New York Laws
Article 37-A - Registration of Hearing Aid Dispensers
803 - Powers of the Secretary.

(a) develop procedures for promptly investigating all complaints
regarding violations of this article;
(b) develop procedures for assisting consumers in resolving a dispute
with those persons registered pursuant to this article and mediating on
behalf of consumers when needed;
(c) establish a toll-free number at which consumers, including persons
who are hard of hearing or deaf, can register a complaint; and
(d) develop other procedures as necessary to increase public awareness
of how to properly purchase, fit, adjust and use a hearing aid, as well
as the rights of hearing aid consumers pursuant to this article, which
shall include the distribution of written information concerning this
subject matter and the toll-free number to those subject to this
article, the media, and the general public.
5. The secretary, in conjunction with the board shall cause to be
prepared and distributed printed educational information to registered
hearing aid dispensers and others about the general use of hearing aids
and assistive listening devices and on the advantages and disadvantages
of hearing aids as well as rights and remedies available to the consumer
pursuant to this article.
6. The secretary shall regularly communicate with the commissioner of
education regarding the discipline and/or prosecution of violations of
this article by audiologists licensed pursuant to article one hundred
fifty-nine of the education law.
7. On or before January thirty-first of each year, the secretary shall
develop and distribute a report to the governor, the speaker of the
assembly, the temporary president of the senate, the minority leader of
the assembly, the minority leader of the senate, the chair of the
assembly ways and means committee, and the chair of the senate finance
committee, and make it available for public examination. Such report

shall entail specific efforts made by the secretary, the board and
hearing aid dispensers to comply with the provisions of this article, a
compilation of actions taken in response to recommendations submitted to
the secretary from the board, a summary of the results of compliance
efforts and anticipated efforts to improve public education, compliance
and enforcement during the subsequent year, as well as recommendations,
if any, to amend this article.