SRC-SLL H.B. 2394 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 2394
By: Maxey (To Be Determined)
Health Services
5/14/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Currently, the Texas Optometry Act regulates the practice of optometry in
Texas. C.S.H.B. 2394 amends this Act to except certain applicants who wish
to take a licensing examination to practice therapeutic optometry and who
have not yet graduated from a college of optometry. Furthermore, this bill
authorizes the Texas Optometry Board to issue a license to practice
therapeutic optometry without requiring an applicant to pass all or part of
the required examination under certain conditions.  

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 2394 sets forth provisions relating to the regulation of
the practice of optometry. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subsection (a), Article 4552-3.02, V.T.C.S. (Texas
Optometry Act), to authorize an applicant to take an examination without
having graduated from a reputable college of optometry if the dean of such
a college that meets the requirements of the Texas Optometry Board (board)
notifies the board in writing that the applicant is enrolled in
goodstanding in the college and is in the final semester before graduation
and the applicant meets the other requirements of this subsection. 

SECTION 2. Amends Article 3, Article 4552-3.01 et seq., V.T.C.S. (Texas
Optometry Act), by adding Section 3.085, as follows: 

 Sec. 3.085. LICENSE WITHOUT EXAMINATION. Authorizes the board to issue a
license to practice therapeutic optometry without requiring the applicant
to pass all or part of the examination required by Section 3.01 of this Act
if: 
 _the applicant is licensed in good standing as a therapeutic optometrist
inanother state, the District of Columbia, or a territory of the
UnitedStates;  
_the applicant has passed an examination that is substantially equivalentto
the examination required by Section 3.01 of this Act;  
_during at least five of the seven years preceding the application date,the
applicant has been actively engaged in the practice of therapeuticoptometry
or engaged in full-time teaching at an accredited college ofoptometry or
medicine; 
 _there are no pending disciplinary actions against the applicant in
thestate, district, or territory in which the applicant is licensed; and 
 _the applicant's license has never been suspended or revoked. 

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.