An Act To Increase the Licensing Fee Caps of the State Board of Optometry
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 1411
Committee: Business, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: BROMLEY, SULLIVAN, RECTOR
Amends: 32 MRSA §2422, 32 MRSA §2423

Legislative Document 
No. 1411 
S.P.469 
In Senate, March 20, 2003 
An Act To Increase the Licensing Fee Caps of the State Board of 
Optometry 
Submitted by the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation pursuant to Joint 
Rule 204. 
Reference to the Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development suggested 
and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator BROMLEY of Cumberland. 
Cosponsored by Representative SULLIVAN of Biddeford and 
Representative: RECTOR of Thomaston. 
Printed on recycled paper 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §2422, first 1[, as amended by PL 1995, c . 606, 
§6, is further amended to read: 
Every individual before beginning the practice of optometry 
in this State must pass an examination before the board. 
The 
board shall provide an opportunity for applicants to take the 
examination at least twice per year. 
At the discretion of the 
board, the examination may consist of tests in basic sciences; in 
anatomy 
and 
physiology 
of 
the 
eye; 
pathology; 
practical, 
theoretical and physiological optics; practical and theoretical 
optometry; clinical diagnosis and therapeutics; and other phases 
of optometric knowledge and skill the board determines to be 
essential. The board shall require that a 
new applicant pass 
Parts I, II and III of the National Board of Examiners 
in 
Optometry examination, including all sections of the Treatment 
and 
Management 
of 
Ocular 
Diseases 
(TMOD) 
examination. 
An 
individual who has applied to be examined shall appear before the 
board at the time and place the board designates and, before the 
examination, shall pay to the board a sum not in excess of $699 
$400 as established by the board. All applicants successfully 
passing the examination must be licensed to practice optometry. 
The board may require applicants who have failed to pass the 
licensure examination 3 times to enroll in a course of continuing 
education as prescribed by the board. 
Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §2423, sub-§I, as amended by PL 1997, c. 117, 
§3, is further amended to read: 
1. 
Annual renewal. Every licensed optometrist practicing in 
the State shall pay annually, before the first day of April, to 
the board a license renewal fee not in excess of $699 $400 as 
established by the board under section 2417. 
Sec. 3. 32 MRSA §2423, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1993, c. 600, 
Pt. A, §154, is further amended to read: 
2. 
Bonactive 
license. 
Every 
licensed 
optometrist 
not 
practicing within the State 
must 
upon payment of an annual 
license renewal fee not in excess of $699 £iQQ as established by 
the board, be issued a nonactive license renewal. The fee is 
payable to the board before the first day of April each year. 
Should a holder of a nonactive license 
desire to practice within 
the State, the licensee shall notify the board in writing, and 
except as otherwise provided in this chapter, must then be issued 
an active license by the board. 
Page l-LR1929(1) 
This 
Optometry 
SUMMARY 
bill increases the 
in order to enable 
fee caps for the State Board of 
the board to increase its fees in 
order to meet its expenses.