reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
RI Gen L § 5-35.1-5 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-35.1 - Optometrists|Section 5-35.1-5 - Registration of optometrists from other states.

§ 5-35.1-5. Registration of optometrists from other states.Any person who presents evidence to the department that he or she is entitled to practice optometry in another state where requirements for registration are, in the opinion of the department, equivalent to those of this state, may be licensed in this state upon payment to the department of a fee.History of Section.P.L. 2008, ch. 305, § 2; P.L. 2008, ch. 433, § 2.
RI Gen L § 5-35.1-6 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-35.1 - Optometrists|Section 5-35.1-6 - Issuance, registration, and display of certificate of license to practice optometry.

§ 5-35.1-6. Issuance, registration, and display of certificate of license to practice optometry.Every applicant who complies with the provisions of this chapter shall receive from the director under his or her seal a certificate of license entitling him or her to practice optometry in this state. Every person to whom a certificate of license is issued by the department shall keep that certificate displayed in a conspicuous place in the office or place of business where that person practices optometry and, whenever required, shall exhibit the certificate to any authorized representative of the department.History of Section.P.L. 2008, ch. 305, § 2; P.L. 2008, ch. 433, § 2.
RI Gen L § 5-35.1-7 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-35.1 - Optometrists|Section 5-35.1-7 - Renewal of license to practice optometry.

§ 5-35.1-7. Renewal of license to practice optometry.Every licensed optometrist who desires to continue the practice of optometry shall attest to the completion of a prescribed course of continuing optometric education. He or she shall annually pay to the department a renewal fee. An additional fee shall be charged to the licensee who fails to renew by the license expiration date. Retirement from practice in this state for a period not exceeding five (5) years shall not deprive the holder of a certificate of license of the right to renew a certificate upon the payment of all annual renewal fees remaining unpaid, and together with an added fee. All fees required by this section shall be as set forth in § 23-1-54.History of Section.P.L. 2008, ch. 305, § 2; P.L. 2008, ch. 433, § 2; P.L. 2012, ch. 241, art. 9, § 10.
RI Gen L § 5-35.1-8 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-35.1 - Optometrists|Section 5-35.1-8 - Use of title of doctor.

§ 5-35.1-8. Use of title of doctor.Any person licensed to practice optometry under this chapter may prefix or append to his or her name the title of doctor or any abbreviation of the word doctor, provided that person holds a degree granted by a school or college of optometry authorized to grant this degree.History of Section.P.L. 2008, ch. 305, § 2; P.L. 2008, ch. 433, § 2.
RI Gen L § 5-35.1-9 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-35.1 - Optometrists|Section 5-35.1-9 - Acts constituting unlawful practice of optometry.

§ 5-35.1-9. Acts constituting unlawful practice of optometry.No optometrist licensed by and practicing in this state may:(1) Use or occupy space for that practice under any oral or written lease, contract, arrangement, or understanding with anyone (other than with another optometrist licensed by, and practicing in this state) by which the rent paid by that licensed optometrist for that use or occupancy or any element of the expense of practicing his or her profession varies according to his or her gross receipts, net profit, taxable income, numeral volume of the patients examined by that licensed optometrist, or any combination;(2) Use or occupy space for that practice in any building where more than fifty percent (50%) of the remaining space is used or occupied by tenants or a tenant of that building or the owner of that building and those tenants, tenant, or owner is engaged in the business of selling merchandise to the general public, if those tenants, tenant, or owner:(i) Uses, or occupies that space under any oral or written lease, contract, arrangement, or understanding with anyone by which the rent paid by those tenants or tenant for that use or occupancy or any element in the cost of doing business varies according to the gross receipts, net profit, taxable income, numerical volume of sales or customers of those tenants or tenant or any combination;(3) Advertise by written or spoken words of a character tending to deceive or mislead the public; or(4) Practice his or her profession under any oral or written contract, arrangement, or understanding where anyone, not licensed to practice optometry practicing in this state shares, directly or indirectly, in any fees received by that licensed optometrist.History of Section.P.L. 2008, ch. 305, § 2; P.L. 2008, ch. 433, § 2.
RI Gen L § 5-35.1-10 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-35.1 - Optometrists|Section 5-35.1-10 - Unlawful sale of spectacles.

