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House Bill 1025 |
House Author: Solomons |
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Effective: See below |
Senate Sponsor: Shapleigh |
House Bill 1025 amends provisions of the Occupations Code to continue the Texas Optometry Board until September 1, 2017. In addition to across-the-board sunset provisions, the bill includes provisions relating to informal settlement conferences to resolve complaints, temporary license suspension and restriction, and license renewal fees. The bill transfers certain authority over the board from the Texas Board of Health to the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission or the Department of State Health Services. It permits verification of a contact lens prescription by telephone, facsimile, or electronic mail, provides that a prescription is verified if the prescribing physician, optometrist, or therapeutic optometrist fails to respond to a verification request within eight business hours, and removes the requirement that a prescription for disposable contact lenses include the total number of lenses authorized to be issued and the recommended replacement interval.
House Bill 1025 includes dates by which rules must be adopted, a three-member disciplinary board must be appointed, and complaint procedures and prescription verification procedures must be fully operational. Otherwise, the bill takes effect September 1, 2005.