CHAPTER 609
S.P. 747 - L.D. 1908
An Act To Amend the Licensing Laws for Hearing Aid Dealers and Fitters
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §1658-A, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2001, c. 323, §19, is further amended to read:
2. License for business organization. Any corporation, partnership, trust, association or other like organization engaged in the business of selling or offering for sale hearing aids at retail in the State shall apply to the board for a license to engage in that business. No business entity may so engage in the business of selling or offering for sale hearing aids without a license to do so. The board shall issue a license upon payment by the business entity of an application and license fee under section 1658-P set by the director and upon filing of a sworn statement from a person with authority from the business entity. That sworn statement must list the names and addresses of all hearing aid dealers and fitters directly or indirectly employed by the entity and must certify that the entity employs only hearing aid dealers and fitters who are duly licensed by the State. At least one of the licensees employed by the business entity must have been licensed for a minimum of 2 years and have at least 3,000 hours of work experience as a hearing aid dispenser or be certified by the National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences, except that if the business entity is an audiologist licensed by the Board of Examiners on Speech-language Pathology and Audiology, the business entity need not hire such an employee.
The license required by this chapter must be conspicuously posted in the licensee's office or place of business.
Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §1658-I, sub-§1, ¶D, as amended by PL 1997, c. 156, §3, is further amended to read:
D. Has obtained a trainee permit pursuant to section 1658-J and has received a minimum of 750 hours of training in the practice of fitting and dealing in hearing aids under the direct supervision of a licensee during a period of not fewer than 6 nor more than 12 months. Audiologists licensed by the Board of Examiners on Speech-language Pathology and Audiology are exempt from the requirements of this paragraph.
Sec. 3. 32 MRSA §1658-I, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1997, c. 156, §4, is further amended to read:
2. Examination. The applicant for license by examination shall appear at a time, place and before such persons as the board may designate, to be examined by means of written, practical and oral tests in order to demonstrate that the applicant is qualified to practice the fitting and sale of hearing aids. The board may appoint a consultant to assist in preparing the examination itself as well as conducting and supervising the testing. The examination administered as directed by the board constituting standards for licensing may not be conducted in such a manner that college training be required in order to pass the examination. Nothing in this examination may imply that the applicant possesses the degree of medical competence normally expected by physicians. Audiologists licensed by the Board of Examiners on Speech-language Pathology and Audiology are exempt from the requirements of this subsection.
Effective July 30, 2004, unless otherwise indicated.
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