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HLS 26RS-1424 ENGROSSED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 1228
BY REPRESENTATIVE CREWS
HEARING AID DEALERS: Provides relative to the Louisiana Board of Hearing Aid
Dealers
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 37:2441(B), 2442(2), 2444, 2444.1, 2444.2(A) and (B)(2),
3 2445(3), 2447, and 2450(A), relative to the registration and licensing of hearing aid
4 dealers; to provide for definitions; to provide for requirements for bill of sale
5 contracts; to provide for testing periods for hearing aids; to provide for a limited
6 cooling off period; to provide for application fees; to provide for the scope of
7 examination; to provide for place of business mail notices; and to provide for related
8 matters.
9 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
10 Section 1. R.S. 37:2441(B), 2442(2), 2444, 2444.1, 2444.2(A) and (B)(2), 2445(3),
11 2447, and 2450(A) are hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
12 §2441. Registration and licensing required
13 * * *
14 B. The provisions of this Section are enacted to:
15 (1) Protect the public.
16 (2) Aid the Department of Revenue in collecting sales taxes on labor, on
17 retail prices of hearing aids, and on material used in the repair, service, and
18 maintenance of hearing aids.
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HB NO. 1228
1 (3)(2) Provide an adequate supply of licensed hearing aid dealers throughout
2 the state to serve as sponsors for applicants seeking temporary training permits
3 pursuant to R.S. 37:2449.
4 §2442. Definitions
5 The following words and phrases, when used in this Chapter, have the
6 following meanings:
7 * * *
8 (2) "Hearing aid" means any wearable instrument or device designed for or
9 represented as aiding or compensating for defective human hearing and any parts,
10 attachments, or accessories of such an instrument or device as defined by the United
11 States Food and Drug Administration.
12 * * *
13 §2444. Bill of sale; contract
14 Any person who engages in the fitting or selling of hearing aids shall deliver
15 to each person supplied with a hearing aid, by him or at his order or direction, a bill
16 of sale or contract which shall contain his signature and show the address of his
17 regular place of business with a contact phone number, email address, and the
18 number of his license, together with a description of the make, model, and serial
19 number of the hearing aid furnished and the amount charged therefor. The bill of
20 sale or contract shall also reveal the condition of the hearing device and whether it
21 is new, used, or rebuilt, and the mailing address, email address, and phone number
22 of the Louisiana Board for Hearing Aid Dealers.
23 §2444.1. Testing period for hearing aids
24 A.(1) Any person licensed pursuant to this Chapter who sells a hearing aid
25 to a consumer shall provide a written receipt or written contract to the consumer.
26 The written receipt or contract shall provide the consumer with a thirty-day right to
27 cancel the purchase if the consumer finds that the hearing aid does not function
28 adequately for the consumer. If the consumer cancels the hearing aid purchase based
29 on this Subsection, the consumer may obtain a refund if he returns the hearing aid
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HB NO. 1228
1 to the seller in the same condition, ordinary wear and tear excluded, as when
2 purchased. The written receipt or contract shall notify the consumer of the thirty-day
3 right to cancel period in at least ten point type. The thirty-day right to cancel period
4 shall commence from either the date the hearing aid is originally delivered to the
5 consumer or the date the written receipt or contract is delivered to the consumer,
6 whichever is later. The thirty-day period shall be interrupted for any period during
7 which the hearing aid seller, dealer, or fitter has possession or control of the hearing
8 aid after its original delivery.
9 (2) The consumer may exercise the right to return the purchase by presenting
10 the hearing aid directly to the office in which it was sold or by returning the hearing
11 aid to the location listed on the written receipt or written contract via trackable
12 shipping methods within the time allotted with notice of his intent to return. The
13 seller shall accept the return and issue a return receipt. Upon cancellation the
14 consumer shall make available to the seller in substantially as good condition as
15 when received, any goods delivered under the contract or sale. Any property traded
16 in for credit, any payments made by the consumer under the contract or sale, and any
17 negotiable instrument executed shall be returned by the seller to the consumer within
18 ten business days following receipt by the seller of the cancellation notice and
19 hearing aid. The cancellation notice shall be delivered in writing, and may be
20 delivered by electronic mail, as verification of intent to return within thirty days.
21 The consumer is still responsible for the cancellation fee.
22 B. Upon exercise of the thirty-day right to cancel a hearing aid purchase, the
23 seller of the hearing aid is entitled to a cancellation fee not to exceed fifteen percent
24 of all fees charged to the consumer, including testing, fitting, counseling, and the
25 purchase price of the hearing aid before taxes. The exact amount of the cancellation
26 fee shall be stated in the written receipt or contract provided to the consumer.
