1997 Minnesota Statutes

     153A.20 Hearing instrument dispenser advisory council. 

    Subdivision 1.    Membership.  The commissioner shall 
 appoint nine persons to a hearing instrument dispenser advisory 
 council. 

    (a) The nine persons must include: 

    (1) three public members, as defined in section 214.02.  At 
 least one of the public members shall be a hearing instrument 
 user and one of the public members shall be either a hearing 
 instrument user or an advocate of one; and 

    (2) three hearing instrument dispensers certified under 
 sections 153A.14 to 153A.20, each of whom is currently, and has 
 been for the five years immediately preceding their appointment, 
 engaged in hearing instrument dispensing in Minnesota and who 
 represent the occupation of hearing instrument dispensing and 
 who are not audiologists; and 

    (3) three audiologists who are certified hearing instrument 
 dispensers, are registered as audiologists under Minnesota 
 Rules, chapter 4750, or if no rules are in effect, audiologists 
 who hold current certificates of clinical competence in 
 audiology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association 
 and who represent the occupation of audiology. 

    (b) The factors the commissioner may consider when 
 appointing advisory council members include, but are not limited 
 to, professional affiliation, geographical location, and type of 
 practice. 

    (c) No two members of the advisory council shall be 
 employees of, or have binding contracts requiring sales 
 exclusively for, the same hearing instrument manufacturer or the 
 same employer. 

    Subd. 2.    Organization.  The advisory council shall be 
 organized and administered according to section 15.059, except 
 that, notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the 
 advisory council shall not expire.  The council may form 
 committees to carry out its duties. 

    Subd. 3.    Duties.  At the commissioner's request, the 
 advisory council shall: 

    (1) advise the commissioner regarding hearing instrument 
 dispenser certification standards; 

    (2) advise the commissioner on enforcement of sections 
 153A.13 to 153A.20; 

    (3) provide for distribution of information regarding 
 hearing instrument dispenser certification standards; 

    (4) review applications and make recommendations to the 
 commissioner on granting or denying certification or 
 certification renewal; 

    (5) review reports of investigations relating to 
 individuals and make recommendations to the commissioner as to 
 whether certification should be denied or disciplinary action 
 taken against the individual; and 

    (6) perform other duties authorized for advisory councils 
 by chapter 214, or as directed by the commissioner. 

    HIST: 1995 c 164 s 31