Part 7: Statutory Administration

(1) Regulated members of Council, committees, tribunals, and employees of the College are eligible for reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in the conduct of ACSLPA business in accordance with policy established under Council authority.

(2) Public members of Council shall be eligible for reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in the conduct of ACSLPA business only if and when agreed to with the appropriate Government of Alberta or Ministry staff.

(3) Contractors and third parties may be eligible for reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses if agreed to by contract.

(1) Regulated members of Council, non-voting members of Council, and regulated members of statutory committees and tribunals are eligible for remuneration in the form of honorariums when conducting ACSLPA business, in accordance with policy established under Council authority.

(2) Employees of the College are eligible for remuneration including salaries, wages, benefits, and inducements in accordance with their employment contracts, College policy, and applicable Alberta Employment Standards.

(3) Contractors and third parties may be eligible for remuneration in accordance with their contracts and applicable law.

Regulated members must apply for renewal of their registration and practice permit by end of day on December 31.

(1) Council shall approve all fees, levies, and assessments charged under the Act and may change them in accordance with the bylaws.

(2) Notice shall be provided via the College website for a new fee, levy, or assessment, and for changes to an existing fee, levy, or assessment, as follows:

(a) Sixty (60) days notice for new charges or increases in excess of $100, and

(b) Thirty (30) days notice for any other new charges or increases.

(3) By approving a fee charged under the Act, the Council establishes the fee as a mandatory fee to be paid in accordance with the Act and any conditions established when the fee is approved.

(4) Any fee approved for a preceding year shall continue in subsequent years until or unless a different fee is approved, or the fee is discontinued by Council.

(5) Costs and fees charged for any item or service that is not specifically under the Act may be administered in accordance with College policies.

(6) Regulated members are not entitled to refunds, discounts, or credits for amounts charged under the Act. Refunds or credits, if any are provided, may be administered in accordance with College policies.

(1) Except as otherwise required under section 120 of the Act, a form, notice, or decision required under the Act may be delivered electronically if the person who requires the form, notice, or decision:

(a) has provided an electronic address for the purpose of receiving the applicable documents, and

(b) has agreed to receive the forms, notices, or decisions electronically in lieu of mail, certified or registered mail, or other means of service provided for under the Act.

(2) A form, notice, or decision delivered electronically is considered received when it is sent unless a mail server indicates otherwise. A failure by the recipient to acknowledge receipt is as evidence that the document was not received.

(3) Forms, notices, or decisions delivered electronically shall be saved to .pdf prior to sending unless the nature of the document prevents use of .pdf, in which case an appropriate and accessible file format may be selected.

(4) Forms, notices or decisions will be delivered to the most recent mailing or electronic address provided by the intended recipient to a College A failure by the intended recipient to check their mail, view their email, or provide timely change of address information to a College Official will not be taken as evidence that the document was not delivered.

(1) The Registrar, or their delegate, may publish information on the College website concerning scheduled hearings to be heard by a Hearing Tribunal or scheduled appeals to be heard by Council.

(2) The information published under subsection (1):

(a) may include the name and registration number of the investigated person, and the allegations or a summary of the allegations, subject to section 135.93(1) of the Act, and

(b) shall include the date, time, and location of the hearing or appeal and provide information on how to attend.

(1) Subject to sections 60(6), 119(1), 135.92, 135.93 of the Act, as applicable, the Registrar, or their delegate, may publish on the College’s website, in whole, in part or in a summary form:

(a) a decision by a Hearing Tribunal in which there is a finding of unprofessional conduct,

(b) a decision by a panel of Council in which there is a finding, or a finding is upheld, of unprofessional conduct,

(c) a ratified settlement agreement, if authorized to do so within the ratified settlement agreement, or

(d) a resolution agreement, if authorized to do so within the resolution agreement,

and may include in the publication the investigated person’s name.

(2) With the consent of the investigated person, the Registrar, or their delegate, may publish on the College website decisions of the Hearing Tribunal, Complaint Review Committee or a panel of Council in which:

(a) there is no finding of unprofessional conduct,

(b) in which a finding of unprofessional conduct that is set aside, or

(c) a complaint is dismissed,

and may include in the publication the investigated person’s name.

(3) If a decision of a Hearing Tribunal or panel of Council is under appeal, the Registrar may publish the decision, or maintain publication of the decision, on the College’s website and may include a notification that the decision is under appeal.

(4) If a decision of a panel of Council is appealed to the Court of Appeal of Alberta, the Registrar, or their delegate, may publish a notation of the outcome of the appeal on the College’s website in addition to the publication of the Hearing Tribunal and panel of Council decisions.

(5) The Registrar, or their delegate, may distribute to the College’s social media or other communication methods controlled by the College, in who, in part or in summary form, a decision by a Hearing Tribunal, a decision by a panel of Council, a decision by a Complaint Review Committee, a settlement agreement or a resolution agreement that has already been published on the College’s website and may include the investigated person’s name.

(6) The Registrar, or their delegate, may determine the length of time that decisions or agreements may be published on the College website, subject to the Act.

In addition to information required on the College website under section 92(1) of the Act, the College may publish any information on its site:

(a) that these bylaws permit to be published on the College’s website,

(b) that relates to or informs about the activities of the College, or

(c) that assists the College in carrying out the activities and performing other duties and functions that align with the role of the College under the Act.

(1) Council shall approve and adopt a Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice for the professions of speech-language pathology and audiology following an internal and external stakeholder feedback process in accordance with the HPA.

(2) Internal stakeholder validation will be completed by regulated members and, when so directed by the Registrar or by Council, by select external stakeholders, prior to submitting to the Minister of Health for external feedback.

(3) Council will consider the feedback that has been obtained via internal and external feedback processes prior to final approval and adoption.

(4) The Code of Ethics will be reviewed at least every seven (7) years, or as required, based on new or revised legislation, and/or any new or impending changes in practice impacting professional ethics.

(5) Standards of Practice will be reviewed as required, to address new or impending changes in professional practice, legislation, policy, or other developments.

Conditions may be imposed on a regulated member within the continuing competence program in accordance with the Health Professions Act and the approved Standards of Practice applicable to the Continuing Competence Program.

(1) The bylaws may be reviewed as needed to address specific matters and shall undergo a full review at least every seven (7) years.

(2) Any proposed amendments will be reviewed by Council and if the proposed amendments have an impact on regulated members in their professional practice or their rights within the College, the Council may direct that the proposed amendments be circulated to regulated members for feedback. Minor revisions that are administrative or editorial in nature will not require regulated member review.

(3) The Council may consider feedback received from the members if such input was sought, provided that such input is received within the timeframe specified for feedback.

(4) Amendments of the Bylaws must be approved and adopted by Council before coming into force.