Source: http://www.wvlegislature.gov/bill_status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=SB230%20intr.htm&yr=2010&sesstype=RS&i=230
Timestamp: 2018-02-23 08:41:45
Document Index: 269237400

Matched Legal Cases: ['§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30']

OTHER VERSIONS - Enrolled Version - Final Version | Engrossed Version | sb230 SUB1 amended | Committee Substitute (1) | | Email
(By Senators Bowman, Kessler, Yost, Browning, Edgell, Snyder and D. Facemire and Wells)
[Introduced January 18, 2010; referred to the Committee on Government Organization.]
A BILL to repeal §30-8-2a, §30-8-2b, §30-8-3a, §30-8-3b and §30-8- 5a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend and reenact §30-8-1, §30-8-2, §30-8-3, §30-8-4, §30-8-5, §30- 8-6, §30-8-7, §30-8-8, §30-8-9, §30-8-10 and §30-8-11 of said code; and to amend said code by adding thereto ten new sections, designated §30-8-12, §30-8-13, §30-8-14, §30-8-15, §30-8-16, §30-8-17, §30-8-18, §30-8-19, §30-8-20 and §30-8-21, all relating to the Board of Optometry; prohibiting the practice of optometry without a license; providing other applicable sections; providing definitions; providing for board composition; setting forth the powers and duties of the board; clarifying rule-making authority; continuing a special revenue account; establishing license requirements; providing for licensure for persons licensed in another state; establishing renewal requirements; providing permit requirements; requiring display of license; setting forth grounds for disciplinary actions; allowing for specific disciplinary actions; providing procedures for investigation of complaints; providing for judicial review and appeals of decisions; setting forth hearing and notice requirements; providing for civil causes of action; providing criminal penalties; and providing that a single act is evidence of practice.
That §30-8-2a, §30-8-2b, §30-8-3a, §30-8-3b and §30-8-5a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be repealed; that §30- 8-1, §30-8-2, §30-8-3, §30-8-4, §30-8-5, §30-8-6, §30-8-7, §30-8-8, §30-8-9, §30-8-10 and §30-8-11 of said code be amended and reenacted; and that said code be amended by adding thereto ten new sections, designated §30-8-12, §30-8-13, §30-8-14, §30-8-15, §30-8- 16, §30-8-17, §30-8-18, §30-8-19, §30-8-20 and §30-8-21, all to read as follows:
(c) A licensee may not practice optometry as an employee, lessee, or sublessee of any commercial or mercantile establishment.
(b) "Applicant" means any person making application for an original or renewal license, certificate or a temporary permit under the provisions of this article.
(e) "Examination, diagnosis and treatment" means a method compatible with accredited optometric education and professional competence.
(f) "Licensed optometrist" means an optometrist holding a license or temporary permit issued under the provisions of this article.
(g) "Licensee" means an optometrist licensed under the provisions of this article.
(h) "Practice of optometry" means the examining, diagnosing and treating of any visual defect or abnormal condition of the human eye or its appendages.
(i) The board shall elect annually a president and a secretary-treasurer one of its members as chairperson who serves at the will of the board.
(l) The board shall hold at least two annual meetings. Other meetings may be held at the call of the president or upon the written request of two members at the time and place as designated in the call or request.
(14) Maintain an accurate registry of names and addresses of all licensees by the board;
(1) Accept test results from a nationally recognized accrediting organization;
(9) A scope of practice;
(10) A formulary of categories of drugs to be considered rational to the diagnosis and treatment of visual defects or abnormal conditions of the human eye and its appendages. The board shall consult with the Board of Pharmacy before releasing these rules for public comment;
(4) Pass an examination as prescribed by the board;
(7) Not have been convicted of a felony in any jurisdiction within ten years preceding the date of application for license, which conviction remains not reversed; and
(8) Not have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony in any jurisdiction if the offense for which he or she was convicted related to the practice of optometry, which conviction remains not reversed.
(b) A registration to practice issued by the board prior to July 1, 2010, shall for all purposes be considered a license issued under this article: Provided, That a person holding a registration issued prior to July 1, 2010, must renew the license pursuant to the provisions of this article.
