Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Health Care & Wellness Committee |
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. |
Brief Description: Concerning the practice of opticianry.
Sponsors: Senators Becker, Marr, Parlette and Keiser.
Brief Summary of Bill |
|
Hearing Date: 2/18/10
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.
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.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.