The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the legislative
instrument, were prepared by Brandi Cannon.
DIGEST
SB 210 Reengrossed 2023 Regular Session Boudreaux
Present law provides for the La. State Board of Optometry Examiners (board) to be comprised of five
actively licensed optometrists and one consumer member. Proposed law adds one additional member
who will be an actively licensed minority optometrist.
Present law provides that one licensed optometrist member shall be appointed by the governor from
each of the five board districts. Further provides for the nomination and appointment process.
Proposed law retains present law and provides that the minority licensed optometrist member shall
be selected from the state at large and appointed by the governor. Further provides that any person
interested in serving in this position may apply directly to the office of the governor.
Present law provides that the consumer member shall be selected from the state at large and
appointed by the governor. Proposed law retains present law and specifies that the consumer member
shall be a representative of minority consumers.
Present law requires an applicant for renewal of a license to complete 12 hours of continuing
education pertaining to the subjects required for licensing or subjects pertaining to current visual and
healthcare practices applicable to the practice of optometry. Proposed law increases the continuing
education requirement to 16 hours if the licensee is authorized to diagnose and treat pathology and
to use and prescribe therapeutic pharmaceutical agents.
Proposed law provides that half of the required hours of continuing education for all licensees shall
pertain to ocular and systemic pharmacology and current diagnosis and treatment of ocular disease
and shall be obtained through an in-person classroom setting. Proposed law further provides that no
licensee shall obtain more than six hours from online education sources.
Proposed law requires the continuing education to be obtained, whether in-person or online, through
any continuing education program that is one of the following:
(1)Offered by a nationally recognized optometric association.
(2)Offered by a state affiliate of a nationally recognized optometric association or a regional
council composed of state affiliates of a nationally recognized optometric association.
(3)Offered by a school or college of optometry accredited by the American Optometric
Association Accreditation Council on Optometric Education.
(4)Accredited by a nationally recognized organization. Effective August 1, 2023.
(Amends R.S. 37:1042(A), (B)(1), and (D)(1) and 1056(2))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Health and Welfare to the
original bill
1. Delete proposed law adding two additional consumer members.
2. Provide for the consumer member to be a representative of minority consumers.
3. Delete proposed law relative to licensure reciprocity.
4. Require certain continuing education hours be obtained in-person.
5. Prohibit a licensee from obtaining more than six hours of continuing education
online.
6. Provide for permissible sources of continuing education.
7. Make technical changes.
Senate Floor Amendments to engrossed bill
1. Change the permissible sources of continuing education.