HB 3079

                                 SECOND REGULAR SESSION
                    HOUSE BILL NO. 3079
                           103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
                            INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE RIGGS.
 6654H.01I  JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
                                            AN ACT
 To amend chapters 168 and 169, RSMo, by adding thereto two new sections relating to
       speech-language pathologists employed by public schools, with a delayed effective
       date.
 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
        Section A. Chapters 168 and 169, RSMo, are amended by adding thereto two new
2 sections, to be known as sections 168.310 and 169.599, to read as follows:
        168.310. 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person employed as
2 a speech-language pathologist in a Missouri public school district or charter school shall
3 be recognized as holding equivalent status to certificated teaching personnel under this
4 chapter, provided that such person holds a valid license to practice speech-language
5 pathology issued under chapter 345 by the Missouri board of healing arts.
62. The department of elementary and secondary education shall issue an
7 appropriate teaching certificate designation for such persons for the purposes of
8 employment, benefits, and retirement system eligibility.
93. The department of elementary and secondary education may promulgate all
10 necessary rules and regulations for the administration of this section. Any rule or
11 portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the
12 authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is
13 subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028. This
14 section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the
15 general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to
16 disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of
 EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is
 intended to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.
HB 3079  2
17 rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2026, shall be
18 invalid and void.
       169.599. 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any speech-language
 2 pathologist employed by a Missouri public school district or charter school who is
 3 certified under section 168.310 shall be deemed a teacher for the purposes of
 4 membership in and receiving benefits from the public school retirement system of
 5 Missouri under this chapter.
62. Such persons shall be eligible for participation in the public school retirement
 7 system under the same terms and conditions as certificated teachers including, but not
 8 limited to, contribution rates, service credit, retirement benefits, and survivor benefits.
93. The department of elementary and secondary education, in consultation with
10 the board of trustees of the public school retirement system, may promulgate all
11 necessary rules and regulations for the administration of this section. Any rule or
12 portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the
13 authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is
14 subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028. This
15 section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the
16 general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to
17 disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of
18 rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2026, shall be
19 invalid and void.
       Section B. The enactment of sections 168.310 and 169.599 of this act shall become
 2 effective on July 1, 2027.
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