(a) An optometrist may:
(1) Examine, diagnosis and treat conditions of the human eye and its appendages;
(2) Administer or prescribe schedule III, IV and V controlled substances related to the examination, diagnosis or treatment of diseases and conditions of the human eye and its appendages, if the licensee meets the criteria established in section fourteen of this article;
(3) Prescribe and dispense ocular devices approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a drug, including but not limited to contact lenses, that contain and deliver pharmaceutical agents, if the licensees meets the criteria established in section fourteen of this article;
(4) Prescribe, fit, apply, replace, duplicate or alter lenses, prisms, contact lenses, orthoptics, vision training, vision rehabilitation;
(5) Provide minor surgical procedures utilizing any acceptable mechanical, thermal, light-based, electromagnetic or chemical means to treat conditions of the eye and it's appendages if the licensee meets the criteria of section fourteen of this article. For purposes of this section, those minor surgical procedures shall be defined as any procedure that can be done in an examination room or similar setting which requires only a 'clean' field and can be performed by one doctor of optometry with or without topical or local anesthesia;
(6) Furnish or provide of any prosthetic device to correct or relieve any defects or abnormal conditions of the human eye or its appendages; and
(7) Perform or order laboratory tests indicated to further evaluate conditions relevant to the eye or it's appendages.
(1) Perform major surgery: This includes any surgery requiring a 'sterile' field performed in a hospital operating room or similar setting which may or may not involve general anesthesia;
(2) Perform surgery to remove a foreign body which has penetrated into the anterior or posterior chambers of the eye;
(3) Perform any surgery which would involve removing or replacing the crystalline lens (i.e. cataract surgery);
(4) Perform surgery which is designed to have a direct or indirect affect on the vitreous body or retina of the eye;
(5) Use Schedule I and Schedule II controlled substances;
(6) Treat systemic disease; and
(7) Present to the public that he or she is a specialist in surgery of the eye.
(a) A licensee shall annually or biennially on or before August 1, renew his or her license by completing a form prescribed by the board, paying the renewal fee and submitting any other information required by the board.
(a) Upon proper application and the payment of a fee which shall be established by the board by legislative rule, the board may issue, without examination, a temporary permit to engage in the practice of optometry in this state.
(b) A temporary permit issued shall expire thirty days after the permittee receives notice of the results of the examination, if the permittee receives a passing score on the examination. The temporary permit shall expire immediately if the permittee receives a failing score on the examination. An applicant under this subsection may be issued only one temporary permit, and upon the expiration of that permit, may not practice as an optometrist until fully licensed under the provisions of this article. In no event may a permittee practice on a temporary permit beyond a period of ninety consecutive days. A temporary permittee under this subsection shall work under the supervision of a licensed optometrist, with the scope of such supervision to be defined by the board by legislative rule.
(1) Holds a license or other authorization to practice in another state which requirements are substantially equivalent to those required in this state;
(5) Has passed the West Virginia jurisprudence examination;
(b) In its discretion, the board may interview and examine an applicant for licensing under this section, and may enter into agreements for reciprocal licensing with other jurisdictions having substantially similar requirements for licensure.
(a) An optometrist may not prescribe a drug from Schedule III, IV or V of the Uniform Controlled Substance Act, utilize oral or injectable means of administering medications, or perform minor surgical procedures without obtaining an authorizing certificate from the board.
(b) To be eligible for a certificate the applicant must:
§30-8-15. Special volunteer certificate of registration; civil immunity for voluntary services rendered to indigents.
(a) There is established a special volunteer certificate of registration for optometrists retired or retiring from the active practice of optometry who wish to donate their expertise for the care and treatment of indigent and needy patients in the clinic setting of clinics organized, in whole or in part, for the delivery of health care services without charge. The special volunteer certificate of registration shall be issued by the West Virginia Board of Optometry to optometrists registered or otherwise eligible for registration under this article and the legislative rules promulgated hereunder without the payment of an application fee, license fee or renewal fee, and shall be issued for the remainder of the licensing period, and renewed consistent with the boards other licensing requirements. The board shall develop application forms for the special certificate of registration provided in this subsection which shall contain the optometrist's acknowledgment that:
(1) The optometrist's practice under the special volunteer certificate of registration will be exclusively devoted to providing optometrical care to needy and indigent persons in West Virginia;
(2) The optometrist will not receive any payment or compensation, either direct or indirect, or have the expectation of any payment or compensation, for any optometrical services rendered under the special volunteer certificate of registration;
(4) The optometrist agrees to continue to participate in continuing education as required by the board for a special volunteer optometrist license.
