Press Release  Lack of Quorum Cancels Many Board of Registration of Hearing Instrument Specialists Meetings, Audit Finds

Boston — In an audit released today, State Auditor Suzanne M. Bump found that a failure to meet quorum levels resulted in the Board of Registration of Hearing Instrument Specialists (BRHIS) cancelling six out of eight required quarterly meetings during the two-year audit period (July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2019). The audit notes four disciplinary cases were delayed for 16 to 32 months before being heard as a result of these cancellations. The BRHIS executive director pointed to an inability to fill board vacancies as the source of this problem.

“State boards, such as the Board of Registration of Hearing Instrument Specialists, play an important role in government, helping to oversee agencies and adjudicate cases before them. It can be incredibly difficult to recruit qualified volunteers to fill these critical positions, it is important nonetheless,” Bump said of the audit. “I am encouraged that BRHIS indicates it has taken steps to fill the vacant positions on its board to help it meet its quorum requirements, however I urge the agency to seek changes from the Legislature if it does not believe it can sustain an adequate membership level.”

In its response, BRHIS states it has recruited additional board members to meet its quorum for upcoming meetings.

BRHIS is one of 38 boards overseen by DPL, an agency within the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation. The Board has six members, including one nonvoting member, who are appointed to three-year terms by DPL’s commissioner. BRHIS is authorized to issue and administer licenses and license renewals, administer apprenticeships, and resolve complaints against hearing instrument specialists.

The full audit report is available here.

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