New Mexico
Register / Volume XXXVI, Issue 4 / February 25, 2025
NOTICE OF PUBLIC RULE HEARING AND BOARD MEETING
The New Mexico Speech-Language
Pathology, Audiology & Hearing Aid Dispensing Practices Board will hold a
rule hearing on Friday, April 11, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., immediately followed by
a meeting of the board to consider any public comment and adoption of the
proposed rules listed below.
Public
participation is welcomed, and comments may be submitted in writing during the
public comment period, or in person during the public rule hearing. The hearing
and subsequent meeting will take place at the Regulation and Licensing
Department, Toney Anaya Building, Rio Grande Conference Room, located at 2550
Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87505.
The hearing and subsequent meeting may also be accessed
virtually via Microsoft Teams.
Meeting
Link: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/join-a-meeting
Meeting ID: 286 964 876
882 Passcode: pv6jqZ
or
Join by Phone: +1-505-312-4308
Phone Access Code: 114 032 418#
The purpose of the rule hearing is to consider proposed
amendments to the following board rules:
16.26.5 NMAC Continuing Education
16.26.6 NMAC Fees
16.26.7 NMAC Grounds for Disciplinary
Action
Copies of the proposed rule may be obtained through
the board website or contacting the Board Administrator through the information
below:
https://www.rld.nm.gov/boards-and-commissions/individual-boards-and-commissions/speech-language-pathology-audiology-and-hearing-aid-dispensing-practices/board-information/speech-language-pathology-meetings/
Jen Rodriguez, Acting Board Administrator
(505) 795-3250 Board Administrator Direct Line
speech.hearing@rld.nm.gov Attn. Jen Rodriguez
Written comment will be
accepted during the public comment period, up until Friday, April 11, 2025, at
8:00 a.m. and may be submitted either by email or by postal mail to the
following addresses:
speech.hearing@rld.nm.gov
Attn: New Mexico Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology
& Hearing Aid Dispensing Practices Board
P.O. Box 25101
Santa Fe, NM 87504
Written comments received during the public comment
period prior to the public rule hearing will be posted to the board website page
linked above. Public comment will also be accepted during the rule hearing and
may be submitted in writing or presented orally by those attending both
in-person and virtually. The board will not enter into substantive discussion
of public comments during the rule hearing, but will consider and deliberate
any public comment during the board meeting immediately following the conclusion
of the public rule hearing.
The agenda for the board meeting, which will begin
immediately after the public rule hearing, will available no less than 72 hours
prior to the meeting, and available on the Board website linked above or by
contacting the Board Administrator.
An individual with a disability who is in need of a
reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter, or other form of
auxiliary aid or service to attend or participate in the hearing, please
contact the Board Administrator.
Statutory Authority:
The proposed rule changes are authorized by the Speech-Language
Pathology, Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensing Practices Act, Sections 61-14B-1
through 61-14B-25 NMSA 1978, which provides explicit authority for the board to
promulgate rules to protect public health and safety and carry out the
provisions of the Act.
The rulemaking and public rule hearing is governed by the State
Rules Act, Sections 14-4-1 through 14-4-11 NMSA 1978, and the Default
Procedural Rule for Rulemaking promulgated by the New Mexico Department of
Justice, Parts 1.24.25.1 through 1.24.25.16 NMAC.
Purpose of Proposed Rules:
The proposed
rule additions are intended to clarify the continuing education requirements
for license renewal, the process of auditing license renewals, the potential
penalties for not meeting the continuing education requirements and setting
fees for returned checks and electronic checks.
More generally, the proposed rules are intended to provide greater
clarity in existing regulatory and statutory requirements, ensure continued
high levels of professionalism among licensees and certificate holders, and to
generally satisfy the Boards statutory obligation to promote, preserve and
protect public health, safety and welfare.
Summary of
Proposed Rule:
16.26.5 NMAC Continuing Education;
This repeal and replace of the rule will clarify the continuing
education requirements prior to the license expiration date in order to renew a
license issued by the board. It also describes the audit process of license
renewals, ensuring that licensees are completing their continuing education
requirements as part of their license renewal.
16.26.6 NMAC Fees;
This change will provide a fee for returned checks and
electronic checks.
16.26.7 NMAC Grounds for Disciplinary
Action;
This change will make it clear what is required from a
licensee if and when there is a continuing education
audit of their license renewal.