HEARING INSTRUMENTS-PROTECTION Senate SponsorsSen. Iris Y. Martinez House Sponsors(Rep. Jaime M. Andrade, Jr., Elizabeth Hernandez, Derrick Smith, John M. Cabello, Sandra M. Pihos, Linda Chapa LaVia and Norine Hammond) 8/1/2014SenatePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 98-0827 225 ILCS 50/1from Ch. 111, par. 7401225 ILCS 50/3from Ch. 111, par. 7403225 ILCS 50/6from Ch. 111, par. 7406225 ILCS 50/6.1225 ILCS 50/8from Ch. 111, par. 7408225 ILCS 50/9.5225 ILCS 50/16from Ch. 111, par. 7416225 ILCS 50/17from Ch. 111, par. 7417Amends the Hearing Instrument Consumer Protection Act. Replaces the term "hearing-impaired" with "deaf or hard of hearing" throughout the Act. Provides that a business organization, before dispensing a hearing instrument, shall inform the prospective user of the hearing instrument that an earmold impression taken by a licensed hearing instrument dispenser or licensed audiologist (rather than an earmold impression taken only by a licensed hearing instrument dispenser) is needed for proper fitting. Adds certification by the National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences and has been actively practicing for a minimum of 5 years to the list of criteria for license reciprocity. Makes changes to the application qualifications under the Act; provides that an applicant shall hold an associate's degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution of higher education that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or meets the U.S. Department of Education equivalency as determined through a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services member, and that the applicant is required to obtain a license within 12 months after passing either the written or practical examination, whichever is passed first (rather than both). Provides that a trainee license expires 12 months from the date of issue (rather than 6 months from the date of issue). 1/30/2014SenateFiled with Secretary by Sen. Iris Y. Martinez 1/30/2014SenateFirst Reading 1/30/2014SenateReferred to Assignments 2/11/2014SenateAssigned to Licensed Activities and Pensions 3/6/2014SenateDo Pass Licensed Activities and Pensions; 008-000-000 3/6/2014SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading March 19, 2014 3/20/2014SenateSecond Reading 3/20/2014SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading March 21, 2014 4/1/2014SenateThird Reading - Passed; 053-000-000 4/1/2014HouseArrived in House 4/7/2014HouseChief House Sponsor Rep. Jaime M. Andrade, Jr. 4/7/2014HouseFirst Reading 4/7/2014HouseReferred to Rules Committee 4/23/2014HouseAssigned to Consumer Protection Committee 4/29/2014HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez 4/29/2014HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Derrick Smith 4/29/2014HouseDo Pass / Short Debate Consumer Protection Committee; 014-000-000 4/30/2014HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate 5/1/2014HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. John M. Cabello 5/1/2014HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Sandra M. Pihos 5/1/2014HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia 5/1/2014HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Norine Hammond 5/6/2014HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate 5/6/2014HousePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate 5/8/2014HouseThird Reading - Short Debate - Passed 104-000-000 5/8/2014SenatePassed Both Houses 6/6/2014SenateSent to the Governor 8/1/2014SenateGovernor Approved 8/1/2014SenateEffective Date January 1, 2015 8/1/2014SenatePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 98-0827