Spectacle lens prescriptions provided by optometrists and professional disciplinary actions by the optometry examining board. (FE)

What it would have done

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

Under current law, an optometrist may be subject to professional discipline for engaging in unprofessional conduct. The Optometry Examining Board has promulgated rules specifying that unprofessional conduct includes failing to release, at no cost to the patient, a copy of the patient’s spectacle lens prescription or contact lens prescription following release of the patient from contact lens fitting and initial follow-up care. The board’s rules further define “contact lens prescription” and “lens prescription,” so as to specify the minimum requirements for such prescriptions.

This bill codifies into statute that unprofessional conduct by an optometrist includes failing to release, at no cost to the patient, a copy of the patient’s spectacle lens prescription or contact lens prescription following release of the patient from contact lens fitting and initial follow-up care. The bill further provides that the board must define by rule what such prescriptions must include. However, the bill specifically requires that a spectacle lens prescription include a measurement of the patient’s pupillary distance, which is not required under the board’s current rules.

Who's behind it

3 representatives are its authors⁠. All 3 are Democrats.