1     
HEARING INSTRUMENT SPECIALIST LICENSING

2     
AMENDMENTS

3     
2023 GENERAL SESSION

4     
STATE OF UTAH

5     
Chief Sponsor: Curtis S. Bramble

6     
House Sponsor: A. Cory Maloy

7     

8     LONG TITLE
9     General Description:
10          This bill addresses hearing instrument specialist licensing requirements.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     extends the sunset date for the Hearing Instrument Specialist Licensing Act;
14          ▸     modifies licensing requirements for a hearing instrument intern who applies for
15     licensure as a hearing instrument specialist;
16          ▸     permits renewal of a license for a hearing instrument intern under certain
17     circumstances;
18          ▸     provides administrative rulemaking authority; and
19          ▸     makes technical and conforming changes.
20     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
21          None
22     Other Special Clauses:
23          None
24     Utah Code Sections Affected:
25     AMENDS:
26          58-46a-302.5, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapter 154
27          58-46a-303, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapter 154
28          63I-1-258, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2022, Chapters 33, 415, and 416
29     

30     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
31          Section 1. Section 58-46a-302.5 is amended to read:
32          58-46a-302.5. Supervision requirements -- Hearing instrument interns.
33          (1) [A] Except as provided in Subsection (2), a hearing instrument intern [shall] may
34     only practice as a hearing instrument intern [only] under the direct supervision of a licensed
35     hearing instrument specialist[, until the intern:].
36          (2) A hearing instrument intern may practice under the indirect supervision of a
37     licensed hearing instrument specialist if the hearing instrument specialist:
38          (a) receives a passing score on a practical examination demonstrating acceptable skills
39     in the area of hearing testing as approved by the division by rule made in accordance with Title
40     63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act; and
41          (b) completes the National Institute for Hearing instrument studies education and
42     examination program, or an equivalent college level program as approved by the division by
43     rule made in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act.
44          [(2) Upon satisfaction of the direct supervision requirement of Subsection (1) the intern
45     shall:]
46          [(a) practice as a hearing instrument intern only under the indirect supervision of a
47     licensed hearing instrument specialist; and]
48          [(b) receive a passing score on the International Licensing Examination of the hearing
49     instrument dispenser or other tests approved by the division prior to applying for licensure as a
50     hearing instrument specialist.]
51          Section 2. Section 58-46a-303 is amended to read:
52          58-46a-303. Term of license -- Expiration -- Renewal of specialist and intern
53     licenses.
54          (1) (a) (i) The division shall issue [each] a license for a hearing instrument specialist in
55     accordance with a two-year renewal cycle established by rule made in accordance with Title
56     63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act.
57          (ii) The division may by rule made in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
58     Administrative Rulemaking Act, extend or shorten a renewal period by as much as one year to
59     stagger the renewal cycles [it] the division administers.
60          [(2) Each license as a hearing instrument intern shall be issued for a term of three years
61     and may not be renewed.]
62          [(3)] (b) At the time of renewal, the licensed hearing instrument specialist shall
63     demonstrate satisfactory evidence of each of the following:
64          [(a)] (i) current certification by the National Board for Certification Hearing Instrument
65     Sciences, or other acceptable certification approved by the division by rule made in accordance
66     with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act;
67          [(b)] (ii) calibration of all appropriate technical instruments used in practice; and
68          [(c)] (iii) completion of continuing professional education required in Section
69     58-46a-304.
70          [(4) Each] (c) A hearing instrument specialist license automatically expires on the
71     expiration date shown on the license unless renewed by the licensee in accordance with [the
72     provisions of] Section 58-1-308[,] or [unless] surrendered in accordance with [the provisions
73     of] Section 58-1-306.
74          (2) (a) The division shall issue a license for a hearing instrument intern for a term of
75     three years.
76          (b) The division may renew a license for a hearing instrument intern for a term of three
77     years for good cause shown, as determined by rule made in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter
78     3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act.
79          Section 3. Section 63I-1-258 is amended to read:
80          63I-1-258. Repeal dates: Title 58.
81          (1) Section 58-3a-201, which creates the Architects Licensing Board, is repealed July
82     1, 2026.
83          (2) Title 58, Chapter 13, Health Care Providers Immunity from Liability Act, is
84     repealed July 1, 2026.
85          (3) Title 58, Chapter 15, Health Facility Administrator Act, is repealed July 1, 2025.
86          (4) Title 58, Chapter 20b, Environmental Health Scientist Act, is repealed July 1, 2028.
87          (5) Subsection 58-37-6(7)(f)(iii), relating to the seven-day opiate supply restriction, is
88     repealed July 1, 2032, and the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel is
89     authorized to renumber the remaining subsections accordingly.
90          (6) Title 58, Chapter 40, Recreational Therapy Practice Act, is repealed July 1, 2033.
91          (7) Title 58, Chapter 41, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Licensing Act, is
92     repealed July 1, 2029.
93          (8) Title 58, Chapter 42a, Occupational Therapy Practice Act, is repealed July 1, 2025.
94          (9) Title 58, Chapter 46a, Hearing Instrument Specialist Licensing Act, is repealed July
95     1, [2023] 2033.
96          (10) Title 58, Chapter 47b, Massage Therapy Practice Act, is repealed July 1, 2024.
97          (11) Subsection 58-55-201(2), which creates the Alarm System and Security Licensing
98     Advisory Board, is repealed July 1, 2027.
99          (12) Subsection 58-60-405(3), regarding certain educational qualifications for licensure
100     and reporting, is repealed July 1, 2032.
101          (13) Title 58, Chapter 61, Part 7, Behavior Analyst Licensing Act, is repealed July 1,
102     2026.
103          (14) Title 58, Chapter 72, Acupuncture Licensing Act, is repealed July 1, 2027.
104          [(15) The following sections are repealed July 1, 2022:]
105          [(a) Section 58-5a-502;]
106          [(b) Section 58-31b-502.5;]
107          [(c) Section 58-67-502.5;]
108          [(d) Section 58-68-502.5; and]
109          [(e) Section 58-69-502.5.]