SB 255: "An Act extending the termination date for the Board of Examiners in Optometry; amending the licensing endorsement provisions for optometrists; and providing for an effective date."
00 SENATE BILL NO. 255 01 "An Act extending the termination date for the Board of Examiners in Optometry; 02 amending the licensing endorsement provisions for optometrists; and providing for an 03 effective date." 04 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 05 * Section 1. AS 08.03.010(c)(14) is amended to read: 06 (14) Board of Examiners in Optometry (AS 08.72.010) - June 30, 2014 07 [2006]; 08 * Sec. 2. AS 08.72.175(a) is amended to read: 09 (a) The board may issue a license endorsement authorizing a licensee to 10 prescribe and use the pharmaceutical agents described in AS 08.72.272(a) 11 [AS 08.72.272], if the licensee or applicant for a license passes the written and 12 practical portions of an examination on ocular pharmacology, approved by the board, 13 that tests the licensee's or the applicant's knowledge of the characteristics, 14 pharmacological effects, indications, contraindications, and emergency care associated
01 with the prescription and use of pharmaceutical agents. The endorsement expires at the 02 same time as the license to which it attaches. The endorsement may be renewed upon 03 satisfactory completion of continuing education requirements established by the board 04 by regulation. 05 * Sec. 3. AS 08.72.175 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 06 (c) The board may issue a license endorsement authorizing a licensee to use 07 the pharmaceutical agents described in AS 08.72.272(c), if the licensee or applicant 08 for a license 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 effect, indications, 11 contraindications, and emergency care associated with the use of pharmaceutical 12 agents. The endorsement expires at the same time as the license to which it attaches. 13 The endorsement may be renewed on satisfactory completion of continuing education 14 requirements established by the board by regulation. 15 * Sec. 4. AS 08.72.272(b) is amended to read: 16 (b) A licensee may not purchase, possess, prescribe, or use a pharmaceutical 17 agent unless the licensee has obtained the appropriate [A] license endorsement under 18 AS 08.72.175. 19 * Sec. 5. AS 08.72.272 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 20 (c) A licensee may use a pharmaceutical agent in the practice of optometry if 21 (1) the pharmaceutical agent is a drug topically applied to the human 22 eye and its appendages; and 23 (2) the person holds a license endorsement issued by the board 24 authorizing the use of the pharmaceutical agent. 25 * Sec. 6. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 26 read: 27 RETROACTIVITY. Sections 2 - 5 of this Act are retroactive to July 1, 1992. 28 * Sec. 7. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).