                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

DEFINITIONS (§ 54.1-2607)

As used in this Compact, unless the context requires a different meaning:
		&#8220;Active duty military&#8221; means full-time duty status in the active
uniformed service of the United States, including members of the National Guard
and Reserve on active duty orders pursuant to 10 U.S.C. Chapters 1209 and 1211.
		&#8220;Adverse action&#8221; means any administrative, civil, equitable, or
criminal action permitted by a state&#8217;s laws that is imposed by a licensing
board or other authority against an audiologist or speech-language pathologist,
including actions against an individual&#8217;s license or privilege to
practice, such as revocation, suspension, probation, monitoring of the licensee,
or restriction on the licensee&#8217;s practice.
		&#8220;Alternative program&#8221; means a nondisciplinary monitoring process
approved by an audiology or speech-language pathology licensing board to address
impaired practitioners.
		&#8220;Audiologist&#8221; means an individual who is licensed by a state to
practice audiology.
		&#8220;Audiology&#8221; means the care and services provided by a licensed
audiologist as set forth in the member state&#8217;s statutes and rules.
		&#8220;Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Compact Commission&#8221; or
&#8220;Commission&#8221; means the national administrative body whose membership
consists of all states that have enacted the Compact.
		&#8220;Audiology and speech-language pathology licensing board,&#8221;
&#8220;audiology licensing board,&#8221; &#8220;speech-language pathology
licensing board,&#8221; or &#8220;licensing board&#8221; means the agency of a
state that is responsible for the licensing and regulation of audiologists
and/or speech-language pathologists.
		&#8220;Compact privilege&#8221; means the authorization granted by a remote
state to allow a licensee from another member state to practice as an
audiologist or speech-language pathologist in the remote state under its laws
and rules. The practice of audiology or speech-language pathology occurs in the
member state where the patient/client/student is located at the time of the
patient/client/student encounter.
		&#8220;Current significant investigative information&#8221; means
investigative information that a licensing board, after an inquiry or
investigation that includes notification and an opportunity for the audiologist
or speech-language pathologist to respond, if required by state law, has reason
to believe is not groundless and, if proved true, would indicate more than a
minor infraction.
		&#8220;Data system&#8221; means a repository of information about licensees,
including, but not limited to, continuing education, examination, licensure,
investigative, compact privilege, and adverse action.
		&#8220;Encumbered license&#8221; means a license in which an adverse action
restricts the practice of audiology or speech-language pathology by the licensee
and said adverse action has been reported to the National Practitioners Data
Bank (NPDB).
		&#8220;Executive Committee&#8221; means a group of directors elected or
appointed to act on behalf of, and within the powers granted to them by, the
Commission.
		&#8220;Home state&#8221; means the member state that is the licensee&#8217;s
primary state of residence.
		&#8220;Impaired practitioner&#8221; means individuals whose professional
practice is adversely affected by substance abuse, addiction, or other
health-related conditions.
		&#8220;Licensee&#8221; means an individual who currently holds an
authorization from the state licensing board to practice as an audiologist or
speech-language pathologist.
		&#8220;Member state&#8221; means a state that has enacted the Compact.
		&#8220;Privilege to practice&#8221; means a legal authorization permitting the
practice of audiology or speech-language pathology in a remote state.
		&#8220;Remote state&#8221; means a member state other than the home state
where a licensee is exercising or seeking to exercise the compact privilege.
		&#8220;Rule&#8221; means a regulation, principle, or directive promulgated by
the Commission that has the force of law.
		&#8220;Single-state license&#8221; means an audiology or speech-language
pathology license issued by a member state that authorizes practice only within
the issuing state and does not include a privilege to practice in any other
member state.
		&#8220;Speech-language pathologist&#8221; means an individual who is licensed
by a state to practice speech-language pathology.
		&#8220;Speech-language pathology&#8221; means the care and services provided
by a licensed speech-language pathologist as set forth in the member
state&#8217;s statutes and rules.
		&#8220;State&#8221; means any state, commonwealth, district, or territory of
the United States of America that regulates the practice of audiology and
speech-language pathology.
		&#8220;State practice laws&#8221; means a member state&#8217;s laws, rules,
and regulations that govern the practice of audiology or speech-language
pathology, define the scope of audiology or speech-language pathology practice,
and create the methods and grounds for imposing discipline.
		&#8220;Telehealth&#8221; means the application of telecommunication technology
to deliver audiology or speech-language pathology services at a distance for
assessment, intervention, and/or consultation.

HISTORY: 2023, c. 337.