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The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation Hearing Instrument Fitters and Dispensers Advisory Board met on June 26, 2019 to discuss a number of staff reports and proposed rule changes. Agenda can be found here.

This report is intended to give you an overview and highlight of the discussions on the various topics the committee took up. It is not a verbatim transcript of the hearing but is based upon what was audible or understandable to the observer and the desire to get details out as quickly as possible with few errors or omissions.

 

Staff Reports

 

Licensing Division

  • TDLR staff – New surety bond form has been updated and posted on the website.
  • Dawkins – Surety bonds say TDLR now instead of Hearing Instrument?
    • Yes.

 

Customer Service Division

  • Kwon Nguyen, Customer Service division – Gave brief update.

 

Enforcement Division

  • Karen Cox, Enforcement Division – Gave brief update on ongoing lawsuit.

 

Education and Examination Division

  • Rebecca Ramos, Education and Examination Liaison – New bill was passed during session that cleaned up examination language.

 

RPM Program

  • Steve Aker – Has updated surety platform. Have done some public outreach.

 

Executive Office – Mike Arismendez, Deputy Executive Director

  • HB 2699 (Goldman/Zaffirini) cleaned up language around 70% passage of the examination.
  • Other bills that dealt more generally with health industries had some effect on hearing instruments.
  • TDLR will begin to regulate gas pumps.
  • TDLR will be doing more to combat human trafficking.

 

Discussion of proposed amendments to rule 16 Texas Administrative Code

  • Wendy Ellis, Assistant General Counsel – Since there is no quorum these can be discussed but no action can be taken.
  • Benjamin Norris, presiding officer – Will roll that discussion over to next meeting.
    • Arismendez – There is a 6 month period between when the rules are proposed and when they can be adopted.
    • Ellis – Have until October 28 for this advisory board to approve the rules so the Commission can adopt them.
    • Arismendez – Should establish a date for the advisory board to meet so it can look at the proposed rule changes.