§ 5-35.1-10. Unlawful sale of spectacles.It is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to sell, as merchandise, in any store or established place of business in the state, any eyeglasses, spectacles, or lenses for the correction of vision, unless a licensed optometrist, physician, or optician under the laws of this state is in charge and in personal attendance at the booth, counter, or place where those articles are sold in a store or established place of business. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to apply to the sale of simple reading magnifying glasses, toy glasses, goggles consisting of plano white or plano colored lenses or ordinary colored glasses, or to optometrists, physicians, or opticians who sell spectacles, eyeglasses, or lenses by prescription. A seller of simple reading magnifying glasses shall have the following notice permanently affixed in plain view to the top of any point of sale display: "These magnifiers are not intended to be a substitute for corrective lenses; only a professional eye examination can determine your eye health status and vision needs." This notice shall also be prominently displayed in all newspaper, magazine, and other advertisements for simple reading magnifying glasses. As used in this section, "simple reading magnifying glasses" do not include lenses of bifocal design or single-vision lenses of over plus 3.25 diopters or equivalent magnification.History of Section.P.L. 2008, ch. 305, § 2; P.L. 2008, ch. 433, § 2; P.L. 2014, ch. 197, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 219, § 1.
RI Gen L § 5-35.1-11 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-35.1 - Optometrists|Section 5-35.1-11 - Freedom of choice for eye care.

§ 5-35.1-11. Freedom of choice for eye care.(a) Any contract providing for healthcare benefits that calls for the expenditure of private or public funds, for any purpose involving eye care that is within the scope of the practice of optometry, shall provide the recipients and/or beneficiaries the freedom to choose within the participating provider panel either an optometrist or physician to provide the eye care. This provision shall be applicable whether or not the contract is executed and/or delivered in or outside of the state, or for use within or outside of the state by or for any individuals who reside or are employed in the state.(b) Where the contracts call for the expenditure of public or private funds, for any purpose involving expenditure of public or private funds, for any purpose involving eye care, there shall be no discrimination as to the rate of reimbursement for the health care, whether provided by a doctor of optometry or physician providing similar services.History of Section.P.L. 2008, ch. 305, § 2; P.L. 2008, ch. 433, § 2.
RI Gen L § 5-35.1-11.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-35.1 - Optometrists|Section 5-35.1-11.1 - Subcontracted optometry network.

§ 5-35.1-11.1. Subcontracted optometry network.An insurer, including a company offering accident and sickness insurance as defined in chapter 18 of title 27, a nonprofit hospital-service corporation as defined in chapter 19 of title 27, a nonprofit medical-service corporation as defined in chapter 20 of title 27, or a health-maintenance organization as defined in chapter 41 of title 27, shall not require that an optometrist participate in a subsidiary's or a third-party's vision-care plan as a condition for participation in the insurer's participating-provider panel.History of Section.P.L. 2011, ch. 181, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 204, § 1.
RI Gen L § 5-35.1-12 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-35.1 - Optometrists|Section 5-35.1-12 - Use and prescription of pharmaceutical agents for ocular conditions - Optometrists training and certification.

§ 5-35.1-12. Use and prescription of pharmaceutical agents for ocular conditions — Optometrists training and certification.(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, amplified optometrists of this state may use and prescribe pharmaceutical agents in the treatment of conditions of the human eye and its appendages, without the use of surgery or other invasive techniques; provided, that all qualified optometrists shall be permitted to become amplified optometrists in accordance with the requirements of subsection (c) of this section and all other requirements of this chapter; and provided, further, that drugs contained in Schedule III of chapter 28 of title 21 and hydrocodone-containing medications shall be prescribed for no more than seventy-two (72) hours; and that no optometrist shall deliver any medication by injection.(b) The director shall issue regulations governing the prescribing of oral pharmaceutical agents, including oral steroids and Schedule III narcotic and non-narcotic analgesics, within the scope of the optometrist's practice.(c) To be newly licensed as an amplified optometrist, a qualified optometrist must meet the qualifications of § 5-35.1-2 and must provide evidence to the department that he or she has satisfactorily:(1) Completed at least thirty (30) hours of clinical experience in the treatment of ocular disease with pharmaceutical agents, consistent with current graduate degree requirements for optometric education either within a four-year (4) period immediately prior to the date of application or as otherwise determined by the board; and(2) Completed a course in pharmacology, as it applies to optometry, at an approved institution accredited by a regional, professional, or academic accreditation organization.Further, to maintain amplified-optometrist-licensure status, all amplified optometrists must submit, upon request, evidence of an average of at least five (5) hours of continuing education in pharmacology per year.(d) The director, before issuing the regulations, shall request and consider recommendations that may be submitted by the board of optometry.(e) The board shall require optometrists to adhere to electronic prescribing standards within thirty (30) months of receiving prescriptive authority as defined in subsection (a) of this section.History of Section.P.L. 2008, ch. 305, § 2; P.L. 2008, ch. 433, § 2; P.L. 2009, ch. 310, § 31; P.L. 2014, ch. 422, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 457, § 1.
RI Gen L § 5-35.1-13 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-35.1 - Optometrists|Section 5-35.1-13 - Board of optometry - Appointment of members.

