State Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, Speech–Language Pathologists, and Music Therapists – Physician Members – Repeal

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0504*

HOUSE BILL 504
J2 6lr2498
HB 830/22 – HGO
By: Delegates Martinez, Alston, Guzzone, Hutchinson, S. Johnson, Kaufman,
Lopez, and Reilly
Introduced and read first time: January 27, 2026
Assigned to: Health

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

State Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, 2
Speech–Language Pathologists, and Music Therapists – Physician Members – 3
Repeal 4

FOR the purpose of altering the membership of the State Board of Examiners for 5
Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, Speech –Language Pathologists, and Music 6
Therapists by removing the physician members; and generally relating to physician 7
members of the State Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, 8
Speech–Language Pathologists, and Music Therapists. 9

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 10
Article – Health Occupations 11
Section 2–201 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 14

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 15
Article – Health Occupations 16
Section 2–202(a) 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 19

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 20
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 21

Article – Health Occupations 22

2–201. 23

2 HOUSE BILL 504

There is a State Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, 1
Speech–Language Pathologists, and Music Therapists in the Department. 2

2–202. 3

(a) (1) The Board consists of [15] 13 members. 4

(2) Of the [15] 13 Board members: 5

(i) 3 shall be licensed audiologists who have at least 5 years’ paid 6
work experience in audiology and are currently practicing audiology in the State; 7

(ii) 3 shall be licensed speech –language pathologists who have at 8
least 5 years’ paid work experience in speech –language pathology and are currently 9
practicing speech–language pathology in the State; 10

(iii) [2 shall be physicians who shall be voting members of the Board, 11
except on proposals that expand or restrict the practice of audiology as defined in § 2–101(q) 12
of this title or that expand or restrict the practice of speech–language pathology as defined 13
in § 2–101(r) of this title, and who: 14

1. Are licensed to practice medicine in the State; 15

2. Hold a certificate of qualification from the American Board 16
of Otolaryngology; and 17

3. Are currently practicing in the State; 18

(iv)] 2 shall be consumer members, 1 of whom shall be a consumer of 19
services provided by an individual licensed by the Board; 20

[(v)] (IV) 3 shall be licensed hearing aid dispensers who have at 21
least 5 years’ paid work experience in dispensing hearing aids and are currently practicing 22
hearing aid dispensing in the State; and 23

[(vi)] (V) 2 shall be licensed music therapists who have at least 5 24
years’ paid work experience in music therapy and are currently practicing music therapy 25
in the State. 26

(3) [(i) The Governor shall appoint the physician members, with the 27
advice of th e Secretary, from a list submitted to the Secretary and the Governor by the 28
Maryland Society of Otolaryngology. 29

(ii) There shall be at least 3 names on the list. 30

HOUSE BILL 504 3

(4)] (i) The Governor shall appoint the speech –language pathologist 1
members, with the advice of the Secretary, from a list submitted to the Secretary and the 2
Governor by the Board. 3

(ii) The number of names on the list shall be at least 3 times the 4
number of vacancies. 5

(iii) For each licensed speech –language pathologist vacancy, the 6
Board shall notify all licensed speech–language pathologists in the State of the vacancy to 7
solicit nominations to fill the vacancy. 8

[(5)] (4) (i) Subject to subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph, the 9
Governor shall appoint the audiologist members, with the advice of the Secretary, from a 10
list submitted to the Secretary and the Governor by the Maryland Academy of Audiology. 11

(ii) The number of names on the list shall be at least 3 times the 12
number of vacancies. 13

(iii) For each audiologist vacancy, t he Board shall notify all licensed 14
audiologists in the State of the vacancy to solicit nominations to fill the vacancy. 15

[(6)] (5) (i) The Governor shall appoint the hearing aid dispenser 16
members, with the advice of the Secretary, from a list submitted t o the Secretary and the 17
Governor by the Board. 18

(ii) The number of names on the list shall be at least 3 times the 19
number of vacancies. 20

(iii) For each hearing aid dispenser vacancy, the Board shall notify 21
all licensed hearing aid dispensers in the State of the vacancy to solicit nominations to fill 22
the vacancy. 23

[(7)] (6) (i) The Governor shall appoint the consumer members with 24
the advice of the Secretary and the advice and consent of the Senate. 25

(ii) The Board and the Secretary may solicit ap plications for 26
consumer member vacancies from the general public. 27

(iii) 1. The Governor shall appoint the consumer member who is 28
a consumer of services provided by an individual licensed by the Board from a list submitted 29
by the Secretary. 30

2. An organization representing patients or family members 31
of patients served by individuals licensed by the Board may submit recommendations for 32
the consumer Board member appointed under this subparagraph to the Secretary. 33

4 HOUSE BILL 504

3. The Board and the Secretary may notify organizations 1
representing patients or family members of patients served by individuals licensed by the 2
Board of a vacancy for the consumer member appointed under this subparagraph. 3

[(8)] (7) (i) The Governor shall appoint the music therapist members, 4
with the advice of the Secretary, from a list submitted to the Secretary and the Governor 5
by the Maryland Association for Music Therapy. 6

(ii) The number of names on the list shall be at least 3 times the 7
number of vacancies. 8

(iii) On or before December 31, 2021, the music therapist members 9
shall be board certified music therapists, as defined in § 2–4A–01 of this title. 10

(iv) On or after January 1, 2022, the music therapist members shall 11
be licensed professional music therapists, as defined in § 2–4A–01 of this title. 12

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the terms of the two physician 13
members of the State Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, 14
Speech–Language Pathologists, and Music Therapists in office on the effective date of this 15
Act shall terminate on June 30, 2026. 16

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 17
1, 2026. 18