AB 2574: Optometry: ophthalmic and optometric assistants.

Existing law relating to prescription lenses and ophthalmic and optometric assistants authorizes an assistant, under the direct responsibility and supervision of an optometrist or ophthalmologist, to perform preliminary subjective refraction procedures in connection with finalizing subjective refraction procedures performed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist, subject to prescribed conditions. Those conditions include a requirement that the assistant have at least 45 hours of documented training in subjective refraction procedures acceptable to the supervising ophthalmologist or optometrist.

This bill would authorize the training to include performing preliminary subjective refraction procedures consistent with existing law to accomplish that training.

Other existing law, the Optometry Practice Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of the practice of optometry by the State Board of Optometry. The act prohibits engaging in the practice of optometry without an optometrist license from the board. The act establishes the scope of practice for licensed optometrists. A violation of the act is a misdemeanor.

This bill would require an optometrist to stabilize, if possible, and immediately refer any patient who has an acute attack of angle closure to an ophthalmologist. By imposing a new requirement on licensees, the bill would expand the scope of a crime, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program.

Existing law authorizes an optometrist certified to use therapeutic pharmaceutical agents to utilize certain techniques and instrumentation necessary for the diagnosis of conditions and diseases of the eye and adnexa. In this regard, existing law authorizes the optometrist to utilize laboratory tests or examinations performed in an office classified as waived under the federal Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988.

This bill would instead authorize the utilization of laboratory tests or examinations that are performed in a laboratory with a certificate of waiver under the federal Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988. The bill would also correct an erroneous cross-reference.

Existing law authorizes an optometrist certified to use therapeutic pharmaceutical agents, and who meets additional certification requirements, including completion of an immunization training program, to administer specified immunizations, including for SARS-CoV-2.

This bill would authorize an optometrist meeting the immunization certification requirements to independently initiate, in addition to administering, the specified immunizations.

This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 3041 of the Business and Professions Code proposed by AB 2236 to be operative only if this bill and AB 2236 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.

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.