(b) Any optometrist who renders any optometrical service to indigent and needy patients of a clinic organized, in whole or in part, for the delivery of health care services without charge under a special volunteer certificate of registration authorized under subsection (a) of this section without payment or compensation or the expectation or promise of payment or compensation is immune from liability for any civil action arising out of any act or omission resulting from the rendering of the optometrical service at the clinic unless the act or omission was the result of the optometrist's gross negligence or willful misconduct. In order for the immunity under this subsection to apply, there must be a written agreement between the optometrist and the clinic pursuant to which the optometrist will provide voluntary uncompensated optometrical services under the control of the clinic to patients of the clinic before the rendering of any services by the optometrist at the clinic: Provided, That any clinic entering into such written agreement is required to maintain liability coverage of not less than $1 million per occurrence.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, a clinic organized, in whole or in part, for the delivery of health care services without charge is not relieved from imputed liability for the negligent acts of an optometrist rendering voluntary optometrical services at or for the clinic under a special volunteer certificate of registration authorized under subsection (a) of this section.
(d) For purposes of this section, "otherwise eligible for registration" means the satisfaction of all the requirements for registration as listed in section five of this article and in the legislative rules promulgated thereunder, except the fee requirements of section seven of this article and of the legislative rules promulgated by the board relating to fees.
(e) Nothing in this section may be construed as requiring the board to issue a special volunteer certificate of registration to any optometrist whose certificate of registration is or has been subject to any disciplinary action or to any optometrist who has surrendered a certificate of registration or caused such registration to lapse, expire and become invalid in lieu of having a complaint initiated or other action taken against his or her registration, or who has elected to place a certificate of registration in inactive status in lieu of having a complaint initiated or other action taken against his or her registration, or who has been denied a certificate of registration.
(f) Any policy or contract of liability insurance providing coverage for liability sold, issued or delivered in this state to any optometrist covered under the provisions of this article shall be read so as to contain a provision or endorsement whereby the company issuing such policy waives or agrees not to assert as a defense on behalf of the policyholder or any beneficiary thereof, to any claim covered by the terms of such policy within the policy limits, the immunity from liability of the insured by reason of the care and treatment of needy and indigent patients by an optometrist who holds a special volunteer certificate of registration.
§30-8-16. Optometric business entities.
§30-8-17. Complaints; investigations; due process procedure; grounds for disciplinary action.
(d) Upon a finding that probable cause exists that the licensee or permittee has violated subsection (g) of this section or rules promulgated pursuant to this article, the board may enter into a consent decree or hold a hearing for the suspension or revocation of the license, certificate or permit or the imposition of sanctions against the licensee, certificate holder or permittee. Any hearing shall be held in accordance with the provisions of this article.
(g) The board may, after notice and opportunity for hearing, deny or refuse to renew, suspend or revoke the license or permit of, impose probationary conditions upon or take disciplinary action against, any licensee, certificate holder or permittee for any of the following reasons once a violation has been proven by a preponderance of the evidence:
(9) False and deceptive advertising; this includes, but is not limited to, the following:
§30-8-18. Procedures for hearing; right of appeal.
(e) If, after a hearing, the board determines the licensee, certificate holder or permittee has violated subsection (g), section seventeen of this article or the board's rules, a formal written decision shall be prepared which contains findings of fact, conclusions of law and a specific description of the disciplinary actions imposed.
§30-8-19. Judicial review.
§30-8-20. Criminal proceedings; penalties.
§30-8-21. Single act evidence of practice.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to update the article providing for the Board of Optometrists. The bill prohibits the practice of optometry without a license; provides definitions; continues the Board Of Optometry; provides the powers and duties of the board; provides the rulemaking authority of the board; continues a special revenue account; establishes licensing requirements; provides for licensure for persons licensed in another state; establishes renewal requirements and fees; provides for temporary permits; provides prescriptive authority to optometrists; provides for a special volunteer certificate of registration; owning of optometric business entities; provides procedures for investigation of complaints and grounds for disciplinary action; provides for judicial review and appeals of decisions; provides for hearing and notice requirements; provides criminal penalties and provides that a single act is evidence of practice.
§30-8 has been completely rewritten; therefore, strike- throughs and underscoring have been omitted.