S.B. 588                                                  VETOES

I believe the removal of the two physician members, also known as ear, nose and
throat specialists (ENTs), from the Board is not in the best interests of Maryland
consumers who rely upon the Board to conduct its business from a multi-disciplinary
perspective. The State Board argued during deliberation of this legislation that it
believes the citizens of Maryland benefit from the medical and clinical expertise that
the two ENT members bring to the Board. Moreover, the physician members of the
Board have supported an increased scope of practice for audiologists and
speech-language pathologists, and their presence continues to build upon the
growing cooperation and support among the disciplines represented on the Board.
The structure of the current Board brings together all of the relevant professions
involved in hearing and speech health care for Maryland.

For the above stated reasons, I have vetoed SB 588.

Sincerely,

Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr.

Governor

Senate Bill No. 588

AN ACT concerning

State Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, and
Speech-Language Pathologists - Membership and Scope of Authority

FOR the purpose of specifying that provisions of law regulating audiologists, hearing
aid dispensers, and speech language pathologists do not limit the right of a
physician to dispense hearing aids; decreasing the number of Board members to
a certain number; providing for the termination of the term of office of certain
board members; and generally relating to the composition and scope of authority
of the State Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, and
Speech-Language Pathologists.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article - Health Occupations
Section 2-102 and 2-202(a)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2000 Replacement Volume and 2002 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Health Occupations

2-102.

This title does not:

(1) Limit the right of an individual to practice a health occupation that
the individual is authorized to practice under this article;

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