Optometry.

Existing law, the Optometry Practice Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of the practice of optometry by the State Board of Optometry. A violation of the act is a crime. Existing law requires a healing arts board to issue, upon specified application and payment, an inactive license to a current holder of an active license whose license is not suspended, revoked, or otherwise restricted. Existing law prohibits the holder of an inactive license from engaging in any activity requiring a license. This bill would require the board to issue, upon application and payment of a specified fee not to exceed $25, a retired license to an optometrist with a current and active license. The bill would prohibit the holder of a retired license from engaging in the practice of optometry. The bill would authorize the holder of a retired license to use only certain titles and would also authorize the holder of such a license to reactivate the license to active status if certain requirements have been met, including the payment of a reactivation fee to be determined by the board. The bill would also require the board to issue, upon application certifying the completion of specified continuing education hours and the payment of a fee not to exceed $50, a retired license with a volunteer service designation to an optometrist with a retired or current and active license. The bill would make a retired license with a volunteer service designation subject to biennial renewal requirements including the payment of a fee not to exceed $50 and the certification of, among other things, completion of the required continuing education hours. Because the bill would direct the deposit of these fees into the Optometry Fund, a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation. Existing law authorizes the board to take action against all persons guilty of violating this act and requires the board to enforce and administer specified disciplinary provisions with respect to licenseholders. This bill would specify that, for purposes of the above provisions, licenseholders include those who hold a retired license, a license with a retired volunteer designation, or an inactive license. Under existing law, a licensed optometrist is required to notify the board of, among other things, the address or addresses where he or she is to engage or intends to engage in the practice of optometry. Existing law imposes specified issuance, biennial renewal, and delinquency fees concerning a statement of licensure. Existing law exempts a licensed optometrist from this address notification requirement if he or she engages in the temporary practice of optometry, as defined by the board, in certain specified settings. This bill would eliminate the requirement that a licensed optometrist provide that notification with respect to where he or she intends to engage in the practice of optometry. The bill would also require a licensed optometrist, except as specified, to obtain a statement of licensure from the board to be placed in specified practice locations. The bill would define temporary practice as the practice of optometry at locations other than the optometrist's principal place of practice for limited periods, as specified, and would require a licensed optometrist in temporary practice to submit an application for a statement of licensure if the time period for that practice needs to be extended, as specified. The bill would make other nonsubstantive, technical and conforming changes. Because the bill would specify additional requirements under the Optometry Practice Act, the violation of which would be a crime, it would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.