It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Title 16 of the general laws entitled "Education" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:
{ADD CHAPTER 25.3 ADD}
{ADD "SCHOOL SPEECH AND LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS" ADD}
{ADD 16-25.3-1. Statement of purpose. -- ADD} ADD To ensure proper servicing of communicatively impaired students, the general assembly recognizes that the quality and effectiveness of speech language services is affected by several factors, including but not limited to caseloads. The addition of a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) to an affected student's multidisciplinary team will further assist in ensuring proper referral. ADD}
{ADD 16-25.3-2. Employment of speech-language pathologists. -- ADD} {ADD (A) Each school district is encouraged by the general assembly to employ one (1) full-time certified speech-language pathologist for every forty (40) students who receive speech-language services within the age range of three (3) to twenty-one (21). In cases where the number of students receiving speech-language services is above forty (40), the school district is encouraged to employ a speech-language pathologist on a part-time pro-rata basis.
(B) When a speech and language evaluation or the provision of speech-language services are being considered or are part of the student's program the speech-language pathologist shall be a member of the multidisciplinary team. ADD}
{ADD As part of the triennial process for review of the regulations of the board of regents for elementary and secondary education governing the special education of students with disabilities, the Rhode Island department of education shall include a review of the regulation relating to speech or language impairment, which review shall include consideration of the federal definition of speech or language impairment as well as consideration of the definitions of communication disorders and variations from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, as appropriate, in order to establish educationally significant standards that will assist in appropriate referral and service delivery to students. ADD}
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.