AB915, s. 64
25Section
64. 459.05 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB915,21,12
1459.05
(1m) Whenever the examining board determines that another state or
2jurisdiction has requirements equivalent to or higher than those in effect in the state
3for the practice of fitting and selling hearing
aids
instruments, and that such state
4or jurisdiction has a program equivalent to or stricter than the program for
5determining whether applicants in this state are qualified to fit and sell hearing
aids 6instruments, the department may issue a license by reciprocity to applicants who
7hold valid certificates or licenses to deal in or fit hearing
aids instruments in such
8other state or jurisdiction, who pay the fee specified in s. 440.05 (2) and who are
9otherwise qualified for licensure. No applicant for a license by reciprocity under this
10subsection shall be required to submit to or undergo a qualifying examination, if the
11applicant personally appears at the next meeting of the examining board after filing
12the application to answer any questions the examining board has.
AB915, s. 65
13Section
65. 459.06 (2) (a) (intro.) and 3. and (b) (intro.) and 4. and (3) of the
14statutes are amended to read:
AB915,21,1615
459.06
(2) (a) (intro.) Tests of knowledge in the following areas as they pertain
16to the fitting of hearing
aids instruments:
AB915,21,1717
3. The function of hearing
aids instruments.
AB915,21,1918
(b) (intro.) Practical tests of proficiency in the following techniques as they
19pertain to the fitting of hearing
aids instruments:
AB915,21,2120
4. Recording and evaluation of audiograms and speech audiometry to
21determine proper selection and adaption of a hearing
aid instrument.
AB915,22,2
22(3) The applicant for license by examination shall appear at a time and place
23as the examining board designates, to be examined by means of written and practical
24tests in order to demonstrate that he or she is qualified to practice the fitting of
1hearing
aids instruments. Such examinations shall be conducted at least twice a
2year and at such other times and places designated by the examining board.
AB915, s. 66
3Section
66. 459.07 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB915,22,104
459.07
(2) Upon receiving an application under this section, accompanied by
5the fee under s. 440.05 (6), the examining board may grant a trainee permit which
6may entitle the applicant to practice fitting of hearing
aids instruments for a period
7of one year. A person holding a valid hearing instrument specialist license shall be
8responsible for the direct supervision and training of the applicant and shall be liable
9for all negligent acts and omissions of the trainee in the fitting of hearing
aids 10instruments.
AB915,22,1713
459.08
(1) A person who holds a license shall notify the department in writing
14or in accordance with other notification procedures approved by the department of
15the regular address of the places where he or she engages or intends to engage in the
16practice of fitting or selling hearing
aids instruments. The licensee shall inform the
17board of any changes in these addresses within 30 days of the change.
AB915, s. 68
18Section
68. 459.085 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB915,22,23
19459.085 Calibration of audiometric equipment. Audiometric equipment
20used in the evaluation of hearing sensitivity for the fitting and sale of hearing
aids 21instruments shall be calibrated periodically, as specified by rule by the examining
22board. Certification of these calibrations shall be sent to the examining board with
23the renewal fee required in s. 459.09.
AB915, s. 69
24Section
69
. 459.09 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB915,23,7
1459.09 Renewal of license; fees; effect of failure to renew. Each person
2who practices dealing in or fitting hearing
aids
instruments shall, on or before the
3applicable renewal date specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a), pay to the department the
4applicable renewal fee specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a) and keep the certificate
5conspicuously posted in the person's office or place of business at all times. Where
6more than one office is operated by the licensee, duplicate certificates shall be issued
7by the department for posting in each location.
AB915,23,19
10459.09 Renewal of license. Each person issued a license under this
11subchapter shall, on or before the applicable renewal date specified under s. 440.08
12(2) (a), pay to the department the applicable renewal fee specified under s. 440.08 (2)
13(a) and submit with the renewal application proof that he or she completed, within
14the 2 years immediately preceding the date of his or her application, 20 hours of
15continuing education programs or courses of study approved or required under rules
16promulgated under s. 459.095. A licensee shall keep the certificate conspicuously
17posted in his or her office or place of business at all times. Where more than one office
18is operated by the licensee, duplicate certificates shall be issued by the department
19for posting in each location.
