FINAL BILL REPORT

                                   SSB 5632

PARTIAL VETO

                                  C 180 L 91

                              SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

Brief Description:  Redefining what an ocularist is and his or her apprenticeship period.

SPONSORS:Senate Committee on Health & Long‑Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators West, Niemi and Johnson).

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

BACKGROUND:

Ocularists are statutorily defined as persons who design, fabricate and fit ocular prosthetic appliances ("glass eyes").  Ocularists are licensed by the state and the Secretary of Health is the licensing and disciplinary authority.  There are currently nine licensed ocularists in the state of Washington.

To be licensed as an ocularist one must be at least 18 years of age, have graduated from high school, be of good moral character and have five years of apprenticeship training, or have completed a prescribed course in ocularist training, or have been engaged in practice outside the state for at least eight years.  An applicant for licensure must pass an examination.  An ocularist is authorized to provide his or her services when referred by a physician. 

The practice act permits the training of apprentices in the profession.  A licensed ocularist may request from the Secretary of Health up to two apprentice ocularists at one time.  The apprentices must complete their apprenticeships within eight years.

The practice act currently does not authorize an advisory committee to assist the secretary in implementing the chapter.

SUMMARY:

The state ocularist advisory committee is formed to assist the Secretary of Health in implementation of the chapter.  The committee shall be composed of one medical doctor, one licensed ocularist and one employee of the Department of Health.  The committee and the secretary are immune from acts performed in the course of their duties.  Credential by endorsement is authorized.  Ocularists are required to explain exactly the type of prosthetic or services the patient receives or purchases.  Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action under the Uniform Disciplinary Act.

Definitions for stock-eyes, modified stock-eyes and custom-eyes are added to the act.  A referral from a physician is not needed for replacement of an ocular prosthetic appliance.

Applicants for licensure are permitted to meet minimum licensure requirements by presenting a general equivalency degree in lieu of a high school diploma.  The apprenticeship program must include at least 10,000 hours of training under the direct supervision of a licensed ocularist.  Provisions are deleted which allow licensure for persons having eight years of out-of-state experience.

Numerous housekeeping changes are made to make the act conform with the uniform credentialing boiler plate language.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Senate      47    0

House 98    0     (House amended)

Senate      45    0     (Senate concurred)

EFFECTIVE:  July 28, 1991

Partial Veto Summary:  The state ocularist advisory committee is eliminated.  The provision granting immunity from liability for acts performed by the Secretary of Health, the advisory committee and others while operating the regulatory program is also vetoed.  (See VETO MESSAGE)