00 HOUSE BILL NO. 168                                                                                                      
01 "An Act relating to temporary permits for certain optometrists."                                                        
02 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
03    * Section 1.  AS 08.72 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                   
04  Sec. 08.72.172.  PERMIT FOR LOCUM TENENS PRACTICE.  (a)  A                                                            
05 member of the board may issue a temporary permit to a nonresident optometrist for                                       
06 the purpose of assisting or substituting for an optometrist licensed under this chapter.                                
07 The office employing an optometrist with a permit under this section must be an                                         
08 established practice, as determined under regulations adopted by the board, and be                                      
09 owned by a licensed optometrist whose practice is full time.                                                            
10  (b)  A permit issued under this section is valid for 60 consecutive days and                                          
11 may be renewed up to three times within a 12-month period if circumstances warrant.                                     
12 Permits issued under this section are not valid for more than 240 consecutive days of                                   
13 practice within a 12-month period.                                                                                      
14  (c)  A person who applies for a permit under this section shall pay the required                                      
01 fee and furnish proof of                                                                                                
02   (1)  meeting the requirements of AS 08.72.140; and                                                                   
03   (2)  holding a valid license to practice optometry issued by a state or                                              
04 territory of the United States or by a province or territory of Canada.                                                 
05  (d)  Within 10 days after a permit has been issued under this section, the board                                      
06 member shall forward to the department a report of the issuance of the permit.