SENIOR ASSEMBLY PROPOSAL NO. 1

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER LUCERO

 

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AP 1:  HEARING AIDS.

UNDER EXISTING LAW, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES IS CHARGED WITH SPECIFIED DUTIES AND POWERS RELATING TO PUBLIC HEALTH.  

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REQUIRE HEARING AID MANUFACTURERS AND AUDIOLOGISTS TO CHARGE PRICES AND FEES THAT REFLECT THE ACTUAL COSTS OF PROVIDING THOSE DEVICES AND SERVICES, AND TO SUBMIT THOSE PRICES AND FEES TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR APPROVAL.

VOTE:  MAJORITY.

AP 1: RELATING TO HEARING AIDS

 WHEREAS, SENIOR CITIZENS AND THE NEEDY HAVE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF MONEY AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE HEARING AIDS; AND

WHEREAS, ALTHOUGH HEARING DISORDERS MAY AFFLICT ANY PERSON, SENIOR CITIZENS AND THE NEEDY CAN LEAST AFFORD MEDICAL PROCEDURES TO IMPROVE HEARING; AND 

WHEREAS, THE ABILITY TO HEAR IS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO FUNCTION SOCIALLY AND AS A CONTRIBUTING MEMBER OF SOCIETY; AND

WHEREAS, THE COST OF A QUALITY HEARING AID TYPICALLY EXCEEDS $6,000; AND

WHEREAS, THE ELECTRONICS IN A HIGH QUALITY HOME ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM, WITH THE ABILITY TO RECEIVE AUDIO FREQUENCIES AS INPUT, ARE AT LEAST AS SOPHISTICATED AS THOSE IN A HEARING AID; AND

WHEREAS, THE COST OF A HIGH QUALITY HOME ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM THAT REPRODUCES SOUND, AT ALL FREQUENCIES AND LEVELS, DISTORTION FREE, IS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN THE COST OF A TYPICAL HEARING AID; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT 

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY AND THE SENIOR SENATE, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2003 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT EACH MANUFACTURER OF A HEARING AID DISTRIBUTED IN THE STATE, AND EACH AUDIOLOGIST IN THE STATE THAT OFFERS SERVICES RELATED TO THE PURCHASE AND USE OF A HEARING AID, BE REQUIRED TO CHARGE PRICES AND FEES THAT REFLECT THE ACTUAL COSTS OF MANUFACTURING THOSE DEVICES AND PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT EACH MANUFACTURER OF HEARING AIDS AND EACH AUDIOLOGIST OFFERING SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH THE SALE AND USE OF HEARING AIDS BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT THEIR PRICES AND FEES TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES FOR APPROVAL PRIOR TO CHARGING THOSE PRICES AND FEES; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.


RN0316474

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