HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 ESHB 1389

                      As Passed House:

                        March 8, 1995

Title:  An act relating to apprenticeship supervision by a physician, registered optometrist, or dispensing optician.

Brief Description:  Concerning the supervision of apprentice opticians.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Dyer and Morris).

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Health Care:  2/16/95 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

     Passed House:  3/8/95, 98-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 13 members:  Representatives Dyer, Chairman; Backlund, Vice Chairman; Hymes, Vice Chairman; Dellwo, Ranking Minority Member; Cody, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Campbell; Casada; Conway; Crouse; Kessler; Morris; Sherstad and Skinner.

Staff:  John Welsh (786-7133).

Background:  Apprentices receive training and direct supervision in an optician's practice, and may be supervised by either a physician ophthalmologist, optometrist or dispensing optician.

Currently, the apprentice may have only one designated supervisor, and in the absence of that supervisor cannot continue training.

Summary of Bill:  An apprentice is required to have a primary supervisor who is responsible for the work and direct supervision of the apprentice in the apprenticeship program.  But in the absence of the primary supervisor, the apprentice may be supervised by another qualified supervisor without any interruption in the apprenticeship program.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

Effective Date of Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This bill would provide more flexibility in the apprenticeship program.  Apprentices would not lose any time in training in the absence of their primary supervisors if they have alternative supervisors available to train them.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Randy Ray, Lenscrafters/Cole National (pro); and Lisa Thatcher and Kathy Fetter, Opticians Association of Washington.