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<ns0:Id>20250SB__136899INT</ns0:Id>
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<ns0:ActionText>INTRODUCED</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2026-02-20</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:SessionYear>2025</ns0:SessionYear>
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<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Senator Wahab</ns0:AuthorText>
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<ns0:Legislator>
<ns0:Contribution>LEAD_AUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
<ns0:House>SENATE</ns0:House>
<ns0:Name>Wahab</ns0:Name>
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<ns0:Title> An act to amend Sections 2538.33 and 2538.34 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to professions and vocations.</ns0:Title>
<ns0:RelatingClause>professions and vocations</ns0:RelatingClause>
<ns0:GeneralSubject>
<ns0:Subject>Hearing aid dispensers.</ns0:Subject>
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<html:p>Existing law generally regulates the licensing and oversight of hearing aid dispensers by the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board. Existing law imposes various requirements regarding the place of business of a “licensee,” which is defined as person holding a hearing aid dispenser license. Existing law defines a “hearing aid dispenser” as a person engaged in the practice of fitting or selling hearing aids to an individual with impaired hearing.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would specify that some of those provisions apply to hearing aid dispensers instead of licensees, and would change some of those provisions so they apply to an address or addresses instead of a place of business.</html:p>
<html:p>Existing law requires a licensee to apply for and procure a duplicate license if the licensee maintains more
than one place of business, as specified. Existing law authorizes a hearing aid dispenser to engage on a temporary basis in the practice of fitting or selling hearing aids at the primary or branch location of another licensee’s business without obtaining a duplicate license if certain requirements are satisfied.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would instead require a hearing aid dispenser engaged in the practice of fitting or selling hearing aids at more than one place of business to apply for and procure a branch office license, as specified. The bill would define “temporary basis” for purposes of the provisions described above. </html:p>
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<ns0:VoteRequired>MAJORITY</ns0:VoteRequired>
<ns0:Appropriation>NO</ns0:Appropriation>
<ns0:FiscalCommittee>YES</ns0:FiscalCommittee>
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<ns0:Preamble>The people of the State of California do enact as follows:</ns0:Preamble>
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<ns0:Num>SECTION 1.</ns0:Num>
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Section 2538.33 of the
<ns0:DocName>Business and Professions Code</ns0:DocName>
is amended to read:
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<ns0:Num>2538.33.</ns0:Num>
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(a)
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Before engaging in the practice of fitting or selling hearing aids, each licensee shall notify the board in writing of the address or addresses where they are to engage, or intend to engage, in the practice of fitting or selling hearing aids, and of any changes in their address or addresses within 30 days of engaging in that practice.
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(b)
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If the address
or addresses provided pursuant to subdivision (a) is not the address or addresses at which the licensee receives mail, the licensee shall also notify the board in writing of the mailing address for each location where the licensee is to engage, or intends to engage, in the practice of fitting or selling hearing aids, and of any change in the mailing address or addresses.
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 2.</ns0:Num>
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Section 2538.34 of the
<ns0:DocName>Business and Professions Code</ns0:DocName>
is amended to read:
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<ns0:Num>2538.34.</ns0:Num>
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(a)
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Every hearing aid dispenser who engages in the practice of fitting or selling hearing aids shall have an established retail business address routinely open for service to customers or clients. The address of that
place of business shall be registered with the board as provided in Section 2538.33.
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<html:p>
(b)
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Except as provided in subdivision (c), if a hearing aid dispenser engages in the practice of fitting or selling hearing aids at more than one place of business within this state, they shall apply for and procure a branch office license for each branch
place of business.
The application shall state the name of the person and the address of the place or places of business for which the branch office license is desired.
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(c)
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(1)
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A hearing aid dispenser may, without obtaining a
branch office license, engage on a temporary basis in the practice of fitting or selling hearing aids at another business or at a location or facility that they may use on a temporary basis, provided that the hearing aid dispenser notifies the board in advance in writing of the dates and addresses of those businesses, locations, or facilities at which they will engage in the practice of fitting or selling hearing aids.
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(2)
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For purposes of paragraph (1), “temporary basis” means a limited and short period of time that is not intended to occur repeatedly.
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