GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1989

S	1 

SENATE BILL 884

Short Title:  Optician Fees/Contact Lens Reg.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Senator Block.
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Referred to:  Finance.
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April 17, 1989

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO INCREASE THE FEES PAYABLE TO THE BOARD OF OPTICIANS AND TO REQUIRE SEPARATE LICENSURE EXAMINATION FOR THE DISPENSING OF CONTACT LENSES.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  G.S. 90-246 reads as rewritten:
"§ 90-246. Fees.
In order to provide the means of administering and enforcing the provisions of this Article and the other duties of the North Carolina State Board of Opticians, the Board is hereby authorized to charge and collect fees established by its rules and regulations not to exceed the following:
(1)	Each examination		$125.00
(2)	Each initial license		$25.00
(3)	Each renewal of license		$100.00
(4)	Each license issued to a practitioner
	of another state to practice
	in this State                    		$100.00
(5)	Each registration of an optical
	place of business                		$25.00
(6)	Each application for registration
	as an opticianry apprentice or
	intern, and renewal              		$25.00
(7)	Temporary license issued pursuant
	to G.S. 90-241(d)	               		$25.00."
Sec. 2. Funds raised from the increase in fees enacted in Section 1 of this act shall be used by the North Carolina State Board of Opticians for the employment of a person to investigate violations of Article 17, Chapter 90 of the General Statutes.
Sec. 3. G.S. 90-240 reads as rewritten:
"§ 90-240. Examination.
(a)	Applicants to take the examination for dispensing opticians shall be high school graduates or the equivalent who:
(1)	Have successfully completed a two-year course of training in an accredited school of opticianry with a minimum of 1600 hours or
(2)	Have completed three and one-half years of apprenticeship while registered with the Board under a licensed dispensing optician, with time spent in a recognized school credited as  part of the apprenticeship period or
(3)	Have completed three and one-half years of apprenticeship while registered with the Board under the direct supervision of an optometrist or a physician specializing in ophthalmology, provided the supervising optometrist or physician elects to operate the apprenticeship under the same requirements applicable to dispensing opticians.
(b)	The examination shall be confined to such knowledge as is reasonably necessary to engage in preparation and dispensing of optical devices and shall include the following:
(1)	The skills necessary for the proper analysis of prescriptions;
(2)	The skills necessary for the dispensing of eyeglasses and contact lenses; and
(3)	The processes by which the products offered by dispensing opticians are manufactured.
(b1)	Applicants for licensure as dispensing opticians, and dispensing opticians who obtained licensure after July 1, 1985, may not engage in the dispensing of contact lenses unless such applicant or dispensing optician has passed an examination relating to the dispensing of contact lenses or has qualified for a waiver under G.S. 90-241(a). The examination relating to the dispensing of contact lenses shall include the following:
(1)	The skills necessary for the proper analysis of prescriptions for contact lenses;
(2)	The skills necessary for the dispensing of contact lenses;
(3)	Proper care and maintenance of the various types of contact lenses available through dispensing opticians; and
(4)	The processes by which the products offered by dispensing opticians are manufactured.
(c)	Examinations shall be given at least twice each year at sites and on dates that are publicly announced 60 days in advance.
(d)	Each applicant shall, upon request, receive his or her examination score on each section of each examination.
(e)	The Board may include as part or all of the examinations, any nationally prepared and recognized examination, and will periodically review and validate any exam in use by the Board. The Board will credit an applicant with the score on any national test taken in the last three years to the extent such test may be included in the North Carolina exams.
(f)	An applicant for admission on the basis of apprenticeship shall have worked full time under the supervision of a licensed dispensing optician, optometrist or physician trained in ophthalmology. An apprentice shall have obtained experience in ophthalmic fabricating and manufacturing techniques and processes for no less than six months and shall have gained experience in the other activities defined as dispensing herein."
Sec. 4. This act shall become effective October 1, 1989.