House Bill 1410-FN, as amended by the Senate, introduces significant changes to the regulation of medical technicians and the practice of optometry in New Hampshire. The bill eliminates the board of registration of medical technicians, transferring its duties to the office of professional licensure and certification, and renames the board of optometry. It updates definitions and prescribing authorities for optometrists, repeals the joint credentialing committee, and modifies the Nurse Practice Act by changing the experience requirements for board members, the process for licensing, and the board's powers and duties. The bill also revises rulemaking authority, application fees, and the issuance of licenses and certificates, including those for military training and telemedicine services.

The bill centralizes the registration authority for medical technicians to the executive director of the office of professional licensure and certification, detailing the procedures for registration eligibility, sanctions, and the application process. It renumbers and amends sections related to disciplinary actions, requires facility administrators to report disciplinary actions, and allows for non-disciplinary remedial actions. Additionally, the bill redefines the "practice of optometry" to include a broader range of activities and treatments, including the use of pharmaceutical agents and the performance of certain ophthalmic procedures. It also updates continuing education requirements for optometrists and repeals sections related to the optometry joint credentialing committee. The bill is set to take effect 60 days after its passage and has no fiscal impact on state, county, or local expenditures or revenue.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 326-B:2, 326-B:3, 326-B:4, 326-B:9, 326-B:15, 326-B:21-a, 326-B:27, 310:7
As Amended by the House: 326-B:3, 326-B:4, 326-B:9, 326-B:15, 326-B:16, 326-B:27, 310:7
As Amended by the Senate: 326-B:3, 326-B:4, 326-B:9, 326-B:15, 326-B:16, 326-B:27, 328-I:1, 328-I:6, 328-I:7, 328-I:8, 328-I:16, 151:3-d, 310:2