§ 5-35.1-13. Board of optometry — Appointment of members.The director shall appoint a board of optometry. The board shall consist of five (5) members, all of whom shall be residents of the state, four (4) of whom shall be licensed optometrists engaged in the practice of optometry for at least five (5) years prior to their appointment, and there shall be one public member. The members shall be appointed for terms of three (3) years; each member may serve a maximum of two (2) consecutive full terms.History of Section.P.L. 2008, ch. 305, § 2; P.L. 2008, ch. 433, § 2.
RI Gen L § 5-35.1-14 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-35.1 - Optometrists|Section 5-35.1-14 - Board - Compensation of members.

§ 5-35.1-14. Board — Compensation of members.No member of the board of optometry shall receive compensation for his or her attendance at meetings of the board.History of Section.P.L. 2008, ch. 305, § 2; P.L. 2008, ch. 433, § 2.
RI Gen L § 5-35.1-15 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-35.1 - Optometrists|Section 5-35.1-15 - Receipts.

§ 5-35.1-15. Receipts.The proceeds of any fees collected pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be deposited as general revenues.History of Section.P.L. 2008, ch. 305, § 2; P.L. 2008, ch. 433, § 2.
RI Gen L § 5-35.1-16 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-35.1 - Optometrists|Section 5-35.1-16 - Minimum examination of patient.

§ 5-35.1-16. Minimum examination of patient.Every person practicing optometry in accordance with the laws of this state shall, prior to prescribing eyeglasses, lenses, or spectacles make a minimum examination of the patient to determine existent visual defects and procedures for their correction. The degree of that minimum examination shall be defined in the rules and regulations of the department.History of Section.P.L. 2008, ch. 305, § 2; P.L. 2008, ch. 433, § 2.
RI Gen L § 5-35.1-17 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-35.1 - Optometrists|Section 5-35.1-17 - Persons exempt from requirements.

§ 5-35.1-17. Persons exempt from requirements.Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to apply to physicians licensed to practice medicine under the laws of this state, or to persons engaged in optical work who do not conduct a retail or wholesale optical business.History of Section.P.L. 2008, ch. 305, § 2; P.L. 2008, ch. 433, § 2.
RI Gen L § 5-35.1-18 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-35.1 - Optometrists|Section 5-35.1-18 - Refusal, suspension, or revocation of license for unprofessional conduct.

§ 5-35.1-18. Refusal, suspension, or revocation of license for unprofessional conduct.In addition to any and all other remedies provided in this chapter, the director may, after notice and hearing in the director's discretion, refuse to grant, refuse to renew, suspend, or revoke any license provided for in this chapter to any person who is guilty of unprofessional conduct or conduct of a character likely to deceive or defraud the public, or for any fraud or deception committed in obtaining a license. "Unprofessional conduct" is defined as including, but is not limited to:(1) Conviction of one or more of the offenses set forth in § 23-17-37;(2) Knowingly placing the health of a patient at serious risk without maintaining proper precautions;(3) Advertising by means of false or deceptive statements;(4) The use of drugs or alcohol to an extent that impairs the person's ability to properly engage in the profession;(5) Use of any false or fraudulent statement in any document connected with his or her practice;(6) Obtaining of any fee by fraud or willful misrepresentation of any kind whether from a patient or insurance plan;(7) Knowingly performing any act that in any way aids or assists an unlicensed person to practice in violation of this chapter;(8) Violating or attempting to violate, directly or indirectly, or assisting in, or abetting, the violation of, or conspiring to violate, any of the provisions of this chapter or regulations previously or hereafter issued pursuant to this chapter;(9) Incompetence;(10) Repeated acts of gross misconduct;(11) An optometrist providing services to a person who is making a claim as a result of a personal injury, who charges or collects from the person any amount in excess of the reimbursement to the optometrist by the insurer as a condition of providing or continuing to provide services or treatment;(12) Failure to conform to acceptable and prevailing community standard of optometric practice;(13) Advertising by written or spoken words of a character tending to deceive or mislead the public;(14) Practicing his or her profession under any oral or written contract, arrangement, or understanding where anyone not licensed to practice optometry in this state shares, directly or indirectly, in any fees received by that licensed optometrist;(15) Grave and repeated misuse of any ocular pharmaceutical agent; or(16) The use of any agent or procedure in the course of optometric practice by an optometrist not properly authorized under this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 2008, ch. 305, § 2; P.L. 2008, ch. 433, § 2.
RI Gen L § 5-35.1-19 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-35.1 - Optometrists|Section 5-35.1-19 - Construction of glass lenses - Violations - Penalty.

