2018 -- H 7086

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LC003151

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS - HEARING AID DEALERS AND

FITTERS

     Introduced By: Representative John J. Lombardi

     Date Introduced: January 10, 2018

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 5-49-13 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-49 entitled "Hearing Aid

Dealers and Fitters" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     5-49-13. Prohibited acts and practices.

     (a) No person shall:

      (1) Sell, barter, or offer to sell or barter, a license.

      (2) Purchase or procure by barter a license with intent to use it as evidence of the

holder's qualifications to practice the fitting and sale of hearing aids.

      (3) Alter a license with fraudulent intent.

      (4) Use or attempt to use as a valid license a license which has been purchased,

fraudulently obtained, counterfeited, or materially altered.

      (5) Willfully make a false statement in an application for license or application for

renewal of a license.

     (b) The sale and/or delivery of hearing aids directly to the consumer through the Internet

or direct mail in those instances where the consumer does not have a valid certificate of need

pursuant to §5-49-2.1 is prohibited, and shall be punishable by a fine of not more than five

hundred dollars ($500), or imprisonment for not more than ninety (90) days, or both.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS - HEARING AID DEALERS AND

FITTERS

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     This act would prohibit the sale and/or delivery of hearing aids directly to the consumer

through the Internet or direct mail unless the consumer has a valid certificate of need, and would

provide for criminal penalties for violations.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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