H*3909(Rat #0558, Act #0448 of 1982)  General Bill, By 
 House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs
 A Bill to amend Section 40-25-150, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976,
 relating to licensing of hearing aid dealers and fitters, so as to provide
 continuing minimum education requirements.

   05/05/82  House  Introduced, read first time, placed on calendar
                     without reference HJ-2785
   05/06/82  House  Read second time HJ-2833
   05/07/82  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-2869
   05/11/82  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-11
   05/11/82  Senate Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs SJ-11
   05/20/82  Senate Committee report: Favorable Medical Affairs SJ-19
   05/31/82  Senate Read second time SJ-38
   06/02/82  Senate Read third time and enrolled SJ-92
   06/03/82  House  Ratified R 558 HJ-3944
   06/08/82         Signed By Governor
   06/08/82         Effective date 06/08/82
   06/08/82         Act No. 448

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 40-25-150, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO LICENSING OF HEARING AID DEALERS AND FITTERS, SO AS TO PROVIDE CONTINUING MINIMUM EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Licensee and temporary permit holders must maintain progressive level of competence

Section 1. Section 40-25-150 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding at the end:

"Any licensee or temporary permit holder must maintain a progressing level of professional competence by participation during each calendar year in educational programs designed to keep such licensee informed of changes, current practices, and developments pertaining to the fitting of hearing aids and rehabilition as appropraite to hearing aid use.

The licensee shall annually submit to the Commission proof of having participated in a minimum of eight hours of continuing education during the calendar year. A licensee who is granted a license during a calendar year shall not be required to complete such requirement during that year and such requirement shall begin the second full licensing year. The requirement may be fulfilled by attending and participating in training activities approved by the Commission.

Any person or organization desiring to conduct continuing education training programs must submit such programs to the Commission which must approve them not less than sixty days prior to their presentation.

Failure to complete the minimum educational requirements shall result in a license suspension until the requirements are met. The Commission, upon sufficient cause shown by the licensee, may allow the licensee to make up the necessary hours during the next calendar year. The make-up allowance shall not waive the full annual requirements for continued education."

Renewal of license

Section 2. The continuing education requirements as set forth in Section 1 shal be prerequisite for renewal of licenses after December 31, 1983.

Time effective

Section 3. This act shall take effect upon the approval by the Governor.