speech-language pathologists or audiologists be selected from a list provided by the Oklahoma Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Instead, the Governor is now permitted to consider recommendations from various statewide organizations representing speech-language pathologists or audiologists, as well as other groups or individuals in the state.

Additionally, the bill maintains the staggered terms of office for Board members and allows for reappointment of members to serve an additional three-year term after a break of three years following their previous appointment. The effective date of this act is set for November 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 59-1607
Floor (Senate): 59-1607