AB841: Bill Text

LRB-2943/1

MDK:wlj:pg

2003 - 2004 LEGISLATURE

2003 Assembly BILL 841

February 16, 2004 - Introduced by Representatives Underheim, Berceau, Kreibich, Townsend, Vrakas, Albers, Hines, Bies, Wasserman and Ott, cosponsored by Senator Kedzie. Referred to Committee on Health.

AB841,1,10 An Act to repeal 15.405 (6m) (c) 1., 15.405 (6m) (d) 1., 440.04 (8) and subchapter III of chapter 459 [precedes 459.40]; to renumber and amend 15.405 (6m) (c) 2., 15.405 (6m) (d) 2., 459.09 and 459.24 (5); to amend 440.05 (intro.), 440.08 (2) (a) (intro.), 440.23 (1), 459.03 (1), 459.035, 459.05 (1m), 459.07 (2), 459.085, 459.095 (3), 459.10 (1) (i), 459.10 (1) (p), 459.22 (2) (f), 459.24 (1) (a), 459.24 (1) (b), 459.24 (2) (f), 459.24 (3m) (a), 459.24 (4), 459.24 (5m) (a) 3. a., 459.24 (5m) (a) 3. b., 459.24 (6) (c), 459.34 (2) (cm) and 459.34 (2) (cs); and to create 459.34 (2) (h) of the statutes; relating to: various changes to the regulation of hearing instrument specialists, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists and granting rule-making authority.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill makes the following changes to the regulation of hearing instrument specialists, audiologists, and speech-language pathologists by the Hearing and Speech Examining Board (board):

1. Under current law, a person may not engage in the practice of dealing in or fitting hearing aids unless he or she has a hearing instrument specialist license or training permit issued by the board. In addition, a person who is issued a training permit must be supervised by a licensed hearing instrument specialist. Under this bill, a person licensed as an audiologist by the board may also supervise a person with a training permit.

2. Under current law, a person who is licensed as a hearing instrument specialist, an audiologist, or a speech-language pathologist must renew the license every two years. In addition, a person must complete 20 hours of continuing education to renew a license. Under this bill, a person does not have to complete continuing education the first time he or she applies to renew a license, but must complete continuing education for each subsequent renewal.

3. Current law specifies various grounds for which the board may discipline a person licensed as a hearing instrument specialist, a speech-language pathologist, or an audiologist. This bill allows the board to discipline a speech-language pathologist or an audiologist who engages in unprofessional conduct as defined by rule by the board. Under current law, the board may discipline a hearing instrument specialist for unprofessional conduct.

4. Under current law, the board may issue a temporary license that allows a person to practice as an audiologist or a speech-language pathologist for a period of no more than nine months. This bill eliminates the nine-month limit and allows the board to promulgate rules that designate the period of a temporary license. The rules may designate a period that terminates if an applicant fails to take the next available examination that is required for a license for reasons other than inaction by the board or hardship.

5. Under current law, a hearing instrument specialist or an audiologist must test the hearing or observe the ear canal of a person who purchases a hearing aid. This bill requires the testing or observation also for a person for whom a hearing aid is purchased.

6. The bill prohibits a hearing instrument specialist or audiologist from fitting or selling a hearing aid for a person 17 years or younger unless the person has been examined by a physician within the previous 90 days. Under current law, the prohibition applies to a person who is 16 years or younger.

7. Under current law, persons who are licensed by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) as speech-language pathologists are exempt from the board's licensing requirements. This bill also exempts persons licensed as audiologists by DPI. In addition, the bill clarifies that the exemptions apply only if a person's entire practice of speech-language pathology or audiology is limited to the position for which the person is licensed by DPI.

8. Under current law, a person may be licensed by the board as a speech-language pathologist if he or she satisfies certain requirements, including completion of a postgraduate clinical fellowship. This bill provides that a person may also complete education or training that the board determines is substantially similar to such a fellowship.

9. Under current law, a person is not allowed to use a title related to audiology or speech-language pathology, or practice audiology or speech-language pathology, unless he or she is issued a license by the board. Prior to July 1, 1993, such persons were issued certificates of registration by the board. This bill eliminates all outdated references to audiology and speech-language pathology certificates of registration.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB841, s. 1 Section 1. 15.405 (6m) (c) 1. of the statutes is repealed.

AB841, s. 2 Section 2. 15.405 (6m) (c) 2. of the statutes is renumbered 15.405 (6m) (c) and amended to read:

AB841,3,5 15.405 (6m) (c) One audiologist Two audiologists licensed under subch. II of ch. 459. This subdivision applies after June 30, 1993.

AB841, s. 3 Section 3. 15.405 (6m) (d) 1. of the statutes is repealed.

AB841, s. 4 Section 4. 15.405 (6m) (d) 2. of the statutes is renumbered 15.405 (6m) (d) and amended to read:

AB841,3,10 15.405 (6m) (d) One Two speech-language pathologist pathologists licensed under subch. II of ch. 459. This subdivision applies after June 30, 1993.

AB841, s. 5 Section 5. 440.04 (8) of the statutes is repealed.

