Legislative Council Minutes of the
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

November 15-16, 2003
Chicago, Illinois

The Speaker of the Legislative Council presented her report which included suggested modifications to the role of Speaker and revisiting reapportionment of the Legislative Council.

The Chair of the Legislative Council Coordinating Committee presented a summary of the Committee's activities for the year.  The Chair of the Committee on Special Rules reported a number of changes proposed to the Special Rules.  Changes APPROVED were under Section G, Assemblies, Number 2, and Appendix A, Section B, Roles of Speaker and President, paragraph 2 both addressing the appointment of the floor managers.  Revision requested that the floor managers be appointed by the President in collaboration with the Speaker.  Changes to Appendix A, Section B, Roles of Speaker and President, paragraph 1, intended to give the Speaker oversight for LC committees was REFERRED back to the Special Rules Committee for reconsideration.  Proposed changes to the Special Rules under Section G to add Caucuses and the additions of section H, Annual and Multi-Year Focused Initiatives and Section I, Legislative Council Committees, were DEFEATED.

The names of 2 Councilors were placed in nomination for election as the 2004 Speaker of the Legislative Council.  These Councilors were Ellen Estomin and Kenneth E. Wolf.  Following balloting, Councilor Estomin was announced as having been elected.

LC 14-2003.  RESOLVED, That the Legislative Council establish a Legislative Council Standing Committee on Affirmation of Currency of ASHA Policy Documents consisting of 3 speech-language pathologists who are members of the Speech-Language Pathology/Speech or Language Science Assembly and 3 audiologists who are members of the Audiology/Hearing Science Assembly elected by the respective Assembly, who have served at least one full year on Council and have two years remaining on their term, and who shall serve staggered terms of two years each; and for the terms starting January 1, 2004, the person in each Assembly receiving the fewest votes serve for a term of one year; and further,

RESOLVED, That the Legislative Council Standing Committee on Affirmation of Currency of ASHA Policy Documents be charged to review reports submitted by either the Vice President for Professional Practice in Audiology or the Vice President for Professional Practice in Speech-Language Pathology that lists ASHA policy documents (e.g. Scope of Practice, Preferred Practice Patterns, position statements, guidelines, and knowledge and skills statements) to affirm their currency; and further

RESOLVED, That by March 1, 2004, the Legislative Council Standing Committee on Affirmation of Currency of ASHA Policy Documents will have developed the committee’s operational procedures in accordance with the Legislative Council Committee Operational Procedures Template and the process for affirmation of currency of ASHA policy documents as supported by the ASHA Executive Board and the Legislative Council Coordinating Committee; and further

RESOLVED, That the Legislative Council Special Rules be amended as needed to include the Legislative Council Standing Committee on Affirmation of Currency of ASHA Policy Documents.  APPROVED.  (VOTE:  135 yes, 6 no, 1 abstentions)

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A Legislative Council Forum was called to order at 11:30 pm.   Councilors presented comments on various topics including:

• Meeting materials mailed/provided in advance of the LC meeting (early October)
• Reinstate the ASHA Magazine
• Hold the Fall 2004 LC meeting in the Philadelphia Convention Center
• Biographical information on Speaker nominees prior to voting
• LC difficulties are due to processes not size of Council
• Mechanism for LC to discuss discipline-wide issues
• Replace large screens in the front of the LC meeting room with small individual screens on the dais
• Recognize memberships of more than 25 years
• Inform LC how committees voted on resolutions
• Mechanism for all LC to hear presentation on the Minority Student Leadership program
• Hold the Convention in October
• Appreciation expressed for ASHA’s efforts on behalf of school-based members
• Criticism on McCormick Place’s insufficient restaurant seating and long food lines
• Governance structure does not allow for appropriate LC representation on both Assemblies
• Rename Certificate of Recognition for Special Contributions in Multicultural Affairs; rename with “award” not “certificate”
• Why are their shortages in the professions?

