AB 1950, as introduced, Maienschein. Hearing aids: audio switch.
Existing law, the Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists and Hearing Aid Dispensers Licensure Act, regulates the licensure of hearing aid dispensers and dispensing audiologists by the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board. The act makes it unlawful for a licensed hearing aid dispenser to fit or sell a hearing aid unless he or she first, among other duties, provides the purchaser with specified information. Existing law requires a licensed dispensing audiologist to, upon the consummation of a sale of a hearing aid, deliver to the purchaser a written receipt, containing specified information. Existing law makes the violation of these provisions a misdemeanor.
This bill would make it unlawful for a licensed hearing aid dispenser to fit or sell a hearing aid unless first informing the purchaser of an audio switch, which may be referred to as a telecoil, t-coil, or t-switch, that increases access to a telephone and provides noninvasive access to assistive listening systems that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The bill would require a licensed dispensing audiologist to do the same. By creating new requirements, the violation of which would be a crime, this bill would impose a state mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 2538.49 of the Business and Professions
2Code is amended to read:
It is unlawful for a licensed hearing aid dispenser to
4fit or sell a hearing aid unless he or she first does all of the
5following:
6(a) Complies with allbegin delete provisions ofend delete state laws and regulations
7relating to the fitting or selling of hearing aids.
8(b) Conducts a direct observation of the purchaser’s ear canals.
9(c) Informs the purchaser of the address and office hours at
10which the licensee shall be available for fitting or postfitting
11adjustments and servicing of the hearing aid or aids sold.
12(d) Informs the purchaser of an audio switch, which may be
13referred to as a telecoil, t-coil, or t-switch, that increases access
14to a telephone and provides noninvasive access to assistive
15listening systems that are compliant with the Americans with
16Disabilities Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-336).
Section 2539.3 is added to the Business and Professions
18Code, to read:
A licensed dispensing audiologist shall, prior to fitting
20or selling a hearing aid, inform the purchaser of an audio switch,
21which may be referred to as a telecoil, t-coil, or t-switch, that
22increases access to a telephone and provides noninvasive access
23to assistive listening systems that are compliant with the Americans
24with Disabilities Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-336).
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
26Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
27the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
28district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
29infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
30for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of
P3 1the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within
2the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
3Constitution.
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