AB 1253: Optometry: license: retired volunteer service designation.

The Optometry Practice Act provides for the licensure and regulation of the practice of optometry by the State Board of Optometry and makes a violation of the act a crime. The act requires the board to issue, upon application and payment of a specified fee, a retired license to an optometrist with a current and active license, and prohibits the holder of a retired license from engaging in the practice of optometry.

The act requires the board to issue a license with retired volunteer service designation to an optometrist who holds a retired license or a license that is current and active upon application and payment of a specified fee if the applicant certifies that he or she has completed the required continuing education hours. The act requires the applicant for a license with retired volunteer service designation to, among other things, certify that the sole purpose of the license with retired volunteer service designation is to provide voluntary, unpaid optometric services at health fairs, vision screenings, and public service eye programs.

This bill would recast those provisions to require the board to issue, upon application and payment of a specified fee, a license with retired volunteer service designation to an optometrist who holds a retired license or a license that was issued, or that has expired and has gone unrenewed, for specified periods, including over 5 years, if that licensee meets specified requirements. The bill would also require an applicant for a license with retired volunteer service designation whose retired license had been issued, or whose license had been expired, more than 3, but less than 5, years ago to certify on the application that he or she has completed, an additional 50 hours of formal continuing education coursework. By expanding the scope of the crime of perjury, this bill 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.