Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation

 

GDForum ID: 2835

Description of Proposed Guidance Document Changes

The Board for Hearing Aid Specialists and Opticians (the Board) has reviewed and voted to amend the following guidance document. 1. Guidance Document 7524: Application Review Matrix. The document contains guidance that directs staff to approve certain applications disclosing certain types of criminal convictions without sending the application for Board review. The Board’s existing guidance allows staff to approve applications that disclose the following criminal convictions: - Felony convictions unless the conviction involved sexual offense, drug distribution, physical injury, or directly involved the practice of the profession. - Misdemeanor convictions unless the convictions involved sexual offense, drug distribution, or physical injury. As a result of changes to the Board’s regulations resulting from the Board’s (i) General Review of Hearing Aid Specialists Regulations (Action 6303 / Stage 10911); and (ii) General Review of Opticians Regulations (Action 6304 / Stage 10912), the existing guidance has been incorporated into regulation. Accordingly, the provisions of the existing guidance will be removed. The guidance document will be revised to provide for a delegation of authority to DPOR staff to conduct predetermination fact-findings and license eligibility fact-findings (IFFs) in accordance with applicable portions of the Administrative Process Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-4000 et. seq.). These delegation of authority provisions are being added to all DPOR regulatory board guidance documents that provide guidance regarding applicants who disclose criminal convictions on an application.

 

Guidance Document(s) for this Comment Forum

Document ID	Document Title	Current Document	Proposed Document	Revised Proposed
7524	Application Review Matrix	Document	Proposed Document

 

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