36-1902. Powers and duties of the director; advisory committee; examining committee

A. The director shall:

1. Appoint an advisory committee to collaborate with and assist the director and to perform duties as prescribed by this chapter. The director shall inform the advisory committee regarding all disciplinary actions.

2. Supervise and administer qualifying examinations to test the knowledge and proficiency of applicants for a hearing aid dispenser's license.

3. Designate the time and place for holding examinations for a hearing aid dispenser's license.

4. License persons who apply for and pass the examination for a license, and possess all other qualifications required for the practice of fitting and dispensing hearing aids, the practice of audiology and the practice of speech-language pathology.

5. License persons who apply for a license and possess all other qualifications required for licensure as a speech-language pathology assistant.

6. Authorize all disbursements necessary to carry out this chapter.

7. Ensure the public's health and safety by adopting and enforcing qualification standards for licensees and applicants for licensure under this chapter.

B. The director may:

1. Purchase and maintain, or rent, equipment and facilities necessary to carry out the examination of applicants for a license.

2. Issue and renew a license.

3. Deny, suspend, revoke or refuse renewal of a license or file a letter of concern, issue a decree of censure, prescribe probation, impose a civil penalty or restrict or limit the practice of a licensee pursuant to this chapter.

4. Appoint an examining committee to assist in the conduct of the examination of applicants for a hearing aid dispenser's license.

5. Make and publish rules that are not inconsistent with the laws of this state and that are necessary to carry out this chapter.

6. Require the periodic inspection of testing equipment and facilities of persons engaging in the practice of fitting and dispensing hearing aids, audiology and speech-language pathology.

7. Require a licensee to produce customer records of patients involved in complaints on file with the department.

C. The advisory committee appointed pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 1 consists of the director, two physicians licensed under title 32, chapter 13 or 17, one of whom is a specialist in otolaryngology, two licensed audiologists, one of whom dispenses hearing aids, two licensed speech-language pathologists, two public members, one of whom is hearing impaired, one member of the Arizona commission for the deaf and the hard of hearing who is not licensed pursuant to this chapter and two licensed hearing aid dispensers who are not licensed to practice audiology. Committee members who are licensed under this chapter shall have at least five years' experience immediately preceding the appointment in their field of practice in this state.

D. The examining committee authorized pursuant to subsection B, paragraph 4 consists of one otolaryngologist, two licensed dispensing audiologists and two licensed hearing aid dispensers. Committee members who are licensed under this chapter shall have at least five years' experience immediately preceding the appointment in their field of practice in this state. The findings of the examining committee shall be advisory to the director.

E. The director shall verify that the audiology licensee has passed a nationally recognized examination approved by the director.

F. The director shall verify that the speech-language pathology licensee has passed a nationally recognized examination approved by the director.

G. The director may recognize a nationally recognized speech-language hearing association or audiology association examination, or both, as an approved examination.

H. The advisory committee shall provide recommendations to the director in the following areas, on which the director shall act within a reasonable period of time:

1. Issuance and renewal of a license.

2. Prescribing disciplinary procedures.

3. Appointment of an examining committee to assist in the conduct of the examination of applicants for a hearing aid dispenser's license.

4. Adopting rules that are not inconsistent with the laws of this state and that are necessary to carry out this chapter.

5. Requiring the periodic inspection of testing equipment and facilities of persons engaging in the practice of fitting and dispensing hearing aids, audiology and speech-language pathology.

6. Requiring a licensee to produce customer records of patients involved in complaints on file with the department of health services.