An Act To Amend the Licensing Laws for Hearing Aid Dealers and Fitters
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 1908
Committee: Business, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: DA VIS, PELLON, BRENNAN, AUSTIN, BROWN, DUNLAP, DUPREY, PERRY, ROGERS
Amends: 32 MRSA §1658-A, 32 MRSA §1658-I

Legislative Document 
No. 1908 
S.P.747 
In Senate, March 4, 2004 
An Act To Amend the Licensing Laws for Hearing Aid Dealers and 
Fitters 
Reference to the Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development suggested 
and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator DA VIS of Piscataquis. (GOVERNOR'S BILL) 
Cosponsored by Representative PELLON of Machias and 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Senator: BRENNAN of Cumberland, Representatives: AUSTIN of Gray, BROWN of South 
Berwick, DUNLAP of Old Town, DUPREY of Medway, PERRY of Bangor, ROGERS of 
Brewer. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §1658-A, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2001, c. 
323, §19, is further amended to read: 
2. 
License for business organization. 
Any corporation, 
partnership, 
trust, 
association 
or 
other 
like 
organization 
engaged in the business of selling or offering for sale hearing 
aids at retail in the State shall apply to the board for a 
license to engage in that business. 
No business entity may so 
engage in the business of selling or offering for sale hearing 
aids without a license to do so. 
The board shall issue a license 
upon payment by the business entity of an application and license 
fee under section l658-P set by the director and upon filing of a 
sworn statement from a person with authority from the business 
entity. 
That sworn statement must list the names and addresses 
of all hearing aid dealers and fitters directly or indirectly 
employed by the entity and must certify that the entity employs 
only hearing aid dealers and fitters who are duly licensed by the 
State. 
At least one of the licensees employed by the business 
entity must have been licensed for a minimum of 2 years and have 
at least 
3,000 
hours 
of 
work 
experience 
as 
a 
hearing 
aid 
dispenser or be certified by the National Board for Certification 
in Hearing Instrument Sciences, 
except that if the business 
entity is an audiologist licensed by the Board of Examiners on 
Speech language Pathology and Audiology, the business entity need 
not hire such an employee. 
The license required by this chapter must be conspicuously posted 
in the licensee's office or place of business. 
Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §1658-I, sub-§I, ,n, as amended by PL 1997, c. 
156, §3, is further amended to read: 
D. 
Has obtained a trainee permit pursuant to section 1658-J 
and has received a minimum of 750 hours of training in the 
practice of fitting and dealing in hearing aids under the 
direct supervision of a licensee during a period of not 
fewer than 6 nor more than 12 months. 
Audiologists licensed 
by the Board of Examiners on Speech language Pathology and 
Audiology are exempt from the reguirements of this paragraph. 
Sec. 3. 32 MRSA §1658-I, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1997, c. 
156, §4, is further amended to read: 
2. 
Ezaaaination. The applicant for license by examination 
shall appear at a time, place and before such persons as the 
board 
may 
designate, 
to 
be 
examined 
by 
means 
of written, 
practical 
and oral tests 
in order 
to 
demonstrate that the 
applicant is qualified to practice the fitting and sale of 
hearing aids. The board may appoint a consultant to assist in 
preparing 
the 
examination itself as 
well 
as 
conducting 
and 
supervising the testing. The examination administered as directed 
by the board constituting standards for licensing may not be 
conducted in such a manner that college training be required in 
order to pass the examination. Nothing in this examination may 
imply 
that 
the 
applicant 
possesses 
the 
degree 
of 
medical 
competence 
normally 
expected 
by 
physicians. 
Audiologists 
licensed by the Board of Examiners on Speech-language Pathology 
and Audiology are exempt from the requirements of this subsection. 
SUMMARY 
This bill permits an audiologist licensed by the Board of 
Examiners on Speech-language Pathology and Audiology to obtain a 
permit to fit and dispense hearing aids to the public without 
undergoing a training period under the supervision of a licensed 
hearing aid dealer. 
In addition, the bill exempts a licensed 
audiologist from the examination requirement of the Board of 
Hearing Aid Dealers and Fitters as well as other restrictions 
associated with the business of dispensing hearing aids to the 
public. 
The purpose of this bill is to enhance public access to 
hearing care, without jeopardizing public safety, 
by removing 
barriers for audiologists who 
by virtue of their audiologist 
licenses 
are 
qualified 
to 
dispense 
hearing 
aids 
without 
additional training under the supervision of a licensed hearing 
aid dealer.