Optometrists
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill makes changes to South Carolina’s laws regarding optometrists, primarily to allow for restricted volunteer licenses for optometrists from other states. It updates the state board’s regulations to include these licenses, outlining requirements for supervision, duration, and regulation. The bill also expands optometrists’ scope of practice, including the ability to prescribe and dispense certain medications, and clarifies rules regarding surgical procedures and referrals for eye disease treatment. Finally, it modifies liability protections for volunteer healthcare providers, including optometrists.
Key provisions
- Allows optometrists from other states to obtain restricted volunteer licenses in South Carolina under specific criteria.
- Establishes requirements for supervision, duration, and regulation of these volunteer licenses.
- Expands the scope of practice for optometrists, allowing them to prescribe and dispense certain medications.
- Clarifies the definition of ‘ophthalmic surgery’ and outlines procedures that optometrists are prohibited from performing.
- Modifies referral requirements for optometrists treating eye diseases.
- Updates provisions regarding liability protection for volunteer healthcare providers, including optometrists.
- Revises membership requirements for the South Carolina Board of Examiners in Optometry.
- Removes provisions related to establishing pharmacies and dispensing contact lenses.
Who is affected
Bill text
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Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
67 on record
Primary sponsor
B.J. Cox
Cosponsors
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