Statement of Scope
Hearing and Speech Examining Board
Relating to: | Supervision of hearing instrument specialist temporary trainees |
1. Finding/nature of emergency (Emergency Rule only):
N/A
2. Detailed description of the objective of the proposed rule:
The Board will review Wisconsin Administrative Code HAS 1 and HAS 2 to revise requirements to increase opportunities for new applicants entering the profession while ensuring that trainee permit holders are directly supervised. The Board will also ensure compliance with statutory requirements.
3. Description of the existing policies relevant to the rule, new policies proposed to be included in the rule, and an analysis of policy alternatives:
Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 459 describes Hearing and Speech Examining Board requirements, its rulemaking authority, and training and licensure requirements for hearing instrument specialists and trainees, speech-language pathologists and audiologists. HAS 1 identifies the authority for rulemaking and the definitions for licensure of hearing instrument specialists. HAS 2 provides the process for permitting hearing instrument specialist trainees. The proposed rule will examine revising existing policies and potentially propose new policies to improve opportunities for people interested in entering the profession. The Board will examine rule changes that could increase opportunities for new trainees while continuing to adequately protect the public’s health, safety, and welfare.
The policy alternative is maintaining the current rules for trainees entering the practice of fitting of hearing aids.
4. Detailed explanation of statutory authority for the rule (including the statutory citation and language):
Section 15.08 (5) (b), Stats., states that, “[e]ach examining board shall promulgate rules for its own guidance and for the guidance of the trade or profession to which it pertains, and define and enforce professional conduct and unethical practices not inconsistent with the law relating to the particular trade or profession.” Section 459.12 (1) and (3), Stats., states that, “[t]he examining board may make rules not inconsistent with the laws of this state which are necessary to carry out the intent of this chapter,” and that “[t]he examining board shall by rule prescribe the number of trainees a licensee may supervise under s. 459.07.” 5. Estimate of amount of time that state employees will spend developing the rule and of other resources necessary to develop the rule:
Approximately 100 hours.
6. List with description of all entities that may be affected by the proposed rule:
Hearing instrument specialists trainees and permanent license holders that supervise trainees may be affected by the proposed rule.
7. Summary and preliminary comparison with any existing or proposed federal regulation that is intended to address the activities to be regulated by the proposed rule:
None.
8. Anticipated economic impact of implementing the rule (note if the rule is likely to have a significant economic impact on small businesses):
The proposed rule is not anticipated to have any significant economic impact on the state’s economy or its small businesses.
Contact Person: Kassandra Walbrun, Administrative Rules Coordinator
Authorized Signature
