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.