Bill Text: FL S0520 | 2018 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Optometry
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-03-02 - Laid on Table, refer to HB 7059 [S0520 Detail]
Download: Florida-2018-S0520-Comm_Sub.html
Florida Senate - 2018 CS for CS for SB 520 By the Committees on Rules; and Health Policy; and Senators Young and Campbell 595-03959-18 2018520c2 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to optometry; amending s. 463.006, 3 F.S.; requiring an applicant for licensure as an 4 optometrist to submit proof to the Department of 5 Health that she or he meets certain requirements; 6 removing a requirement that the department examine an 7 applicant who meets specified requirements for 8 licensure and certification; requiring the Board of 9 Optometry to approve a licensure examination that 10 meets certain requirements; clarifying that the board 11 may offer a practical examination in addition to a 12 written examination under certain circumstances; 13 providing that an applicant must pass the licensure 14 examination within a specified timeframe as a 15 condition of licensure as an optometrist and 16 certification to administer and prescribe ocular 17 pharmaceutical agents; amending s. 463.0057, F.S.; 18 conforming a cross-reference; providing an effective 19 date. 20 21 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 22 23 Section 1. Section 463.006, Florida Statutes, is amended to 24 read: 25 463.006 Licensure and certification by examination.— 26 (1) Any person desiring to be a licensed practitioner 27 pursuant to this chapter mustshallapply to the department and 28 must submit proof totake the licensure and certification29examinations.the department that she or heshall examine each30applicant who the board determines has: 31 (a) Has completed the application forms as required by the 32 board, remitted an application fee for certification not to 33 exceed $250, remitted an examination fee for certification not 34 to exceed $250, and remitted an examination fee for licensure 35 not to exceed $325, all as set by the board. 36 (b)Submitted proof satisfactory to the department that she37or he:381.Is at least 18 years of age. 39 (c)2.Has graduated from an accredited school or college of 40 optometry approved by rule of the board. 41 (d)3.Is of good moral character. 42 (e)4.Has successfully completed at least 110 hours of 43 transcript-quality coursework and clinical training in general 44 and ocular pharmacology as determined by the board, at an 45 institution that: 46 1.a.Has facilities for both didactic and clinical 47 instructions in pharmacology; and 48 2.b.Is accredited by a regional or professional 49 accrediting organization that is recognized and approved by the 50 Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation or the 51 United States Department of Education. 52 (f)5.Has completed at least 1 year of supervised 53 experience in differential diagnosis of eye disease or disorders 54 as part of the optometric training or in a clinical setting as 55 part of the optometric experience. 56 (2) The board shall approve a licensure examination 57 consistingshallconsistof the appropriate subjects and,58 including applicable state laws and rules and general and ocular 59 pharmacology with emphasis on the use and side effects of ocular 60 pharmaceutical agents. The board may by rule substitute a 61 national examination as part or all of the examination and, 62 notwithstanding chapter 456, may by rule offer a practical 63 examination in addition to athewritten examination. 64 (3) Each applicant who submits proof satisfactory to the 65 board that he or she has met the requirements of subsection (1), 66 who successfully passes the licensure examination within 3 years 67 before the date of application or after the submission of an 68 application, and who otherwise meets the requirements of this 69 chapter is entitled to be licensed as a practitioner and to be 70 certified to administer and prescribe ocular pharmaceutical 71 agents in the diagnosis and treatment of ocular conditions. 72 Section 2. Subsection (3) of section 463.0057, Florida 73 Statutes, is amended to read: 74 463.0057 Optometric faculty certificate.— 75 (3) The holder of a faculty certificate may engage in the 76 practice of optometry as permitted by this section but may not 77 administer or prescribe topical ocular pharmaceutical agents 78 unless the certificateholder has satisfied the requirements of 79 s. 463.006(1)(e) and (f)s. 463.006(1)(b)4. and 5. If a 80 certificateholder wishes to administer or prescribe oral ocular 81 pharmaceutical agents, the certificateholder must also satisfy 82 the requirements of s. 463.0055(1)(b). 83 Section 3. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.