00HOUSE BILL NO. 507                                                                                                      
01 "An Act relating to licensure by the State Medical Board and temporary permits                                          
02 for certain optometrists."                                                                                              
03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
04    * Section 1.  AS 08.64.255 is amended to read:                                                                       
05  Sec. 08.64.255.  INTERVIEW REQUIRED.  All applicants for licensure shall                                              
06 be interviewed in person by at least one member of the board or the board's                                            
07 designated representative before a license will be issued.  The interview must be                                      
08 recorded.  If the application is denied on the basis of the interview, the denial must be                               
09 stated in writing, with the reasons for it, and the record must be preserved.                                           
10    * Sec. 2.  AS 08.64.275(a) is amended to read:                                                                       
11  (a)  A member of the board or its executive secretary may grant a temporary                                           
12 permit to a physician or osteopath for the purpose of substituting for another physician                                
13 or osteopath licensed in this state or for the purpose of providing health care                                        
14 services on a temporary basis in an area of the state that is underserved, as                                           

01 determined by the board under regulations.  The permit is valid for 60 consecutive                                     
02 days.  If circumstances warrant, an extension of the permit may be granted by the                                       
03 board.                                                                                                                  
04    * Sec. 3.  AS 08.72 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                      
05  Sec. 08.72.172.  PERMIT FOR LOCUM TENENS PRACTICE.  (a)  A                                                            
06 member of the board may issue a temporary permit to a nonresident optometrist for                                       
07 the purpose of assisting or substituting for an optometrist licensed under this chapter.                                
08 The office employing an optometrist with a permit under this section must be an                                         
09 established practice, as determined under regulations adopted by the board, and be                                      
10 owned by a licensed optometrist whose practice is full time.                                                            
11  (b)  A permit issued under this section is valid for 60 consecutive days and                                          
12 may be renewed up to three times within a 12-month period if circumstances warrant.                                     
13 Permits issued under this section are not valid for more than 240 consecutive days of                                   
14 practice within a 12-month period.                                                                                      
15  (c)  A person who applies for a permit under this section shall pay the required                                      
16 fee and furnish proof of                                                                                                
17   (1)  meeting the requirements of AS 08.72.140; and                                                                   
18   (2)  holding a valid license to practice optometry issued by a state or                                              
19 territory of the United States or by a province or territory of Canada.                                                 
20  (d)  Within 10 days after a permit has been issued under this section, the board                                      
21 member shall forward to the department a report of the issuance of the permit.