SB0005: Reciprocity and audiology compact.

Legislative Summary

Reciprocity and audiology compact. Establishes a procedure to grant licenses and certificates to practice certain health care professions in Indiana. Requires the applicant to hold a current license or certificate from another state or jurisdiction and meet other requirements. Allows the applicant who meets certain requirements to apply for a provisional license or provisional certificate. Requires the provisional license or provisional certificate to be issued within 30 days. Provides for penalties for submitting false information on an application for a provisional license or provisional certificate. Requires a board to make a final decision on a license or certificate application before the expiration of a provisional license or provisional certificate. Provides that if a board has a pending application for initial licensure or certification that requires final approval by the board, the board shall meet not more than 31 days after the application is ready for approval. Provides that the medical licensing board may not issue a physician's license to an applicant using the reciprocity law beginning July 1, 2026. Eliminates certain requirements for an applicant seeking licensure as a clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, mental health counselor, addiction counselor, or clinical addiction counselor. Requires the boards that regulate bachelor's degree social workers, social workers, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, licensed addiction counselors, licensed clinical addiction counselors, and respiratory care practitioners to issue a license by reciprocity within 30 days if certain requirements are met. Requires the speech-language pathology and audiology board to, before January 1, 2023, initiate and make every effort to enter into reciprocity agreements with contiguous states for individuals licensed as: (1) a speech-language pathologist; and (2) an audiologist; to practice the individual's profession under the license from one state in the other state. Adopts the audiology and speech-language pathology interstate compact. Makes conforming amendments.