00                            SENATE BILL NO. 173                                                                         
01 "An Act relating to the use of pharmaceutical agents in the practice of optometry; and                                  
02 providing for an effective date."                                                                                       
03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
04    * Section 1.  AS 08.72.175 is amended to read:                                                                     
05            Sec. 08.72.175.  License endorsement.  (a)  The board may issue a license                                  
06       endorsement authorizing a licensee to prescribe and use a [THE] pharmaceutical                                
07       agent [AGENTS] described in AS 08.72.272, if the licensee or applicant for a license                          
08       (1) passes the written and practical portions of an examination on ocular                                     
09       pharmacology, approved by the board, that tests the licensee's or the applicant's                                 
10       knowledge of the characteristics, pharmacological effects, indications,                                           
11       contraindications, and emergency care associated with the prescription and use of                                 
12       pharmaceutical agents; and (2) meets additional education requirements, if any,                               
13       that are adopted by the board for receiving the endorsement.  In addition to the                              
14       limitations contained in AS 08.72.272, the board may further limit the type of                                

01       pharmaceutical agents that are authorized for use under an endorsement.  The                                  
02       endorsement expires at the same time as the license to which it attaches.  The                                    
03       endorsement may be renewed upon satisfactory completion of continuing education                                   
04       requirements established by the board by regulation.  Regulations adopted by the                              
05       board under this subsection must be related to ensuring that the licensee with an                             
06       endorsement is competent to prescribe and use the pharmaceutical agents                                       
07       authorized under the endorsement.                                                                             
08            (b)  A pharmacist or pharmaceutical supplier may supply a licensee with a                                
09       pharmaceutical agent [AGENTS] as provided under AS 08.72.272 upon presentation                                
10       of evidence that the licensee holds a license endorsement under this section that                             
11       authorizes use of the pharmaceutical agent.                                                                   
12    * Sec. 2.  AS 08.72.272 is amended to read:                                                                        
13            Sec. 08.72.272.  Use of pharmaceutical agents.  (a)  Except as provided in                             
14       (c) of this section, a [A] licensee may prescribe and use a pharmaceutical agent,                         
15       including a controlled substance, in the practice of optometry if                                             
16                 (1)  the pharmaceutical agent is not included on schedule IA or IIA                                 
17       under AS 11.71;                                                                                               
18                 (2)  the pharmaceutical agent is related to the diagnosis and                                   
19       treatment of [A DRUG TOPICALLY APPLIED TO] the human eye and its                                              
20       appendages, including the treatment of anaphylaxis; and                                                       
21                 (3) [(2)]  the person holds a license endorsement issued by the board                               
22       authorizing the prescription and use of the pharmaceutical agent [AGENTS].                                
23                 (b)  A licensee may not purchase, possess, prescribe, or use a                                        
24       pharmaceutical agent unless the licensee has obtained a license endorsement under                                 
25       AS 08.72.175 that authorizes use of the pharmaceutical agent.                                                 
26    * Sec. 3.  AS 08.72.272 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:                                             
27            (c)  A licensee may not inject a pharmaceutical agent into the globe of the eye.                             
28    * Sec. 4.  This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).