Minnesota Statutes Health (Ch. 144-159) § 153A.175. Penalty fees

(a) The penalty fee for holding oneself out as a hearing instrument dispenser without a current certificate after the credential has expired and before it is renewed is one-half the amount of the certificate renewal fee for any part of the first day, plus one-half the certificate renewal fee for any part of any subsequent days up to 30 days.

(b) The penalty fee for applicants who hold themselves out as hearing instrument dispensers after expiration of the trainee period and before being issued a certificate is one-half the amount of the certificate application fee for any part of the first day, plus one-half the certificate application fee for any part of any subsequent days up to 30 days. This paragraph does not apply to applicants not qualifying for a certificate who hold themselves out as hearing instrument dispensers.

(c) The penalty fee for practicing hearing instrument dispensing and failing to submit a continuing education report by the due date with the correct number or type of hours in the correct time period is $200 plus $200 for each missing clock hour. “Missing” means not obtained between the effective and expiration dates of the certificate, the one-month period following the certificate expiration date, or the 30 days following notice of a penalty fee for failing to report all continuing education hours. The certificate holder must obtain the missing number of continuing education hours by the next reporting due date.

(d) Civil penalties and discipline incurred by certificate holders prior to August 1, 2005, for conduct described in paragraph (a), (b), or (c) shall be recorded as nondisciplinary penalty fees. Payment of a penalty fee does not preclude any disciplinary action reasonably justified by the individual case.