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Committee hears proposal to combine audiology and hearing‑aid boards; professionals urge fix to testing and fees
Summary
Senate Industry and Business Committee members heard testimony on SB 2203, a bill from Sen. Judy Lee to consolidate the state boards that regulate audiologists, speech‑language pathologists and hearing‑aid specialists to ease rural licensure hurdles.
Senate Industry and Business Committee members heard testimony on Senate Bill 2203, a proposal from Sen. Judy Lee to consolidate the Board of Hearing Aid Specialists with the Board of Examiners for Audiology and Speech‑Language Pathology to streamline licensure and board processes.
Sen. Judy Lee said the bill responds to a recruitment problem in rural Jamestown where an audiologist who could have served the community faced an unexpected licensing hurdle to dispense hearing aids because that work is overseen by a separate board. “I would like the audiology board and the hearing aid specialist board to discuss how they might be able to work together,” Lee said, describing the proposal as an impetus for collaboration rather than an attempt to eliminate specialty oversight.
Testimony reflected a mix of support for the idea of greater coordination and substantial concern about specific provisions in the draft bill. A…
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