By Hamric                                             H.B. No. 3010
       74R1350 JMM-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the release of a prescription to the patient of an
    1-3  optometrist.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Section 5.15(e), Texas Optometry Act (Article
    1-6  4552-5.15, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to read as
    1-7  follows:
    1-8        (e)  If, after examining a patient, an optometrist or
    1-9  therapeutic optometrist believes that lenses are required to
   1-10  correct or remedy any defect or abnormal condition of vision, the
   1-11  optometrist or therapeutic optometrist shall so inform the patient
   1-12  and shall provide the patient with a copy of the patient's
   1-13  <spectacle> prescription.  The optometrist or therapeutic
   1-14  optometrist shall expressly indicate verbally or by other means
   1-15  that the patient has two alternatives for the preparation of the
   1-16  lenses according to the optometrist's or therapeutic optometrist's
   1-17  prescription:  First, that the optometrist or therapeutic
   1-18  optometrist will prepare or have the lenses prepared according to
   1-19  the prescription; and second, that the patient may have the
   1-20  prescription filled by any dispensing optician but should return
   1-21  for an optometrical examination of the lenses.  This subsection
   1-22  does not require an optometrist or therapeutic optometrist to
   1-23  provide a prescription to a patient before the patient has paid the
   1-24  examination fee.
    2-1        SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
    2-2  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-3  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    2-4  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-5  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
    2-6  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
    2-7  passage, and it is so enacted.