03/16/1995 02:00 PM House HES

 HHES - 03/16/95                                                               
 HB 168 - PERMITS FOR NONRESIDENT OPTOMETRISTS.                              
                                                                               
 Number 1483                                                                   
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIR TOOHEY moved the CS for HB 168.  It is 9LS0671-G.  There             
 were no objections.  The reasoning behind the CS was that there was           
 a problem in language that has since been approved by Dr. Roy Box,            
 an optometrist in Juneau, and by Catherine Reardon of the Division            
 of Occupational Licensing in the Department of Commerce.  There is            
 a zero fiscal note.                                                           
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIR TOOHEY explained that the new language requires that the             
 training of the incoming optometrists be uniform.                             
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIR BUNDE said this is the locum tenus bill.                             
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIR TOOHEY said there was a question concerning optometrists             
 who come into Alaska from other parts of the country.  The question           
 regarded whether the new optometrist was licensed and had they been           
 trained in using medications for the eye.  This provision has been            
 included in the bill.                                                         
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIR BUNDE asked for and found no public testimony.                       
                                                                               
 Number 1537                                                                   
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG moved that the CSHB 168 pass the HESS                 
 Committee with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal             
 notes.  Hearing no objection, CSHB 168(HES) passed the committee.