Legislation
Legislative Updates
from the SCSHA Lobbyist
National Legislation
State Legislation
SCSHA Legislative Contact
Information
SCSHA Legislative Updates
2007
Legislative Update
For a complete update concerning ASHA’s national
legislative efforts, go to ASHA’s SLP website
at http://www.asha.org/about/legislation:advocacy/slp-advocate/.
This site provides a synopsis of the most recent
activities of ASHA’s Government Relations
and Public Policy Divisions. Some of the most significant
issues this year are listed below:
- Review of IDEA Part B final regulations
- Salary supplement legislation for public school
SLPs
- Extension of the Medicaid therapy cap exception
process
- Announcement of incoming Congressional leaders
fiscal year 2007 appropriations
- Renewal of state associations
- Legislation for newborn hearing screening
- Actions and discussion of ASHA state Legislative
Counselors (LCs), State Education Advocacy Leaders
(SEALs) and the Counsel of State Association Presidents
(CSAP)
SCSHA Legislative Day 2006 was held Thursday, May
11th. The day began with a light breakfast at 8:00
for all legislators and staff. The Senate was not
in session. However, there was good attendance by
the House members and their staff. Approximately
30 Representatives and 50 staff members attended.
The 2006 SCSHA Ambassador, Caleb Fore, attended
along with his parents Doug and Gina Fore. Free
hearing screenings were offered. Students from the
University of South Carolina conducted the hearing
screenings. After the breakfast, the 15 SCSHA members
in attendance met in the lobby area between the
Senate and House chambers to discuss current speech
and hearing issues with several state representatives.
Representative Kenny Bingham introduced Caleb and
his family from the House balcony.
SCSHA Legislative Day 2007 is scheduled for Thursday,
April 26. The schedule of activities will be similar
to those of the past years. The day will begin with
a breakfast with hearing screenings offered and
end with meeting with legislators in the legislative
lobby of the State House. Weather permitting; a
group photo will be made of all attendees on the
front steps of the State House.
A new bill, S. 323 has been introduced in the Senate
by Senator Nikki Setzler. This bill states that
a financial incentive will be awarded to full-time
public school speech –language pathologists
who have earned the ASHA CCC for the life of the
certificate. The bill was sent to the Judiciary
Committee for review.
The SCSHA Executive board voted at the June 2006
meeting to accept a membership request to investigate
current Medicaid and insurance reimbursement rates
and begin legislation to increase the current rates.
Alyson Price, SCSHA Legislative Committee Chair
has been recruiting members to serve on the committee
and would welcome more members. This committee has
been charged by the Executive Board to develop an
extensive grassroots system to be used when specific
legislators need to be contacted. The committee
would like to have one or two lead contacts for
each geographical area of the state to disseminate
information to all members of the area. Hopefully,
personal contact will result in more active participation
by the membership in legislative efforts and put
more pressure on legislators with voter contact.
For more information, you may contact:
VP Governmental Affairs
Traci M. Hogan, MA, CCC-SLP
tamslp3@charter.net
March 2007 SCSHA Legislative Update
Bill S. 323 passed the Senate Education Subcommittee
March 7! Celeste Blackmon and Rebecca McKenzie Appling
did an excellent job speaking on behalf of the association.
We offer a tremendous “Thank You” to
the approximately 15 SCSHA members that attended
the hearing! It demonstrated to the senators how
important this bill is to the public school membership.
Also, Thanks to those who contacted their senators
asking them to vote “yes”on the bill.
The senators were aware of the contacts and commented
about the number of them.
Senator Fair of Greenville District 6 spoke favorably
of the bill to the other committee members. We were
very pleased with his comments! Please take the
time to send him a hand written note thanking him
for speaking to the committee in such an encouraging
and favorable way for bill S. 323.
Next, the bill goes to the Full Senate Education
Committee. We expect this to be in about 2 to 3
weeks. Please plan to attend the committee meeting
once the date and time are announced. It will be
announced on the SCSHA list serv and through the
legislative grassroots contact system. Please begin
contacting the senators of the committee asking
them to vote “yes” for bill S. 323.
The senators on the committee are listed below.
To find YOUR senator and contact information, go
to www.sc.statehouse.net
and click on “Find Your Legislator.”
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