§ 5-35.1-19. Construction of glass lenses — Violations — Penalty.(a) No person shall distribute, sell, or deliver any eyeglasses or sunglasses unless those eyeglasses or sunglasses are fitted with heat-treated glass lenses, plastic lenses, lamination lenses, or lenses made impact-resistant by other methods. The provisions of this subsection do not apply if a physician or optometrist, having found that those lenses will not fulfill the visual requirements of a particular patient, directs, in writing, the use of other lenses and gives written notification to the patient. Before they are mounted in frames, all impact-resistant eyeglasses and sunglass lenses, except plastic lenses, laminated lenses, and raised-ledge multifocal lenses must withstand an impact test of a steel ball five-eighths (⅝) of an inch in diameter weighing approximately fifty-six hundredths of an ounce (0.56 oz.) dropped from a height of fifty inches (50"). Raised-ledge multifocal lenses are capable of withstanding the impact test but do not need to be tested beyond initial design testing. To demonstrate that all plastic lenses and laminated lenses are capable of withstanding the impact test, the manufacturer of the lenses shall subject to the impact test a statistically significant sampling of lenses from each production batch, and the tested lenses are representative of the finished forms as worn by the wearer. Plastic prescription and plastic nonprescription lenses, tested on the basis of statistical significance, may be tested in uncut finished or semi-finished form at the point of original manufacture.(b) Any person convicted of violating the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) for each violation.History of Section.P.L. 2008, ch. 305, § 2; P.L. 2008, ch. 433, § 2.
RI Gen L § 5-35.1-20 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-35.1 - Optometrists|Section 5-35.1-20 - Penalty for violations.

§ 5-35.1-20. Penalty for violations.Any person who violates the provisions of this chapter shall be punished by a fine of not more than that set forth in § 23-1-54, or shall be imprisoned for not more than three (3) months for each offense.History of Section.P.L. 2008, ch. 305, § 2; P.L. 2008, ch. 433, § 2; P.L. 2012, ch. 241, art. 9, § 10; P.L. 2019, ch. 308, art. 1, § 15.
RI Gen L § 5-35.1-21 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-35.1 - Optometrists|Section 5-35.1-21 - Prosecution of violations.

§ 5-35.1-21. Prosecution of violations.It shall be the duty of the director to enforce the provisions of this chapter and to prosecute every person who violates those provisions. Whenever a complaint is made by the department, or by any of its authorized agents of any violation of the provisions of this chapter, they shall not be required to furnish surety for costs, nor are they liable for costs on that complaint.History of Section.P.L. 2008, ch. 305, § 2; P.L. 2008, ch. 433, § 2.
RI Gen L § 5-35.1-22 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-35.1 - Optometrists|Section 5-35.1-22 - Rules and regulations.

§ 5-35.1-22. Rules and regulations.The department, in addition to approving the examinations and licensing of optometrists, shall make rules and regulations governing the practice of optometry. The department shall have the power to revoke the license of any optometrist violating those rules and regulations.History of Section.P.L. 2008, ch. 305, § 2; P.L. 2008, ch. 433, § 2.
RI Gen L § 5-35.1-23 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-35.1 - Optometrists|Section 5-35.1-23 - Severability.

§ 5-35.1-23. Severability.(a) If any provision of this chapter or of any rule or regulation made under this chapter, or the application of this chapter to any person or circumstances, is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of the chapter, rule, or regulation, and the application of that provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected.(b) The invalidity of any section or sections or parts of any section or sections of this chapter does not affect the validity of the remainder of the chapter.History of Section.P.L. 2008, ch. 305, § 2; P.L. 2008, ch. 433, § 2.
RI Gen L § 5-35.2-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-35.2 - Opticians|Section 5-35.2-1 - Definitions.

§ 5-35.2-1. Definitions.As used in this chapter:(1) "Advisory committee" means the advisory committee of opticianry as established herein.(2) "Department" means the department of health.(3) "Director" means the director of the department of health.(4) "Optician" means a person licensed in this state to practice opticianry pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.(5) "The practice of opticianry" means the preparation or dispensing of eyeglasses, spectacles, lenses, or related appurtenances, for the intended wearers, or users, on prescription from licensed physicians or optometrists, or duplications or reproductions of previously prepared eyeglasses, spectacles, lenses, or related appurtenances; or the person who, in accordance with such prescriptions, duplications, or reproductions, measures, adapts, fits, and adjusts eyeglasses, spectacles, lenses, including spectacles add powers for task specific use or occupational applications, or appurtenances, to the human face. Provided, however, a person licensed under the provisions of this chapter shall be specifically prohibited from engaging in the practice of ocular refraction, orthoptics, visual training, the prescribing of subnormal vision aids, telescopic spectacles, fitting, selling, replacing, or dispensing contact lenses.History of Section.P.L. 2008, ch. 305, § 3; P.L. 2008, ch. 433, § 3.