March 9, 2022 - Introduced by Senators Larson, Bewley and Agard, cosponsored
by Representatives Brostoff, B. Meyers, Sinicki, Emerson, Spreitzer, Hebl,
Shelton, Milroy, Baldeh, Ohnstad, Hong, Anderson, Cabrera and Stubbs.
Referred to Committee on Insurance, Licensing and Forestry.

SB1079,1,5 1An Act to renumber 459.035; to renumber and amend 459.24 (3m) (a); to
2amend 459.03 (2) (a); to repeal and recreate 459.035 (title); and to create
3459.03 (2) (c), 459.035 (2), 459.24 (3m) (a) 1. and 2., 459.24 (3m) (c) and 459.24
4(3m) (d) of the statutes; relating to: information and demonstration
5requirements for hearing instrument specialists and audiologists.

Subject to certain exceptions, this bill requires a hearing instrument specialist
or an audiologist, at the time of an initial examination for the fitting and sale of a
hearing aid, to inform the prospective client or other purchaser about the operation
and benefits of hearing aids with features, such as telecoils, that can provide a direct
connection between the hearing aid and an assistive listening system. If the client
or other purchaser purchases such a hearing aid, the hearing instrument specialist
or audiologist must demonstrate for the client or purchaser the proper use of the
technology.

In addition, the bill requires a hearing instrument specialist or audiologist,
when delivering a receipt to a person supplied with a hearing aid, to include in the
receipt language requiring the client or other purchaser to verify that the client or
purchaser has received any required information about hearing aids with features,
such as telecoils, and, if the client or purchaser has purchased such a hearing aid,
that the client or purchaser has been provided the required demonstration on its use.