Colorado § 12-305-102 Legislative declaration

Colorado Statutes

§ 12-305-102 — Legislative declaration

Colorado § 12-305-102

Title 12Professions

Art.Speech-language Pathologists

This text of Colorado § 12-305-102 (Legislative declaration) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Colorado primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-305-102 (2026).

Text

(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; ed

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(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.

Legislative History

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.