CSHB 103(HSS): "An Act relating to the practice of optometry; and providing for an effective date."
00 CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 103(HSS) 01 "An Act relating to the practice of optometry; and providing for an effective date." 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) developing uniform standards for the practice of optometry. 13 * Sec. 2. AS 08.72.060(c), as amended by sec. 11, ch. 25, SLA 2016, is amended to read: 14 (c) The board shall 15 (1) elect a chair and secretary from among its members;
01 (2) order a licensee to submit to a reasonable physical examination if 02 the licensee's physical capacity to practice safely is at issue; 03 (3) require that a licensee who has a federal Drug Enforcement 04 Administration registration number register with the controlled substance prescription 05 database under AS 17.30.200(o); 06 (4) publish advisory opinions regarding standards for the practice 07 of optometry as provided under this chapter. 08 * Sec. 3. AS 08.72.181(d) is amended to read: 09 (d) Before a license may be renewed, the licensee shall submit to the board 10 evidence that, during the preceding licensing period [IN THE FOUR YEARS 11 PRECEDING THE APPLICATION FOR RENEWAL], the licensee has 12 [(1) COMPLETED EIGHT HOURS OF CONTINUING 13 EDUCATION, APPROVED BY THE BOARD, CONCERNING THE USE AND 14 PRESCRIPTION OF PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS; 15 (2) COMPLETED SEVEN HOURS OF CONTINUING 16 EDUCATION, APPROVED BY THE BOARD, CONCERNING THE INJECTION 17 OF NONTOPICAL THERAPEUTIC PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS; AND 18 (3)] met [OTHER] continuing education requirements as may be 19 prescribed by regulations of the board to ensure the continued protection of the public. 20 * Sec. 4. AS 08.72.272(a) is repealed and reenacted to read: 21 (a) A licensee may prescribe and use a pharmaceutical agent, including a 22 controlled substance, in the practice of optometry if the pharmaceutical agent is used 23 in a manner consistent with standards adopted by the board in regulation; the standards 24 must include limitations on practice adopted under AS 08.72.278. 25 * Sec. 5. AS 08.72 is amended by adding a new section to read: 26 Sec. 08.72.278. Limitation on practice. A licensee may perform the services 27 of optometry as defined in AS 08.72.300 only if the services are within the scope of 28 the licensee's education, training, and experience as established by regulations adopted 29 by the board. 30 * Sec. 6. AS 08.72.300(3) is repealed and reenacted to read: 31 (3) "optometry" means the examination, evaluation, diagnosis,
01 treatment, or performance of preventive procedures related to diseases, disorders, or 02 conditions of the human eyes or adjacent and associated structures, consistent with this 03 chapter and regulations adopted by the board; 04 * Sec. 7. Section 2 of this Act takes effect July 17, 2017.