S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
4816--A
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
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:
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] SUCH
SECRETARY'S 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 educa-
tion requirement. Courses shall be taken from a sponsor approved by the
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
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:
(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. Section 444-q of the real property law is renumbered section
444-r and a new section 444-q is added to read as follows:
§ 444-Q. 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.