H.B. 98

1

UTAH OPTOMETRY PRACTICE ACT AMENDMENTS
2 2014 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Paul Ray
5 Senate Sponsor: Brian E. Shiozawa
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill amends the Utah Optometry Practice Act.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 . amends licensure provisions for optometrists;
13 . amends licensure by endorsement provisions for optometrists;
14 . amends the conditions and diseases for which an optometrist may prescribe an oral
15 antibiotic;
16 . authorizes an optometrist to continue to administer or prescribe a hydrocodone
17 combination drug, even if the drug is reclassified as a Schedule II controlled
18 substance under the Utah Controlled Substances Act; and
19 . makes technical changes.
20 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
21 None
22 Other Special Clauses:
23 None
24 Utah Code Sections Affected:
25 AMENDS:
26 58-16a-302 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 183
27 58-16a-601 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2000, Chapter 160

28
29 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
30 Section 1. Section 58-16a-302 is amended to read:
31 58-16a-302. Qualifications for licensure.
32 (1) [Each] An applicant for licensure as an optometrist shall:
33 (a) submit an application in a form prescribed by the division;
34 (b) pay a fee as determined by the division under Section 63J-1-504 ;
35 (c) be of good moral character;
36 (d) (i) be a doctoral graduate of a recognized school of optometry accredited by[: (A) a
37 regional accrediting body recognized by the Council on Post-Secondary Education; and (B)]
38 the American Optometric Association's Accreditation Council on Optometric Education; or
39 (ii) be a graduate of a school of optometry located outside the United States that meets
40 the criteria that would qualify the school for accreditation under Subsection (1)(d)(i), as
41 demonstrated by the applicant for licensure;
42 (e) if the applicant graduated from a recognized school of optometry prior to July 1,
43 1996, have successfully completed a course of study satisfactory to the division, in consultation
44 with the board, in general and ocular pharmacology and emergency medical care;
45 (f) have passed examinations approved by the division in consultation with the board
46 that include:
47 (i) a standardized national optometry examination;
48 (ii) a standardized clinical examination;
49 (iii) a standardized national therapeutics examination; and
50 (iv) the Utah Optometry Law Examination; and
51 (g) meet with the board and representatives of the division, if requested by either party,
52 for the purpose of evaluating the applicant's qualifications for licensure.
53 [(2) An applicant for licensure as an optometrist qualifying under the endorsement
54 provision of Section 58-1-302 shall: (a) be currently licensed]
55 (2) Notwithstanding Subsection (1) and Section 58-1-302 , the division shall issue a
56 license under this chapter by endorsement to an individual who:
57 (a) submits an application for licensure by endorsement on a form approved by the
58 division;

59 (b) pays a fee established by the division in accordance with Section 63J-1-504 ;
60 (c) provides satisfactory evidence to the division that the individual is of good moral
61 character;
62 (d) verifies that the individual is licensed as an optometrist in good standing in [any]
63 each state of the United States, or province of Canada, in which the individual is currently
64 licensed as an optometrist; and
65 [(b) have] (e) has been actively engaged in the legal practice of optometry for [not less
66 than] at least 3,200 hours [in] during the immediately preceding two years[,] in a manner [that
67 is] consistent with the legal practice of optometry in this state.
68 Section 2. Section 58-16a-601 is amended to read:
69 58-16a-601. Scope of practice.
70 (1) An optometrist may:
71 (a) provide [any] optometric services not specifically prohibited under this chapter or
72 division rules [and that] if the services are within the optometrist's training, skills, and scope of
73 competence; and
74 (b) prescribe or administer [any] pharmaceutical [agent] agents for the eye and its
75 adnexa, including [all] oral [pharmaceutical] agents, [except that] subject to the following
76 conditions:
77 (i) [the] an optometrist may prescribe oral antibiotics [may only be prescribed for: (A)
78 eyelid-related] for only eye related ocular conditions or diseases[;], and [(B) any] other ocular
79 [disease or condition as] conditions or diseases specified by division rule; and
80 [(ii) Schedule III controlled substances may only be prescribed or administered to be
81 taken orally or topically for pain of the eye or adnexa in a quantity not to exceed 72 hours in
82 duration and which may not be refilled.]
83 (ii) an optometrist may administer or prescribe a hydrocodone combination drug, or a
84 Schedule III controlled substance, as defined in Section 58-37-4 , only if:
85 (A) the substance is administered or prescribed for pain of the eye or adnexa;
86 (B) the substance is administered orally or topically or is prescribed for oral or topical
87 use;
88 (C) the amount of the substance administered or prescribed does not exceed a 72-hour
89 quantity; and

90 (D) if the substance is prescribed, the prescription does not include refills.
91 (2) An optometrist may not:
92 (a) perform surgery, including laser surgery; or
93 (b) prescribe or administer [any] a Schedule II controlled substance, as defined in [Title
94 58, Chapter 37, Controlled Substances] Section 58-37-4 , except for a hydrocodone
95 combination drug, if so scheduled and prescribed or administered in accordance with
96 Subsection (1)(b).
97 (3) [An] For purposes of Sections 31A-22-617 and 31A-22-618 , an optometrist is a
98 health care provider [for purposes of Sections 31A-22-617 and 31A-22-618 ].




Legislative Review Note
as of 1-29-14 6:31 AM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel