1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to health; requiring hearing aid dispensers 
  1.3             to disclose certain information; proposing coding for 
  1.4             new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 153A. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [153A.20] [HEARING AIDS; REQUIRED INFORMATION.] 
  1.7      Subdivision 1.  [DEFINITIONS.] (a) For purposes of this 
  1.8   section, the following definitions apply. 
  1.9      (b) "Hearing aid" has the meaning given in section 153A.19, 
  1.10  subdivision 1. 
  1.11     (c) "Telecoil" means an induction pickup coil of copper 
  1.12  wire wrapped around a metal core whose function is to pick up 
  1.13  electromagnetic energy generated by sources used in 
  1.14  communication systems such as the telephone, audio-loop wiring, 
  1.15  or other assistive listening devices used by hard of hearing 
  1.16  persons in public forums. 
  1.17     Subd. 2.  [TELECOIL INFORMATION.] (a) A dispenser of 
  1.18  hearing aids shall provide information orally and in writing to 
  1.19  consumers purchasing a hearing aid regarding the option of 
  1.20  having a telecoil installed in the hearing aid.  If a consumer 
  1.21  chooses not to have a telecoil installed in the hearing aid, the 
  1.22  consumer shall sign a release form indicating that the consumer 
  1.23  was given information regarding the telecoil, but chose not to 
  1.24  purchase one. 
  1.25     (b) If the hearing aid dispenser does not inform the 
  2.1   consumer about the option of having a telecoil installed at the 
  2.2   time of purchasing a hearing aid, and the consumer learns about 
  2.3   this option and returns to the hearing aid dispenser within one 
  2.4   year after the date of purchase, the hearing aid dispenser shall 
  2.5   install the telecoil at no charge.