EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0406*
HOUSE BILL 406
P1 5lr1609
CF 5lr1608
By: Delegates Guzzone, Hill, Shetty, White Holland, and Woods
Introduced and read first time: January 16, 2025
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
State Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, 2
Speech–Language Pathologists, and Music Therapists – Appointment of 3
Members and Quorum 4
FOR the purpose of altering the appointment process for licensed audiologist, hearing aid 5
dispenser, and music therapist members of the State Board of Examiners for 6
Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, Speech–Language Pathologists, and Music 7
Therapists; altering the requirements for a quorum of the Board; and generally 8
relating to the State Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, 9
Speech–Language Pathologists, and Music Therapists. 10
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 11
Article – Health Occupations 12
Section 2–202(a)(1) and (2)(i), (v), and (vi) 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 15
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 16
Article – Health Occupations 17
Section 2–202(a)(5), (6), and (8) and 2–204(a) 18
Annotated Code of Maryland 19
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 20
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 21
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 22
Article – Health Occupations 23
2–202. 24
(a) (1) The Board consists of 15 members. 25 2 HOUSE BILL 406
(2) Of the 15 Board members: 1
(i) 3 shall be licensed audiologists who have at least 5 years’ paid 2
work experience in audiology and are currently practicing audiology in the State; 3
(v) 3 shall be licensed hearing aid dispensers who have at least 5 4
years’ paid work experience in dispensing hearing aids and are currently practicing hearing 5
aid dispensing in the State; and 6
(vi) 2 shall be licensed music therapists who have at least 5 years’ 7
paid work experience in music therapy and are currently practicing music therapy in the 8
State. 9
(5) (i) Subject to subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph, the Governor 10
shall appoint the audiologist members, with the advice of the Secretary, from a list 11
submitted to the Secretary and the Governor by the [Maryland Academy of Audiology] 12
BOARD. 13
(ii) The number of names on the list shall be at least 3 times the 14
number of vacancies. 15
(iii) For each audiologist vacancy, the Board shall notify all licensed 16
audiologists in the State of the vacancy to solicit nominations to fill the vacancy. 17
(6) (i) The Governor shall appoint the hearing aid dispenser members, 18
with the advice of the Secretary, from a list submitted to the Secretary and the Governor 19
by the [Maryland members of the Hearing Society of Maryland, Washington, D.C., and 20
Delaware] BOARD. 21
(ii) The number of names on the list shall be at least 3 times the 22
number of vacancies. 23
(III) FOR EACH HEARING AID DISPENSER VACANCY , THE BOARD 24
SHALL NOTIFY ALL LIC ENSED HEARING AID D ISPENSERS IN THE STATE OF THE 25
VACANCY TO SOLICIT N OMINATIONS TO FILL T HE VACANCY. 26
(8) (i) The Governor shall appoint the music therapist members, with 27
the advice of the Secretary, from a list submitted to the Secretary and the Governor by the 28
[Maryland Association for Music Therapy] BOARD. 29
(ii) The number of names on the list shall be at least 3 times the 30
number of vacancies. 31
HOUSE BILL 406 3
(III) FOR EACH MUSIC THERAP IST VACANCY, THE BOARD SHALL 1
NOTIFY ALL LICENSED MUSIC THERAPISTS IN THE STATE OF THE VACANCY TO 2
SOLICIT NOMINATIONS TO FILL THE VACANCY . 3
[(iii)] (IV) On or before December 31, 2021, the music therapist 4
members shall be board certified music therapists, as defined in § 2–4A–01 of this title. 5
[(iv)] (V) On or after January 1, 2022, the music therapist members 6
shall be licensed professional music therapists, as defined in § 2–4A–01 of this title. 7
2–204. 8
(a) A majority of the APPOINTED members [currently serving on] OF the Board[, 9
with at least 1 audiologist, hearing aid dispenser, speech–language pathologist, and music 10
therapist regulated under the provisions of this title being present,] is a quorum to do 11
business. 12
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 13
1, 2025. 14