NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A4816A
SPONSOR: O'Pharrow TITLE OF BILL:
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
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To allow those seeking to keep their home inspection professional
license or their hearing aid dispenser license to have the option to
take online courses to meet their Continuing Education credits.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: amends Subdivision 1 of section 794 of the general business
law to allow for continuing education courses to be completed online for
hearing aid dispensers.
Section 2: amends Paragraph (b) of subdivision 2 of section 791 of the
general business law to allow the hearing aid dispensing advisory board
to advise and make recommendations, and the secretary to promulgate
rules and regulations regarding the format of courses of study when such
course is given in an online setting.
Section 3: amends the real property law by adding a new section 444-q,
to allow for continuing education courses required for home inspection
professional licensure to be completed online if the course is approved
by the secretary.
Section 4: Sets effective date.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):
Technical correction
JUSTIFICATION:
New York State currently allows for approved online courses for the
maintenance of various professional licenses and certificate programs.
This legislation will allow for those seeking to keep their home
inspection professional license or their hearing aid dispenser license
to meet their. Continuing Education credits by taking online courses,
with the courses being approved by the state.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
02/01/23 - referred to economic development
01/03/24 - referred to economic development
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have
become a law. Effective immediately, the secretary of the department of
state shall make regulations and take other actions reasonably necessary
to implement this act on such date.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4816--A
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 6, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. O'PHARROW -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Economic Development -- committee discharged, bill
amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
tee
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:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 794 of the general business law,
2 as amended by chapter 301 of the laws of 2000, is amended to read as
3 follows:
4 1. Prior to the expiration of a certificate of registration and as a
5 condition of renewal, each hearing aid dispenser registered pursuant to
6 subdivision one of section seven hundred ninety of this article shall
7 submit documentation showing successful completion of twenty continuing
8 education credits through a course or courses approved by the secretary
9 in consultation with the advisory board, or, in relation to audiologists
10 licensed pursuant to article one hundred fifty-nine of the education
11 law, the office of the professions in the education department. Such
12 formal courses of learning shall include, but not be limited to, colle-
13 giate level of credit in non-credit courses, professional development
14 programs and technical sessions offered by national, state and local
15 professional associations and other organizations acceptable to the
16 secretary and any other organized educational and technical programs
17 acceptable to the secretary. The secretary may, in [his or her] such
18 secretary's discretion, and as needed to contribute to the health and
19 welfare of the public, require the completion of continuing education
20 courses in specific subjects to fulfill this mandatory continuing educa-
21 tion requirement. Courses shall be taken from a sponsor approved by the
22 secretary pursuant to regulations promulgated pursuant to this section.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08809-02-5
A. 4816--A 2
1 Courses may be completed online, provided that such online course meets
2 the requirements of this section and is approved by the secretary.
3 § 2. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 2 of section 791 of the general
4 business law, as added by chapter 599 of the laws of 1998, is amended to
5 read as follows:
6 (b) continuing education including but not limited to (i) the content
7 of such course of study, (ii) the procedures for approval of such course
8 of study [and], (iii) those individuals and organizations who may
9 permissibly offer such continuing education course or courses provided
10 for in section seven hundred ninety-four of this article, and (iv) the
11 format of such course of study when such course is given in an online
12 setting;
13 § 3. Section 444-q of the real property law is renumbered section
14 444-r and a new section 444-q is added to read as follows:
15 § 444-q. Continuing education. Continuing education courses required
16 for licensure pursuant to section four hundred forty-four-f of this
17 article may be completed online provided that such course is approved by
18 the secretary.
19 § 4. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
20 have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment
21 and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
22 of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
23 completed on or before such effective date.