AB841, s. 6 Section 6. 440.05 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB841,3,15 440.05 Standard fees. (intro.) The following standard fees apply to all initial credentials, except as provided in ss. 440.42, 440.43, 440.44, 440.51, 444.03, 444.05, 444.11, 447.04 (2) (c) 2., 449.17, and 449.18 and 459.46:

AB841, s. 7 Section 7. 440.08 (2) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB841,3,19 440.08 (2) (a) (intro.) Except as provided in par. (b) and in ss. 440.51, 442.04, 444.03, 444.05, 444.11, 448.065, 447.04 (2) (c) 2., 449.17, and 449.18 and 459.46, the renewal dates and renewal fees for credentials are as follows:

AB841, s. 8 Section 8. 440.23 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB841,4,7 440.23 (1) If the holder of a credential pays a fee required under s. 440.05 (1) or (6), 440.08, 444.03, 444.05, or 444.11 or 459.46 (2) (b) by check or debit or credit card and the check is not paid by the financial institution upon which the check is drawn or if the demand for payment under the debit or credit card transaction is not paid by the financial institution upon which demand is made, the department may cancel the credential on or after the 60th day after the department receives the notice from the financial institution, subject to sub. (2).

AB841, s. 9 Section 9. 459.03 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB841,4,15 459.03 (1) Whoever practices fitting or selling of hearing aids under this subchapter shall deliver to each person supplied with a hearing aid a receipt. The receipt shall contain the licensee's signature and show the licensee's business address and certificate license number, together with specifications as to the make and model of the hearing aid furnished and full terms of sale clearly stated. If a hearing aid which is not new is sold, the receipt and the container thereof must be clearly marked as "used" or "reconditioned" whichever is applicable.

AB841, s. 10 Section 10. 459.035 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB841,4,21 459.035 Medical exam before being fitted. A hearing aid shall not be fitted for or sold to a child 16 person 17 years of age or younger unless within 90 days prior to the fitting the person to be fitted has been examined by a physician to determine whether or not he or she has any physical deficiencies that would prohibit the effective use of a hearing aid.

AB841, s. 11 Section 11. 459.05 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB841,5,9 459.05 (1m) Whenever the examining board determines that another state or jurisdiction has requirements equivalent to or higher than those in effect in the state for the practice of fitting and selling hearing aids, and that such state or jurisdiction has a program equivalent to or stricter than the program for determining whether applicants in this state are qualified to fit and sell hearing aids, the department may issue a license by reciprocity to applicants who hold valid certificates or licenses to deal in or fit hearing aids in such other state or jurisdiction, who pay the fee specified in s. 440.05 (2) and who are otherwise qualified for licensure. No applicant for a license by reciprocity under this subsection shall be required to submit to or undergo a qualifying examination, if the applicant personally appears at the next meeting of the examining board after filing the application to answer any questions the examining board has.

AB841, s. 12 Section 12. 459.07 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB841,5,17 459.07 (2) Upon receiving an application under this section, accompanied by the fee under s. 440.05 (6), the examining board may grant a trainee permit which may entitle the applicant to practice fitting of hearing aids for a period of one year. A person holding a valid hearing instrument specialist license issued under this subchapter or a valid license to practice audiology issued under s. 459.24 (3) shall be responsible for the direct supervision and training of the applicant and shall be liable for all negligent acts and omissions of the trainee in the fitting of hearing aids.

AB841, s. 13 Section 13. 459.085 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB841,5,23 459.085 Calibration of audiometric equipment. Audiometric equipment used in the evaluation of hearing sensitivity for the fitting and sale of hearing aids shall be calibrated periodically, as specified by rule by the examining board. Certification of these calibrations shall be sent to the examining board with the renewal fee required in s. 459.09 (1) (a).

AB841, s. 14 Section 14. 459.09 of the statutes is renumbered 459.09 (1) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB841,6,3 459.09 Renewal and posting of license. (1) (intro.) Each person issued a license under this subchapter shall, on or before the applicable renewal date specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a), pay do all of the following:

AB841,6,5 (a) Pay to the department the applicable renewal fee specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a) and, for a license that expires on or after February 1, 2001, submit.

AB841,6,11 (b) Submit with the renewal application proof that he or she completed, within the 2 years immediately preceding the date of his or her application, 20 hours of continuing education programs or courses of study approved or required under rules promulgated under s. 459.095. This paragraph does not apply to an applicant for renewal of a license that expires on the first renewal date after the date on which the examining board initially granted the license.

AB841,6,15 (2) A licensee shall keep the certificate a license issued under this subchapter conspicuously posted in his or her office or place of business at all times. Where more than one office is operated by the licensee, duplicate certificates licenses shall be issued by the department for posting in each location.

AB841, s. 15 Section 15. 459.095 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB841,7,7 459.095 (3) In consultation with the department, promulgate rules that require each person issued a license under this subchapter to whom s. 459.09 (1) (b) applies to complete a specified continuing education program or course of study to ensure competence with respect to a matter related to the practice of fitting and dealing in hearing aids if the examining board has received a significant number of consumer complaints about the matter or if the examining board otherwise determines that there is a need for such a requirement. Rules promulgated under this subsection shall establish criteria for the examining board's approval of the continuing education program or course of study and of sponsors and cosponsors of the continuing education program or course of study. The rules shall also require the examining board to administer, prior to the continuing education program or course of study, an examination on the matter that is the subject of the continuing education program or course of study and to waive a requirement to complete the continuing education program or course of study if a person granted a license under this subchapter passes the examination. A person who takes an examination specified in this subsection shall pay the fee specified in s. 440.05 (1) (b).