The Legislative Council recessed for lunch at 12:40 pm.  During the lunch period, the Audiology/Hearing Science Assembly and Speech-Language Pathology/Speech or Language Science Assembly convened.

The Legislative Council reconvened at 2:55 pm.

The names of 6 Councilors were placed in nomination to serve on the Legislative Council Coordinating Committee for two-year terms (2004-2005).  Following balloting, Marion Hammett, Vicki McCready, Colleen O’Rourke, and Mary Jo Schill were announced as having been elected.  Elizabeth McCrea will serve as Legislative Council Coordinating Committee Chair in 2004.

The names of 16 Councilors were placed in nomination to serve on the Committee on Honors for three-year terms (2004-2006).  Following balloting, Noma Anderson, Roberta Kreb and Ninevah Murray were announced as having been elected for three year terms and Vicki McCready and Patricia Kerman Lerner were elected to serve one year terms.  Fred Britten will serve as the Committee on Honors Chair in 2004.

The names of 6 Councilors were placed in nomination to serve on the Committee on Credentials for two-year terms (2004-2005).  Following balloting Judith Bernier and Erin Dyer Olson were announced as having been elected.  Mary Hooper will serve as Committee on Credentials Chair in 2004.

LC 8-2003.  RESOLVED, That the Continuing Education Board (CEB) add a requirement to the CE Activity application form requiring that the CE provider indicate the level of evidence supporting any treatment presented in the education session; and further

RESOLVED, That this material be required to be included on all announcements of the program; and further

RESOLVED, That the CEB identify a schema for levels of evidence to be used by CE providers for this purpose.  POSTPONED INDEFINITELY.  (VOTE:  136 yes, 6 no, 0 abstentions)

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LC 9-2003.  RESOLVED, That the Bylaws of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association   be amended as follows (items underlined are to be added):

4.2.g. Removal From Office

Any elected Councilor, except those elected pursuant to Section 9.2, may be removed from office by (1) a written petition for removal signed by 10 percent of the total number of members residing in the Councilor’s Constituency submitted to the President and (2) approval of the petition by 75 percent of the members of the Association residing in that Councilor’s Constituency who vote in response to the mail submission of the petition, or (3) if a Councilor is absent from the constituent area he or she represents for more than 16 consecutive weeks, (4) if a Councilor is no longer a member in good standing of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association he or she may be removed from office by the Committee on Credentials.  APPROVED.  (VOTE:  141 yes, 0 no, 0 abstentions)

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LC 10-2003.  RESOLVED, That the document entitled “Knowledge and Skills Needed by Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists to Provide Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services” developed by the ASHA Multicultural Issues Board be approved as ASHA policy; and further

RESOLVED, That “Knowledge and Skills Needed by Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists to Provide Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services” be published in the next annual supplement to The ASHA Leader, be posted on the professional web site, be made available upon request from the ASHA Action Center, and be included in the next revision of the ASHA Desk Reference.  APPROVED.  (VOTE:  140 yes, 2 no, 0 abstentions)

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The Vice President for Administration and Planning presented information about the state of the 2003 ASHA Budget and the proposed budget for 2004.  Questions were raised about aspects of the 2004 budget and information in response to the questions was provided by Michael Kimbarow, Vice President for Administration and Planning, with support from National Office staff.

LC 7-2003.  RESOLVED, That the 2004 budget for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association be approved.  APPROVED.  (VOTE:  143 yes, 0 no, 0 abstentions)

Speaker Richard honored Fred Spahr on behalf of the LC announcing contributions to the existing American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation’s Minority Scholarship in his name (known as the “Spahr Scholar).  LC contributions totaled $ 3,500.

LC 13-2003.  RESOLVED, That the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Strategic Plan: 2005-2007 be approved.  POSTPONED INDEFINITELY.  (VOTE:  69 yes, 68 no, 1 abstentions)

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The meeting adjourned at 5:50 pm.

