To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to prescribe the technical qualifications for licensed hearing aid specialists of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Bill: 116-hr-6612
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-41]
Introduced: 2020-04-23
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Congressional oversight

Health personnel

Hearing, speech, and vision care

Licensing and registrations

Veterans' medical care
Latest action: action_date: 2020-09-30
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-04-23
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to prescribe specified technical qualifications necessary for appointment as a licensed hearing aid specialist in the Veterans Health Administration. Under the bill, at least one licensed hearing aid specialist must be appointed at each VA medical center.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6612 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 23, 2020 Mr. Takano (for himself and Mr. David P. Roe of Tennessee ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to prescribe the technical qualifications for licensed hearing aid specialists of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

1. Prescription of technical qualifications for licensed hearing aid specialists and requirement for appointment of such specialists (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall prescribe the technical qualifications required under section 7402(a)(14) of title 38, United States Code, to be appointed as a licensed hearing aid specialist under section 7401(3) of such title. (b) Elements for qualifications In prescribing the qualifications for licensed hearing aid specialists under subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure such qualifications are consistent with the following: (1) Standards of registered apprenticeship programs for the occupation of hearing aid specialists approved by the Department of Labor in accordance with the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the National Apprenticeship Act ) (50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.). (2) Standards for licensure of hearing aid specialists that are required by a majority of States. (3) Competency in completing core tasks for the occupation of hearing aid specialist as determined by the Occupational Information Network Database (commonly known as O*NET ). (c) Appointment Not later than September 30, 2022, the Secretary shall appoint not fewer than one licensed hearing aid specialist at each medical center of the Department. (d) Report Not later than September 30, 2022, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report— (1) assessing the progress of the Secretary in appointing licensed hearing aid specialists under subsection (c); (2) assessing potential conflicts or obstacles that prevent the appointment of licensed hearing aid specialists; (3) assessing the factors that led to such conflicts or obstacles; and (4) indicating the medical centers of the Department with vacancies for licensed hearing aid specialists.