S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   9822
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              April 19, 2022
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  JEAN-PIERRE -- read once and referred to the
   Committee on Economic Development
 
 AN ACT to amend the general business law and the real property  law,  in
   relation  to  authorizing  certain  continuing education courses to be
   completed online
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section  1.  Subdivision 1 of section 794 of the general business law,
 as amended by chapter 301 of the laws of 2000, is  amended  to  read  as
 follows:
   1.  Prior  to the expiration of a certificate of registration and as a
 condition of renewal, each hearing aid dispenser registered pursuant  to
 subdivision  one  of  section seven hundred ninety of this article shall
 submit documentation showing successful completion of twenty  continuing
 education  credits through a course or courses approved by the secretary
 in consultation with the advisory board, or, in relation to audiologists
 licensed pursuant to article one hundred  fifty-nine  of  the  education
 law,  the  office  of  the professions in the education department. Such
 formal courses of learning shall include, but not be limited to,  colle-
 giate  level  of  credit in non-credit courses, professional development
 programs and technical sessions offered by  national,  state  and  local
 professional  associations  and  other  organizations  acceptable to the
 secretary and any other organized  educational  and  technical  programs
 acceptable   to  the  secretary.  The  secretary  may,  in  his  or  her
 discretion, and as needed to contribute to the health and welfare of the
 public, require  the  completion  of  continuing  education  courses  in
 specific   subjects  to  fulfill  this  mandatory  continuing  education
 requirement. Courses shall be taken  from  a  sponsor  approved  by  the
 secretary  pursuant to regulations promulgated pursuant to this section.
 COURSES MAY BE COMPLETED ONLINE, PROVIDED THAT SUCH ONLINE COURSE  MEETS
 THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION AND IS APPROVED BY THE SECRETARY.
   §  2.  Paragraph  (b)  of  subdivision 2 of section 791 of the general
 business law, as added by chapter 599 of the laws of 1998, is amended to
 read as follows:
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD13079-01-1
 A. 9822                             2
 
   (b) continuing education including but not limited to (i) the  content
 of such course of study, (ii) the procedures for approval of such course
 of  study  [and],  (iii)  those  individuals  and  organizations who may
 permissibly offer such continuing education course or  courses  provided
 for  in  section seven hundred ninety-four of this article, AND (IV) THE
 FORMAT OF SUCH COURSE OF STUDY WHEN SUCH COURSE IS GIVEN  IN  AN  ONLINE
 SETTING;
   § 3. The real property law is amended by adding a new section 444-r to
 read as follows:
   §  444-R.  CONTINUING EDUCATION. CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES REQUIRED
 FOR LICENSURE PURSUANT TO SECTION  FOUR  HUNDRED  FORTY-FOUR-F  OF  THIS
 ARTICLE MAY BE COMPLETED ONLINE PROVIDED THAT SUCH COURSE IS APPROVED BY
 THE SECRETARY.
   §  4.  This  act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
 have become a law.  Effective immediately, the secretary of the  depart-
 ment  of  state shall make regulations and take other actions reasonably
 necessary to implement this act on such date.