AB915, s. 71
20Section
71
. 459.10 (1) (d), (e), (j), (k) and (p) of the statutes are amended to
21read:
AB915,23,2322
459.10
(1) (d) Been found guilty of an offense the circumstances of which
23substantially relate to the practice of fitting and dealing in hearing
aids instruments.
AB915,23,2524
(e) Violated this subchapter or ch. 440 or any federal or state statute or rule
25which relates to the practice of fitting and dealing in hearing
aids instruments.
AB915,24,2
1(j) Engaged in conduct which evidenced a lack of knowledge or ability to apply
2principles or skills of the practice of fitting and dealing in hearing
aids instruments.
AB915,24,63
(k) Engaged in unprofessional conduct. In this subsection, "unprofessional
4conduct" means the violation of any standard of professional behavior which through
5experience, state statute or administrative rule has become established in the
6practice of fitting and dealing in hearing
aids instruments.
AB915,24,97
(p) Sold a hearing
aid instrument to a person who was not given tests using
8appropriate procedures and instrumentation or without proper measurement of the
9functional intensity and range of the person's hearing.
AB915, s. 72
10Section
72
. 459.14 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB915,24,1411
459.14
(2) This subchapter does not apply to a person engaged in the practice
12of measuring human hearing for selecting hearing
aids
instruments or any other
13purpose if the person or the organization employing such person does not sell hearing
14aids instruments or hearing accessories.
AB915, s. 73
15Section
73
. 459.22 (1) of the statutes is repealed.
AB915, s. 74
16Section
74
. 459.22 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB915,24,1917
459.22
(2) (b) Authorize an individual licensed under this subchapter to
18dispense or sell hearing
aids instruments without obtaining a hearing instrument
19specialist license under subch. I.
AB915,24,2422
459.22
(2) (b) Authorize a speech-language pathologist licensed under this
23subchapter to dispense or sell hearing instruments without obtaining a hearing
24instrument specialist license under subch. I.
AB915, s. 76
25Section
76
. 459.22 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB915,25,4
1459.22
(2) (c) Require a hearing instrument specialist licensed under subch.
2I to be licensed as an audiologist under this subchapter to engage in the testing of
3hearing or in other practices or procedures solely for the purpose of fitting or selling
4hearing
aids instruments.
AB915, s. 77
5Section
77
. 459.24 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB915,25,86
459.24
(1m) Prohibited titles. No person may use the title "certified hearing
7aid audiologist"
or, "certified hearing instrument audiologist", "licensed hearing aid
8audiologist"
or "licensed hearing instrument audiologist".
Note: The provisions in Sections 1 to 4
, 6, 7
, 11, 23
, 24 (as it relates to the striking
of "459.46"), 25 (as it relates to the striking of "459.46"), 27
, 70, 73
, 75 and 78 remove
outdated provisions of subch. III of ch. 459 of the statutes and s. 440.04 (8) of the statutes,
relating to the registration of speech and language pathologists and audiologists.
Currently these professionals must be licensed under subch. II of ch. 459 of the statutes.
These licensing requirements became effective on July 1, 1993.
AB915, s. 79
11Section
79
. 968.27 (7) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB915,25,1312
968.27
(7) (b) A hearing
aid instrument or similar device being used to correct
13subnormal hearing to not better than normal.
Note: The provisions in Sections 5, 8
, 9, 13
, 16, 21
, 22, 55 to 69, 71
, 72, 74
, 76, 77
and 79 change outdated statutory references to "hearing aid" to the new term "hearing
instruments".
AB915, s. 80
14Section
80.
Initial applicability; regulation and licensing.
AB915,25,1715
(1)
Physician and podiatrist continuing education. The treatment of section
16448.13 (1) of the statutes first applies to applications that are submitted to renew
17licenses that expire on November 1, 1999.
AB915, s. 81
18Section
81.
Effective dates. This act takes effect on the day after
19publication, except as follows:
AB915,26,2
1(1)
The repeal and recreation of sections 459.02, 459.03 (1), 459.09 and 459.22
2(2) (b) of the statutes takes effect on July 1, 1998.