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The November 16^th session of the Legislative Council meeting was called to order at 9:05 am.  The Chair of the Committee on Credentials reported the name of 1 temporary replacement for the Sunday, November 2003 meeting.  The report of the Committee was accepted.

The Oklahoma delegation was granted a personal privilege to honor President Ochsner.

The names of 3 Councilors were placed in nomination to serve on the Financial Planning Board for a three-year term (2004-2006).  Following balloting, Sally Jones McNamara was announced as having been elected.

LC 11-2003.  RESOLVED, That the Legislative Council (LC) urge the Executive Board (EB) to support the accreditation of Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (SLPA) training programs by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) by initiating a request that CAAHEP consider speech-language pathology assistants as an eligible profession for such accreditation; and further

RESOLVED, That as part of such support the LC urges EB to take such steps as necessary for ASHA to become the sponsoring organization when initiating the request to CAAHEP to provide accreditation of SLPA training programs; and further

RESOLVED, That the development of policies pertaining to the CAAHEP Commission on Accreditation be handled by the current CAA/CFCC Joint Subcommittee on SLPA registration and program approval.

LC 11-2003.  AMENDMENT, That the Legislative Council (LC urge the Executive Board (EB) to explore the accreditation of Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) training programs by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and further

RESOLVED, That the EB report back to the LC at the spring 2004 meeting.

Vote to the amendment to LC 11-2003.  AMENDMENT APPROVED.  VOTE:  75 yes, 63 no, 1 abstention)  APPROVED AS AMENDED.  (VOTE:  130 yes, 9 no, 0 abstentions)

LC 12-2003.  RESOLVED, That the Legislative Council (LC) urge the Executive Board (EB) to preserve the national credentialing standards for Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (SLPAs) by exploring the most cost effective process to register SLPAs through ASHA; and further

RESOLVED, That once a cost effective process is identified, LC urges EB to develop a plan for implementing such registration process.  WITHDRAWN.

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The Council received reports from the Audiology/Hearing Science Assembly and the Speech-Language Pathology/Speech or Language Science Assembly.

The names of 3 Councilors were placed in nomination to serve on the Committee on Special Rules for two-year terms (2004-2005).  Following balloting, Kimberly Ennis, DeAnne Owre, and Jane Pimentel were announced as having been elected.  Robert Jirsa will serve as Committee on Special Rules Chair in 2004.

LC 15-2003.  RESOLVED, That “Augmentative and Alternative Communication: Position Statement” be approved as policy of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association; and further

RESOLVED, That the position statement be published in the next annual Supplement to The ASHA Leader, be posted on the Web site, be made available upon request from the ASHA Action Center, and be included in the next revision of the ASHA Desk Reference; and further

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LC 16-2003.  RESOLVED, That the Legislative Council recommend that the Executive Board develop a comprehensive plan to address the issue of the decline of males entering the professions; and further

RESOLVED, That the Executive Board submit a progress report on the issue to the Legislative Council at its’ Spring 2004 meeting and a further report of progress on specific initiatives to address this problem at the Legislative Council’s Fall 2004 meeting.  MOTION TO REFER.  DEFEATED.  (VOTE:  18 yes, 115 no, 0 abstentions)  MOTION TO AMEND APPROVED.  (VOTE:  27 yes, 105 no, 2 abstentions)

RESOLVED, That the Legislative Council recommend that the Executive Board develop a comprehensive plan to address the issue of the reduction in the number of men entering the professions; and further

RESOLVED, That the Executive Board submit a progress report on the issue to the Legislative Council at its’ Spring 2004 meeting and a further report of progress on specific initiatives to address this problem at the Legislative Council’s Fall 2004 meeting.  APPROVED.  (VOTE:  120 yes, 16 no, 0 abstentions)

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The Legislative Council recessed for lunch at 11:30 am.  During the lunch period a caucus on Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Relationships with Otolaryngology convened.

