HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1389

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                         Health Care

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

Brief Description:  Concerning the supervision of apprentice opticians.

Sponsors:  Representatives Dyer and Morris.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Health Care:  2/16/95 [DPS].

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 Substitute Bill:  An apprentice is required to have a primary supervisor who is responsible for the work 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.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The primary supervisor must provide the majority of the apprentice's training.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

Effective Date of Substitute 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.