HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1608

BYRepresentative Walk

Modifying the regulation of ocularists.

House Committe on Health Care

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (9)

      Signed by Representatives Braddock, Chair; Day, Vice Chair; Cantwell, Chandler, Morris, Prentice, Sommers, Vekich and Wolfe.

House Staff:John Welsh (786-7133)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE MARCH 1, 1989

BACKGROUND:

The practice of fabricating and fitting ocular prosthetic appliances is regulated by the Department of Licensing.  Ocularists must possess a license in order to practice.

Currently, an ocularist may only practice on a patient referred by a physician.

An applicant for licensure must have at least five years of apprenticeship training, or have completed a prescribed ocularist training program, or have been in practice for eight years outside the state and employed by a licensed ocularist or physician for at least one year in the state, and have completed a state examination.  A license expires on July 1 annually, but may be reinstated after expiration upon the payment of a renewal fee and delinquent fee.

There is no general authority for the director to adopt rules, administer examinations, determine minimum education and experience, or carry out administrative duties.

Ocularists must complete their apprenticeship within eight years.

There is no duty of an ocularist to explain to patients the type of service they are receiving.

There is no state ocularist advisory committee.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  No referral by a physician is required for a replacement of an ocular appliance.

Definitions of department, advisory committee, apprentice, stock-eye, modified stock-eye, and custom eye are specified.

A non-resident applicant for examination is no longer required to have eight years of practice outside the state and one year of employment by an ocularist or physician in this state. In lieu of this, the applicant must have at least 10,000 hours of apprenticeship or equivalent experience as a practicing ocularist or a combination of both.  A license expires on a date established by the director and may be renewed but cannot be reinstated upon expiration.

Apprenticeship ocularists must complete 10,000 hours of apprenticeship within eight years.

The administrative duties of the director are specified.

An ocularist must explain to patients the services they receive and failure to do so may result in license revocation.

A state ocularist advisory committee is created of three members for three year terms:  a physician, an ocularist and an employee of the department.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  An applicant may complete 10,000 hours of apprenticeship under the direct supervision of an ocularist within eight years to be qualified for licensure.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Jeff Larsen, Washington Society of Ocularists; Chas Erickson, Ocularist and Nolan Worden, Ocularist.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The ocularist practice act is too restrictive for non-state residents to qualify for licensure.  The changes in this bill permit an easier entry into practice here. A specification of hours of apprenticeship training, instead of years of training, is in accord with recognized national standards.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.