CSSB 55(L&C): "An Act relating to the practice of optometry."
00 CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 55(L&C) 01 "An Act relating to the practice of optometry." 02 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 03 * Section 1. AS 08.72.050 is amended to read: 04 Sec. 08.72.050. Regulations. The board shall adopt regulations 05 (1) necessary for the proper performances of its duties; 06 (2) governing the applicants and applications for licensing; 07 (3) for the licensing of optometrists; 08 (4) necessary to govern the practice of optometry, including the 09 prescription and use of pharmaceutical agents for the treatment of eye disease; 10 (5) prescribing requirements that a person licensed under this chapter 11 must meet to demonstrate continued professional competency; 12 (6) by agreement with the State Medical Board, describing the 13 scope of practice for a licensee to perform ophthalmic surgery and noninvasive 14 procedures. 15 * Sec. 2. AS 08.72.181(d) is amended to read:
01 (d) Before a license may be renewed, the licensee shall submit to the board 02 evidence that, during the preceding licensing period [IN THE FOUR YEARS 03 PRECEDING THE APPLICATION FOR RENEWAL], the licensee has 04 [(1) COMPLETED EIGHT HOURS OF CONTINUING 05 EDUCATION, APPROVED BY THE BOARD, CONCERNING THE USE AND 06 PRESCRIPTION OF PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS; 07 (2) COMPLETED SEVEN HOURS OF CONTINUING 08 EDUCATION, APPROVED BY THE BOARD, CONCERNING THE INJECTION 09 OF NONTOPICAL THERAPEUTIC PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS; AND 10 (3)] met [OTHER] continuing education requirements as may be 11 prescribed by regulations of the board to ensure the continued protection of the public. 12 * Sec. 3. AS 08.72.272(a) is repealed and reenacted to read: 13 (a) Except as provided in (e) and (f) of this section, a licensee may prescribe 14 and use a pharmaceutical agent, including a controlled substance, in the practice of 15 optometry if the pharmaceutical agent is used in a manner consistent with standards 16 adopted by the board in regulation; the standards must include limitations on practice 17 adopted under AS 08.72.278. 18 * Sec. 4. AS 08.72.272 is amended by adding new subsections to read: 19 (e) A licensee may not perform an injection in the ocular globe of the eye that 20 is a derivative of clostridium botulinum. 21 (f) Notwithstanding another provision of law, a licensee may not prescribe a 22 controlled substance in a quantity exceeding a seven-day supply. If a patient requires a 23 refill of the prescription after expiration of the seven-day supply, the licensee shall 24 refer the patient to a licensed physician or ophthalmologist. 25 * Sec. 5. AS 08.72 is amended by adding a new section to read: 26 Sec. 08.72.278. Limitation on practice. (a) A licensee may perform the 27 services of optometry as defined in AS 08.72.300 only if the services are within the 28 scope of the licensee's education, training, and experience as established by 29 regulations adopted by the board. 30 (b) A licensee may not perform ophthalmic surgery, as described by the board 31 in regulation, if the surgery is beyond the scope of the licensee's education, training,
01 and experience. 02 * Sec. 6. AS 08.72.300(3) is repealed and reenacted to read: 03 (3) "optometry" means the examination, evaluation, diagnosis, 04 treatment, or performance of preventive procedures related to diseases, disorders, or 05 conditions of the human eyes or adjacent and associated structures, consistent with this 06 chapter and regulations adopted by the board;