By Brimer                                             H.B. No. 1182
         76R5060 SMH-F                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the authorization of the performance of procedures
 1-3     involving the use of lasers by therapeutic optometrists.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 1.02, Texas Optometry Act (Article
 1-6     4552-1.02, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended by amending
 1-7     Subdivision (7) and adding Subdivision (11) to read as follows:
 1-8                 (7)  The "practice of therapeutic optometry" means the
 1-9     employment of objective or subjective means for the purpose of
1-10     ascertaining and measuring the powers of vision of the human eye,
1-11     examining and diagnosing visual defects, abnormal conditions, and
1-12     diseases of the human eye and adnexa, prescribing or fitting lenses
1-13     or prisms to correct or remedy a defect or abnormal condition of
1-14     vision, administering or prescribing a drug or physical treatment
1-15     in the manner authorized by this Act, and treating the eye and
1-16     adnexa as authorized by this Act without the use of surgery other
1-17     than [or] laser surgery.
1-18                 (11)  "Surgery" means a cutting procedure.
1-19           SECTION 2.  Section 1.03, Texas Optometry Act (Article
1-20     4552-1.03, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended by adding
1-21     Subsection (h) to read as follows:
1-22           (h)  A therapeutic optometrist may perform procedures
1-23     involving the use of lasers, including laser surgery, on the eye
1-24     and adnexa.
 2-1           SECTION 3.  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.