S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5205
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 27, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. SKOUFIS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Consumer Protection
 
 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.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD03052-01-3
              

 S. 5205                             2
 
   §  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:
   (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 addition, amendment
 and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
 of this act on  its  effective  date  are  authorized  to  be  made  and
 completed on or before such effective date.