Colorado § 12-305-102 - Legislative declaration.

§ 12-305-102. Legislative declaration.

(1) The general assembly finds, determines, and declares that:

(a) Speech-language pathology services are provided for the purpose of improving the abilities of those who have congenital or acquired speech, language, cognitive, feeding, and swallowing deficits;

(b) Speech-language pathologists provide specific therapy and treatments that are related to the effects of medical or dental diagnoses or congenital, genetic, or developmental conditions but do not provide medical or dental procedures, medications, or interventions that constitute the practice of medicine or dentistry;

(c) The professional roles and activities in speech-language pathology include clinical and educational services, which include evaluation, assessment, planning, and treatment; prevention and advocacy; education; administration; and research;

(c.5) Speech-language pathology assistants enhance the efficiency and extent of speech-language pathology services by providing speech-language pathology services under the direction and supervision of speech-language pathologists and will help address the critical shortage of speech-language pathology services in the state; and

(d) This article 305 is necessary to safeguard public health, safety, and welfare and to protect the public from incompetent, unethical, or unauthorized persons.

(2) The general assembly further determines that it is the purpose of this article 305 to:

(a) Regulate individuals who are representing or holding themselves out as speech-language pathologists or who are performing services that constitute speech-language pathology; and

(b) Exclude from regulation under this article 305 those school speech-language pathologists, including school speech-language pathology assistants, who are paid solely by an administrative unit or state-operated program.

Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 1591, § 1, effective October 1. L. 2025: IP(1) and (2) amended and (1)(c.5) added, (HB 25-1075), ch. 163, p. 656, § 1, effective August 6.

Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 12-43.7-102 as it existed prior to 2019.