This bill aims to revise and streamline the laws governing hearing aid dispensers by reorganizing administrative provisions and removing redundant regulations. A significant change includes transferring oversight authority from the Board of Hearing Aid Dispensers to a program within the Department of Labor and Industry. Additionally, the bill eliminates the requirement for licensure for individuals selling over-the-counter hearing aids, as well as the need for medical evaluations and the right to cancel contracts related to these sales.

The bill also extends rulemaking authority and amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA), specifically sections 37-1-401, 37-15-102, 37-15-103, 37-16-102, 37-16-103, 37-16-202, 37-16-301, 37-16-303, 37-16-402, 37-16-408, and 37-16-411. Furthermore, it repeals sections 2-15-1740, 37-16-201, 37-16-203, 37-16-304, 37-16-405, 37-16-406, and 37-16-413 of the MCA, thereby simplifying the regulatory framework surrounding hearing aids and enhancing accessibility for consumers.

Statutes affected:
SB0456_1.pdf: 37-1-401, 37-15-102, 37-15-103, 37-16-102, 37-16-103, 37-16-202, 37-16-301, 37-16-303, 37-16-402, 37-16-408, 37-16-411
SB0456_2.pdf: 37-1-401, 37-15-102, 37-15-103, 37-16-102, 37-16-103, 37-16-202, 37-16-301, 37-16-303, 37-16-402, 37-16-408, 37-16-411
Amended: 37-1-401, 37-15-102, 37-15-103, 37-16-102, 37-16-103, 37-16-202, 37-16-301, 37-16-303, 37-16-402, 37-16-408, 37-16-411
Introduced: 37-1-401, 37-15-102, 37-15-103, 37-16-102, 37-16-103, 37-16-202, 37-16-301, 37-16-303, 37-16-402, 37-16-408, 37-16-411