Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-851-090 through 246-851-230, the board of optometry (board) will conduct a review of the continuing education (CE) and related rules to consider increasing the number of allowable online credits. The board may also make clarifications to existing rules and updates to citations as needed. Rule making may include creating new rule sections and repealing existing rule sections.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Due to the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the board adopted a policy to allow unlimited online continuing education credits. This policy was published on May 18, 2020, as WSR 20-11-068. The board has found that quality online CE is widely available, provides attendees flexibility and cost savings, and it is therefore considering adjusting the allowance of online courses going forward. Further, the board recently completed its statutorily required five-year review of rules and will consider suggestions from that review to clarify, streamline, and simplify existing rules.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Loralei Walker, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, phone 360-236-4947, fax 360-236-2901, TTY 711, email loralei.walker@doh.wa.gov, website doh.wa.gov.

Additional comments: Rule-making notices will be delivered via GovDelivery. To receive notices, interested persons may sign up for any or all of the lists. Please go to https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new. After signing in, please click open the box labeled "Health Systems Quality Assurance." Next click open the box labeled "Health Professions." From there, you may check the box next to one or more of the professions listed.