27 §2444.2. Three-day cooling off period
28 A. A consumer may cancel any transaction for the purchase of a hearing aid,
29 without any penalty or obligation, within three business days of the date the hearing
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1 aid is actually ordered by the consumer. The consumer shall notify the seller of his
2 intent to cancel by notifying the seller in person at the office where the transaction
3 for the purchase took place, or by electronic mail, or by mail postmarked within three
4 business days of the date the hearing aid is actually ordered by the consumer. Upon
5 such cancellation, any property traded in for credit, any payments made by the
6 consumer under the contract or sale, and any negotiable instrument executed
7 thereupon shall be returned by the seller to the consumer within ten business days
8 following receipt by the seller of the cancellation notice. Any security interest
9 arising out of the transaction shall be immediately canceled.
10 B.
11 * * *
12 (2) The notice of cancellation shall be is effective if it is delivered to the
13 seller within the time frame described in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection and shall
14 include a signed and dated copy of the subject contract, receipt, sales form, or other
15 document evidencing all the terms of the transaction and the consumer's written
16 notice to cancel.
17 §2445. New application fee; qualifications
18 A new applicant for a first-time license shall pay a fee of two hundred dollars
19 and shall show to the satisfaction of the board that he:
20 * * *
21 (3) Has an education equivalent to a four-year course in an accredited high
22 school and two years of college or two years of accredited higher education or has
23 continuously engaged in fitting and selling hearing aids during the two years
24 preceding the effective date of this Chapter and is in good standing for a period of
25 no less than two years from the date of application.
26 * * *
27 §2447. Scope of examination
28 The examination provided in R.S. 37:2446 shall consist of tests of knowledge
29 in the areas of hearing testing and other areas to determine capability of fitting and
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HB NO. 1228
1 selling hearing aids. The tests provided for in this Section shall not include questions
2 requiring a formal college, medical, surgical, or audiological education. The
3 examination shall be determined and proctored by the Louisiana Board for Hearing
4 Aid Dealers or its assignees.
5 * * *
6 §2450. Place of business; notice by mail
7 A. A person who holds a license obtained by examination, certificate of
8 endorsement license, or temporary training permit shall notify the board in writing
9 of the address of the place or places where he engages or intends to engage in the
10 fitting or selling of hearing aids.
11 * * *
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 1228 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Crews
Abstract: Provides relative to hearing aid dealers within this state.
Present law provides for hearing aid dealers to aid the Dept. of Revenue by collecting taxes
on labor, retail prices of hearing aids, and materials used for repair, maintenance, and the
service of hearing aids.
Proposed law removes the provision for hearing aid dealers aid to the Dept. of Revenue by
collecting taxes.
Present law defines "hearing aid".
Proposed law adds to the definition of hearing aid by requiring the specifications set forth
by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Present law provides that any person who engages in the sale of hearing aids shall deliver
to each person a bill of sale or contract that includes the signature of the seller and his
contact information.
Proposed law requires the seller to include an email address.
Present law provides that there is a 30-day testing period for hearing aids.
Proposed law provides that consumers may exercise the right to return their purchase or
cancel their order, which is subject to a cancellation fee.
Present law provides that consumers have within three business days of the date of ordering
a hearing aid to cancel the transaction without any penalties or obligations.
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HB NO. 1228
Proposed law requires consumers to notify the seller of the intent to cancel in person where
the transaction occurred, by mail, or by electronic mail.
Present law provides that the cancellation notice shall include a signed and dated copy of the
subject contract, receipt, sales form, or other document evidencing all the terms of the
transaction.
Proposed law deletes that requirement.
Present law requires new applicants for a first-time license to have an education equivalent
to a four-year course in an accredited high school and two years of college or two years of
accredited higher education or to have continuously engaged in fitting and selling hearing
aids during the two years preceding the effective date of the present law.
Proposed law removes the option of engaging in the fitting and selling of hearing aids two
years preceding the effective date of the present law and changes it to "in good standing for
a period of no less than two years from the date of application".
Present law provides that the scope of examination shall be determined and proctored by the
La. Board for Hearing Aid Dealers.
Proposed law includes the La. Board for Hearing Aid Dealers or its assignees.
Present law provides that a person who holds a certificate of endorsement license or
temporary training permit shall notify the board in writing of the address of the place or
places where he engages or intends to engage in the fitting or selling of hearing aids.
Proposed law adds a person who holds a license obtained by examination.
(Amends R.S. 37:2441(B), 2442(2), 2444, 2444.1, 2444.2(A) and (B)(2), 2445(3), 2447, and
2450(A))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Commerce to the
original bill:
1. Make technical changes.
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