BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|Hearing Date: April 11, 2011 |Bill No: SB |
| |933 |
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SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS, PROFESSIONS
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Senator Curren D. Price, Jr., Chair
Bill No: SB 933Author:Runner
As Amended: April 5, 2011 Fiscal:Yes
SUBJECT: Speech-language pathology and audiology: hearing aid
dispensers.
SUMMARY: Repeals the Hearing Aid Dispensers Licensing Law and recasts
these provisions into the Speech-Language Pathologists and
Audiologists and Hearing Aid Dispensers Licensure Act.
Existing law:
1) Establishes the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing
Aid Dispensers Board (Board) to regulate the practice of
speech-language pathologists, audiologists and hearing aid
dispensers.
2) Specifies that the Board shall consist of nine members: two
licensed speech-language pathologists, two licensed
dispensing-audiologists, two licensed hearing aid dispensers, and
three public members.
3) Establishes within the Board the Hearing Aid Dispensing Committee
to review and research the practice of fitting and selling hearing
aids.
4) Establishes the Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists
Licensure Act to regulate the practices of speech-language
pathology and audiology.
5) Establishes the Hearing Aid Dispensers Licensing Law which provides
for the licensure and regulation of hearing aid dispensers.
SB 933
Page 2
This bill:
1) Renames the Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists Licensure
Act into the Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists and
Hearing Aid Dispensers Licensure Act.
2) Repeals the Hearing Aid Dispensers Licensing Law and recasts these
provisions into the renamed Speech-Language Pathologists and
Audiologists and Hearing Aid Dispensers Licensure Act.
3) Renames the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Fund into the
Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers
Fund to carry out the purposes of the Speech-Language Pathologists
and Audiologists and Hearing Aid Dispensers Licensure Act.
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown. This bill has been keyed "fiscal" by
Legislative Counsel.
COMMENTS:
1. Purpose. According to the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board , the Sponsor of this measure, this
bill is a clean-up measure that serves to merge or consolidate the
relevant Practice Acts for speech-language pathologists,
audiologists, and hearing aid dispensers. The Sponsor points out
that since Assembly Bill 1535 (Jones), Chapter 309, Statutes of
2009, merged the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board, and
the Hearing Aid Dispensers Bureau to form the Speech-Language
Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board (Board),
effective January 1, 2010, it is necessary to consolidate the
regulatory oversight for these professions, and to streamline
duplicative administrative functions.
2. Background. The Governor's 2009-2010 Budget Act included proposals
to eliminate, consolidate and reorganize boards and bureaus within
the Department of Consumer Affairs. One of these proposals was the
consolidation of the Hearing Aid Dispensers Bureau under the
Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board. This Committee held
a hearing on June 15, 2009 to consider the Governor's proposals and
heard testimony from the Administration, the Departments, Boards
and Offices that would be affected, the Legislative Analyst's
Office, members of the regulated professions, and the public. A
report was then made to the Budget Conference Committee with all
recommendations made by the Committee regarding the Governor's
Elimination, Consolidation and Reorganization Proposals to the May
Revision of the Budget. The Committee recommended by an 8-0 vote
SB 933
Page 3
to consolidate the Hearing Aid Dispensers Bureau with the
Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board. AB 1535 (Jones),
Chapter 309, Statutes of 2009, among other provisions, eliminated
the Hearing Aid Dispensers Bureau and merged it to form the renamed
Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers
Board, effective January 1, 2010. The composition of the Board
also changed with this consolidation. Currently, the Board
consists of nine members: two license speech-language pathologists,
two licensed dispensing-audiologists, two licensed hearing aid
dispensers, and three public members.
SUPPORT AND OPPOSITION:
Support:
Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers
Board (Sponsor)
Opposition:
None on file as of April 5, 2011.
Consultant:Rosielyn Pulmano