SB 670 Summary

• Allows licensed audiologists with a doctoral degree in Audiology and permanent licensure under Article 22 of Chapter 90 to fit and sell hearing aids without Board licensure, provided they register as a "Registered Sponsor."

• Changes the Hearing Aid Dealers and Fitters Board composition to replace the audiologist member with a person with hearing loss to represent consumer interests, effective upon the current audiologist member's term expiration.

• Creates new "Registered Sponsor" category for licensed audiologists and Board licensees to supervise apprentices, with annual registration fee of $150.

• Simplifies apprenticeship requirements by allowing Board-licensed practitioners, licensed audiologists with 250 hours of supervised hearing aid fitting experience, and those working one year under otolaryngologist supervision to skip the one-year apprenticeship requirement.

• Clarifies that audiology assistants and certified technicians must register as apprentices or obtain Board licensure before fitting or selling hearing aids, and exempts audiology students from licensure requirements for activities within their course of study.