52 N.J.R. 1810(a)

VOLUME 52, ISSUE 19, OCTOBER 5, 2020
RULE PROPOSALS

Reporter
52 N.J.R. 1810(a)
NJ - New Jersey Register  >  2020    >  OCTOBER   >  OCTOBER 5, 2020   >  RULE PROPOSALS  >  LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY -- DIVISION OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS

Interested Persons Statement 

INTERESTED PERSONS 
Interested persons may submit comments, information or arguments concerning any of the rule proposals in this issue until the date indicated in the proposal. Submissions and any inquiries about submissions should be addressed to the agency officer specified for a particular proposal. 
The required minimum period for comment concerning a proposal is 30 days. A proposing agency may extend the 30-day comment period to accommodate public hearings or to elicit greater public response to a proposed new rule or amendment. Most notices of proposal include a 60-day comment period, in order to qualify the notice for an exception to the rulemaking calendar requirements of  N.J.S.A. 52:14B-3. An extended comment deadline will be noted in the heading of a proposal or appear in a subsequent notice in the Register. 
At the close of the period for comments, the proposing agency may thereafter adopt a proposal, without change, or with changes not in violation of the rulemaking procedures at      N.J.A.C. 1:30-6.3. The adoption becomes effective upon publication in the Register of a notice of adoption, unless otherwise indicated in the adoption notice. Promulgation in the New Jersey Register establishes a new or amended rule as an official part of the New Jersey Administrative Code. 
Agency


LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY > DIVISION OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS > AUDIOLOGY AND SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY ADVISORY COMMITTEE


Administrative Code Citation


Proposed Amendment: N.J.A.C. 13:44C-7.1


Text

  Scope of Practice--Audiology
Authorized By: Paul R. Rodriguez, Acting Director, Division of Consumer Affairs.
Authority: N.J.S.A. 45:3B-24 and P.L. 2019, c. 41.
Calendar Reference: See Summary below for explanation of exception to calendar requirement.
Proposal Number: PRN 2020-092.
Submit written comments by December 4, 2020, to:
Renee Clark, Executive Director
Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Advisory Committee
Division of Consumer Affairs
124 Halsey Street
PO Box 45002
Newark, New Jersey 07101
or electronically at:
http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/Proposals/Pages/default.aspx
The agency proposal follows:
Summary
P.L. 2019, c. 41 permits a licensed audiologist to dispense and fit hearing aids, as long as he or she has completed coursework and clinical training in the dispensing and fitting of hearing aids that meets the requirements established by the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Advisory Committee (Committee). The Committee has reviewed educational programs for audiologists and has determined that all such education programs contain content that prepares graduates to dispense and fit hearing aids. The Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs (Director) proposes to amend N.J.A.C. 13:44C-7.1, so that every licensed audiologist can dispense and fit hearing aids.  
The Director has determined that the public comment period for this notice of proposal shall be 60 days; therefore, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 1:30-3.3(a)5, this notice is excepted from the rulemaking calendar requirement.  
Social Impact  
The Director believes that the proposed amendment will benefit individuals who need hearing aids, as it will increase the number of individuals who can dispense and fit hearing aids, and increase access to hearing aids.  
Economic Impact  
The Director does not anticipate that the proposed amendment will have any economic impact.  
Federal Standards Statement  
A Federal standards analysis is not required because there are no Federal standards or requirements applicable to the subject matter of the proposed rulemaking.  
Jobs Impact  
The proposed amendment will not increase or decrease the number of jobs in New Jersey.  
Agriculture Industry Impact  
The Director does not believe that the proposed amendment will have any impact on the agriculture industry of this State.  
Regulatory Flexibility Statement  
Since licensed audiologists are individually licensed by the Committee, under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (the Act), N.J.S.A. 52:14B-16 et seq., they may be considered "small businesses" for the purposes of the Act.  
The proposed amendment will not have any economic impact and the Director does not believe that licensees will need to employ professional services in order to comply with the proposed amendment. The proposed amendment does not impose any compliance, reporting, or recordkeeping requirements.  
Housing Affordability Impact Analysis  
The proposed amendment will have an insignificant impact on the affordability of housing in New Jersey and there is an extreme unlikelihood that the proposed amendment would evoke a change in the average costs associated with housing because the proposed amendment concerns scope of practice for licensed audiologists.  
Smart Growth Development Impact Analysis  
The proposed amendment will have an insignificant impact on smart growth and there is an extreme unlikelihood that the proposed amendment would evoke a change in housing production in Planning Areas 1 or 2, or within designated centers, under the State Development and Redevelopment Plan in New Jersey because the proposed amendment concerns scope of practice for licensed audiologists.  
Racial and Ethnic Community Criminal Justice and Public Safety Impact  
The Director has evaluated this rulemaking and determined that it will not have an impact on pretrial detention, sentencing, probation, or parole policies concerning adults and juveniles in the State. Accordingly, no further analysis is required.  
[page=1811]   Full text of the proposal follows (additions indicated in boldface   thus; deletions indicated in brackets [thus]):  
SUBCHAPTER 7.   AUTHORIZED PRACTICE  
13:44C-7.1    Scope of practice--audiology  
(a) The practice of audiology includes the following functions related to hearing, its disorders, and related communication impairments:  
1.-8. (No change.)  
9. Screening of speech-language, use of sign language, and other factors affecting communication function for the purposes of an audiological evaluation and/or initial identification of individuals with other communication disorders; [and]  
10. Assessment and nonmedical management of tinnitus using biofeedback, masking, education, and counseling[.]; and  
11. Dispensing and fitting of hearing aids.