BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1950
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 18, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
AB
1950 (Maienschein) - As Amended April 25, 2016
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|Policy |Business and Professions |Vote:|16 - 0 |
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: YesReimbursable:
No
SUMMARY:
This bill requires licensed professionals dispensing hearing
aids, upon the sale of a hearing aid, to provide the purchaser
with a copy of a consumer hearing aid disclosure made available
by the Speech Language Pathology Audiology and Hearing Aids
Dispensers Board (Board).
It also requires the Board to develop the disclosure, which
provides information for the benefit of hearing aid purchasers,
including, but not limited to, information on a telecoil,
t-coil, or t-switch.
AB 1950
Page 2
FISCAL EFFECT:
Estimated costs to the Board are approximately $100,000 in
fiscal year 2016-17 and $70,000 in fiscal year 2017-18. Ongoing
costs related to ensuring the disclosure is updated should be
minor (Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid
Dispensers Fund).
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. This bill aims to increase awareness about
"telecoils" or "t-coils" which are used in assisted hearing
devices. According to the author, telecoils remain a
little-known aspect of the hearing aid, but are of great value
to the hearing impaired. They can be found in most hearing
aids and can help improve a person's ability to hear in noisy
environments.
2)Background. The Board is charged with the regulation of the
practices of speech-language pathology, audiology, and hearing
aid dispensing. Licensed audiologists and hearing aid
dispensers are permitted to dispense hearing aids if they meet
the appropriate requirements. A hearing aid is small
electronic device that a person wears in or behind the ear.
According to the American Academy of Audiology, a telecoil is
a small copper coil that is an option on most hearing aids.
They are also known as t-coils and were originally used to
boost the magnetic signals from the telephone handset. The
telecoil is activated by a t-switch on the hearing aid. All
landline and some cell phones are designed to be used with a
telecoil. Some other states have enacted similar legislation
requiring consumer disclosure about telecoils.
AB 1950
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3)Support. Hearing Well Club, a co-sponsor of this bill along
with "Roger That Consulting," writes in support that the
majority of their members have not learned about telecoils
from their hearing health care providers.
4)Opposition. Providers of hearing care opposes this bill,
citing lack of necessity as well as their expertise in hearing
loss treatment and various types of amplification devices that
will allow patients to be as communicatively functional as
possible in their daily lives.
Analysis Prepared by:Lisa Murawski / APPR. / (916)
319-2081