HOUSE BILL REPORT
SB 6227
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As Reported by House Committee On:
Health Care & Wellness
Title: An act relating to permitting regularly enrolled students in a prescribed course of opticianry to practice under supervision without registering as an apprentice with the department of health.
Brief Description: Concerning the practice of opticianry.
Sponsors: Senators Becker, Marr, Parlette and Keiser.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Health Care & Wellness: 2/18/10, 2/23/10 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE & WELLNESS |
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 13 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Driscoll, Vice Chair; Ericksen, Ranking Minority Member; Bailey, Campbell, Clibborn, Green, Herrera, Hinkle, Kelley, Moeller, Morrell and Pedersen.
Staff: Jim Morishima (786-7191).
Background:
A licensed dispensing optician is a person who:
prepares duplications of, or prepares and dispenses, lenses, spectacles, or eyeglasses based on written prescriptions from physicians or optometrists; and
measures, adopts, adjusts, and fabricates lenses, spectacles, or eyeglasses based on such prescriptions.
A person qualifies for licensure as a dispensing optician if he or she:
is at least 18 years of age;
is of good moral character;
has either:
completed a three year apprenticeship; or
completed a prescribed course in opticianry in a college or university approved by the Secretary of Health (Secretary); and
passes an examination.
There are no statutory provisions allowing a student studying opticianry in a college or university to participate in a practicum without a license. Such students must therefore designate themselves as apprentices in order to complete these requirements.
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Summary of Bill:
A regularly enrolled student in a prescribed course in opticianry in a college or university approved by the Secretary may practice opticianry without a license as long as the practice is pursuant to a regular course of instruction or assignments from an instructor and as long as the student is supervised by a licensed dispensing optician, optometrist, or ophthalmologist. A person practicing in this manner must be clearly identified as a student.
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Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) This bill will make it easier to move from one program to another without incurring cost. The stakeholders are all in agreement regarding this bill.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: (In support) Senator Becker, prime sponsor; and Lisa Thatcher, Optician's Association of Washington.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.