Rhode Island § 5-49-15 § 5-49-15. Board — Creation — Composition — Appointment and terms.

Rhode Island Statutes

§ 5-49-15 — § 5-49-15. Board — Creation — Composition — Appointment and terms.

Rhode Island § 5-49-15

Title 5Businesses and Professions

Ch. 5-49Hearing Aid Dealers and Fitters

This text of Rhode Island § 5-49-15 (§ 5-49-15. Board — Creation — Composition — Appointment and terms.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Rhode Island primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-49-15 (2026).

Text

§ 5-49-15. Board — Creation — Composition — Appointment and terms.
(a) There is established a board of hearing aid dealers and fitters that guides, advises,
            and makes recommendations to the department.
         
(b)(1) Members of the board shall be residents of the state.
         
(2) The board shall consist of three (3) hearing aid dealers and fitters; one otolaryngologist;
            one audiologist; and one lay member who shall be a user of hearing aids and not employed
            in the practice of fitting and dealing in hearing aids.
         
(3) Each hearing aid dealer and fitt

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§ 5-49-15. Board — Creation — Composition — Appointment and terms.

(a) There is established a board of hearing aid dealers and fitters that guides, advises, and makes recommendations to the department.

(b)(1) Members of the board shall be residents of the state.

(2) The board shall consist of three (3) hearing aid dealers and fitters; one otolaryngologist; one audiologist; and one lay member who shall be a user of hearing aids and not employed in the practice of fitting and dealing in hearing aids.

(3) Each hearing aid dealer and fitter on the board shall have no less than five (5) years' experience and hold a valid license as a hearing aid dealer and fitter, as provided under this chapter.

(4) Excepted shall be the hearing aid dealers and fitters of the first board appointed, who have no less than five (5) years of experience and fulfill all qualifications under § 5-49-7 as provided under this chapter.

(c) All members of the board shall be appointed by the governor.

(d) The term of office of each member shall be three (3) years; except that of the members of the first board appointed under this chapter, two (2) shall be appointed for two (2) years; two (2) shall be appointed for three (3) years; and two (2) shall be appointed for four (4) years.

(e) Before a member's term expires, the governor shall appoint a successor to assume his or her duties on the expiration of his or her predecessor's term. Upon expiration of the term of office, a member shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed and qualified.

(f) A vacancy in the office of a member shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired term.

(g) A majority of seats filled shall constitute a quorum.

(h) The members of the board shall annually designate one member to serve as chair and another to serve as secretary-treasurer.

(i) No member of the board who has served two (2) or more full terms may be reappointed to the board until at least one year after the expiration of their most recent full term of office.

(j) Members of the board shall not be compensated for their services on the board.

Legislative History

P.L. 1973, ch. 243, § 1; P.L. 1996, ch. 174, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 117, art. 21, § 15; P.L. 2025, ch. 134, § 8, effective June 24, 2025; P.L. 2025, ch. 135, § 8, effective June 24, 2025.