SB 36: "An Act relating to the practice of optometry."
00 SENATE BILL NO. 36 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) describing the scope of practice for a licensee to perform 13 ophthalmic surgery and noninvasive procedures. 14 * Sec. 2. AS 08.72.181(d) is amended to read: 15 (d) Before a license may be renewed, the licensee shall submit to the board
01 evidence that, during the preceding licensing period [IN THE FOUR YEARS 02 PRECEDING THE APPLICATION FOR RENEWAL], the licensee has 03 [(1) COMPLETED EIGHT HOURS OF CONTINUING 04 EDUCATION, APPROVED BY THE BOARD, CONCERNING THE USE AND 05 PRESCRIPTION OF PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS; 06 (2) COMPLETED SEVEN HOURS OF CONTINUING 07 EDUCATION, APPROVED BY THE BOARD, CONCERNING THE INJECTION 08 OF NONTOPICAL THERAPEUTIC PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS; AND 09 (3)] met [OTHER] continuing education requirements as may be 10 prescribed by regulations of the board to ensure the continued protection of the public. 11 * Sec. 3. AS 08.72.272(a) is repealed and reenacted to read: 12 (a) A licensee may prescribe and use a pharmaceutical agent, including a 13 controlled substance, in the practice of optometry if the pharmaceutical agent is used 14 in a manner consistent with standards adopted by the board in regulation; the standards 15 must include limitations on practice adopted under AS 08.72.278. 16 * Sec. 4. AS 08.72 is amended by adding a new section to read: 17 Sec. 08.72.278. Limitation on practice. (a) A licensee may perform the 18 services of optometry as defined in AS 08.72.300 only if the services are within the 19 scope of the licensee's education, training, and experience as established by 20 regulations adopted by the board. 21 (b) A licensee may not perform ophthalmic surgery, as described by the board 22 in regulation, if the surgery is beyond the scope of the licensee's education, training, 23 and experience. 24 * Sec. 5. AS 08.72.300(3) is repealed and reenacted to read: 25 (3) "optometry" means the examination, evaluation, diagnosis, 26 treatment, or performance of preventive procedures related to diseases, disorders, or 27 conditions of the human eyes or adjacent and associated structures, consistent with this 28 chapter and regulations adopted by the board;