LRB-0662/2
JEO:kmg:aj
1995 - 1996 LEGISLATURE
June 6, 1995 - Introduced by Representatives Underheim, Kaufert, Olsen, Urban,
Robson, Goetsch, Baldus, Albers and Grothman, cosponsored by Senator
Schultz. Referred to Committee on Health.
AB429,1,4
1An Act to amend 459.01 (4), 459.07 (2), 459.07 (4), 459.085 and 459.12 (2) of the
2statutes;
relating to: the calibration of audiometric equipment, statutory
3references to hearing aid dealers and fitters and granting rule-making
4authority.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, audiometric equipment that is used in the evaluation of
hearing sensitivity for the fitting and sale of hearing aids must be calibrated not less
than once every 6 months, and certification of the required calibrations must be sent
to the hearing and speech examining board (board). This bill eliminates the
requirement that audiometric equipment be calibrated at least once every 6 months
and instead requires the board to set the frequency of required calibrations.
Also, current law relating to the licensure of hearing instrument specialists
contains several references to "hearing aid dealers and fitters" even though a hearing
instrument specialist is defined as a person licensed to engage in the practice of
dealing in or fitting hearing aids. This bill changes the references to "hearing aid
dealers and fitters" to "hearing instrument specialists".
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB429, s. 1
5Section
1. 459.01 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB429,1,76
459.01
(4) "License" means a license issued by the department under s. 459.05,
7to hearing
aid dealers or fitters instrument specialists.
AB429, s. 2
1Section
2. 459.07 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB429,2,82
459.07
(2) Upon receiving an application under this section, accompanied by
3the fee under s. 440.05 (6), the examining board may grant a trainee permit which
4may entitle the applicant to practice fitting of hearing aids for a period of one year.
5A person holding a valid hearing
aid dealers or fitters instrument specialist license
6shall be responsible for the direct supervision and training of the applicant and shall
7be liable for all negligent acts and omissions of the trainee in the fitting of hearing
8aids.
AB429, s. 3
9Section
3. 459.07 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB429,2,1210
459.07
(4) The examining board shall encourage the establishment of
11educational courses for the training of all persons wishing to become licensed hearing
12aid dealers and fitters instrument specialists.
AB429, s. 4
13Section
4. 459.085 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB429,2,18
14459.085 Calibration of audiometric equipment. Audiometric equipment
15used in the evaluation of hearing sensitivity for the fitting and sale of hearing aids
16shall be calibrated
not less than once every 6 months
periodically, as specified by rule
17by the examining board. Certification of these calibrations shall be sent to the
18examining board with the renewal fee required in s. 459.09.
AB429, s. 5
19Section
5. 459.12 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB429,2,2220
459.12
(2) The examining board shall
by rules establish promulgate rules
21establishing the frequency of the calibrations, the standards for the calibrations and
22the standards for the certifications required by s. 459.085.
