1. (a)

   1. (1) It shall be the duty of the Chair of the Arkansas Board of Hearing Instrument Dispensers to preside at all meetings of the Arkansas Board of Hearing Instrument Dispensers.

   2. (2) The chair shall:

      1. (A) Exercise general supervision of the affairs of the board; and
      2. (B) Have the usual powers of such office and any other powers and duties as the board may direct.

2. (b)

   1. (1) It shall be the duty of the Vice Chair of the Arkansas Board of Hearing Instrument Dispensers to preside at any meeting at which the chair is unable to attend.
   2. (2) The vice chair shall assume the duties of chair in case the chair becomes unable, for whatever reason, to handle the affairs of the board.
   3. (3) If neither the chair nor vice chair is available, the Secretary-treasurer of the Arkansas Board of Hearing Instrument Dispensers shall preside and/or handle the affairs of the board.

3. (c)

   1. (1) It shall be the duty of the secretary-treasurer or, with board approval, the duty of the Executive Director of the Arkansas Board of Hearing Instrument Dispensers to keep all the minutes and records of the board.

   2. (2) The secretary-treasurer or executive director shall:

      1. (A) Have custody of all fees received by the board, including:

4. (i) Application fees;

   1. (ii) License fees;

      1. (iii) Renewal fees;

         1. (iv) Fines;
         2. (v) Penalties; and
         3. (vi) Other payments;
      2. (B) Be responsible for such funds; and
      3. (C) Make an annual report to the appropriate authorities regarding the disbursement of these funds.
   2. (3) The secretary-treasurer or executive director shall, with the approval of the board, be responsible for the preparation of the annual budget of the board.

   3. (4) The executive director is covered by the Self-Insured Fidelity Bond Program for Arkansas government and political subdivisions.

      1. (d) Officers shall be elected annually at the first regular meeting held after June 30.

5. (e)

   1. (1) The fee schedule, as set by the board, is as follows:

      1. (A) Application fee, one hundred dollars ($100);

      2. (B) Practical examination fees:

         1. (i) Ear mold, twenty-five dollars ($25.00);
         2. (ii) Audiometric, twenty-five dollars ($25.00); and
         3. (iii) Law and rules, twenty-five dollars ($25.00);
      3. (C) Reexamination fee, same as fee for portion repeated;
      4. (D) Internship fee, one hundred dollars ($100);
      5. (E) Registration fee, fifty dollars ($50.00);
      6. (F) Annual license fee, one hundred dollars ($100);
      7. (G) Late payment penalty of ten percent (10%) of the annual license fee if paid within thirty (30) days after expiration;
      8. (H) License reinstatement fee of one and one-half (1 ½) times the annual license fee if the renewal is not paid within the thirty-day grace period;
      9. (I) Endorsement to another state, twenty dollars ($20.00);
      10. (J) Replacement or duplicate license, twenty-five dollars ($25.00);
      11. (K) Insufficient funds, twenty-five dollars ($25.00); and
      12. (L) CEU approval, fifty dollars ($50.00) per CE unit.

   2. (2) The board shall waive the initial application fee if the applicant:

      1. (A) Is receiving assistance through the:

         1. (i) Arkansas Medicaid Program;
         2. (ii) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program;
         3. (iii) Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children;
         4. (iv) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program; or
         5. (v) Lifeline Assistance Program;
      2. (B) Was approved for unemployment within the last twelve (12) months; or
      3. (C) Has an income that does not exceed two hundred percent (200%) of the federal poverty income guidelines.

6. (f) The fee set out in subdivision (e)(1)(L) of this section shall be:

   1. (1) Paid by the entity or individual requesting the approval; and
   2. (2) Good for twelve (12) months from the date of notice from the board of approval or denial.

Codification Notes: “CEU” means continuing education unit. "CE" means continuing education.