The Legislative Council reconvened at 12:35 pm.  Texas was granted a personal privilege to thank Julie Noel for her service.

Facilitators of the caucus meetings provided brief reports.

The meeting adjourned at 12:55 pm.

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ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS and RESOLUTIONS

The following actions were taken by the Audiology/Hearing Science Assembly during its’ meetings on Saturday, November 15 and Sunday, November 16.

Elected Robert Oyler as Coordinator and Kenneth Bouchard as Associate Coordinator for the Assembly for 2004.

Elected Constance Spak and Laura Kretschmer to serve on the Committee on Nominations and Elections for two-year term beginning January 1, 2004.

RESOLVED, That LC 8-95, which approved the 1996 (current) “Scope of Practice in Audiology” be rescinded; and further

RESOLVED, That the revised “Scope of Practice in Audiology” be published in the next annual supplement to The ASHA Leader and that the document be posted on the Web, be made available upon request from the ASHA Action Center, and be included in the next revision of the ASHA Desk Reference.  APPROVED.  (VOTE:  30 yes, 0 no, 0 abstentions)

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The following actions were taken by the Speech-Language Pathology/Speech or Language Science Assembly during its meetings on Saturday, November 15 and Sunday, November 16.

Elected Julie Noel as Coordinator and Barbara Moore-Brown as Associate Coordinator for the Assembly for 2004.

Elected Barbara Sonies to serve on the Committee on Nominations and Elections for a two-year term beginning January 1, 2004.

RESOLVED, That “The Roles of the Speech-Language Pathologist in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU): Position Statement” be published in a supplement of The ASHA Leader, be posted on the ASHA professional Web site, be made available upon request from the ASHA Action Center, be included in the next revision of the ASHA Desk Reference, and that the availability of the position statement be announced in The ASHA Leader.  APPROVED.  (VOTE:  105 yes, 0 no, 0 abstentions)

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LC SLP/SLS 10-2003.  RESOLVED, That the document entitled “Knowledge and Skills Needed by the Speech-Language Pathologist in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Environment: Providing Services to Infants and Families” be approved by ASHA; and further

RESOLVED, That “Knowledge and Skills Needed by the Speech-Language Pathologist in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Environment” be published in a supplement of The ASHA Leader, be posted on the ASHA professional Web site, be made available upon request from the ASHA Action Center, be included in the next revision of the ASHA Desk Reference, and that the availability of the knowledge and skills document be announced in The ASHA Leader.  APPROVED.  (VOTE:  106 yes, 0 no, 0 abstentions)

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LC SLP/SLS 11-2003.  RESOLVED, That the document entitled, “Guidelines for Speech-Language Pathologists Performing Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Studies” be approved as ASHA policy; and further

RESOLVED, That “Guidelines for Speech-Language Pathologists Performing Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Studies” be published in the next annual supplement to The ASHA Leader and, that it be posted on the professional Web site, be made available upon request from the ASHA Action Center, and be included in the next revision of the ASHA Desk Reference.  APPROVED.   (VOTE:  106 yes, 0 no, 0 abstentions)

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LC SLP/SLS 12-2003.  RESOLVED, That “Speech-Language Pathologists Training and Supervising Other Professionals in the Delivery of Services to Individuals With Swallowing and Feeding Disorders: Position Statement” be approved as ASHA policy; and further

RESOLVED, That “Speech-Language Pathologists Training and Supervising Other Professionals in the Delivery of Services to Individuals With Swallowing and Feeding Disorders: Position Statement” be published in the next annual supplement to The ASHA Leader and, that it be posted on the ASHA Web site, be made available upon request from the ASHA Action Center, and be included in the next revision of the ASHA Desk Reference.  APPROVED.  (VOTE:  82 yes, 23 no, 0 abstentions)

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Minutes of the November 15-16, 2003, Legislative Council Meeting Approved.

2003 Minutes Review Group:
Laura W. Kretschmer
Lisa C. O’Connor
Mary D. Pannbacker