Existing law authorizes the Nevada State Board of Optometry to adopt policies and regulations necessary to regulate the practice of optometry in this State and issue licenses to engage in the practice of optometry. (NRS 636.125, 636.215) Sections 2-12 of this bill define certain terms relating to the practice of optometry. Section 20 of this bill makes a conforming change to indicate the proper placement of sections 2-12 in the Nevada Revised Statutes. Section 28 of this bill authorizes the Board to issue a citation to a person who violates certain provisions of law governing the practice of optometry. Existing law establishes a schedule of fees which the Board may not exceed when charging for the issuance of a license to practice optometry and for certain other purposes. (NRS 636.143) Section 21 of this bill revises the fees associated with the initial issuance of a license. Section 21 sets forth the maximum fee the Board is authorized to charge for the initial issuance of a license to an applicant who is a veteran, which is one-half of the maximum fee the Board is authorized to charge an applicant who is not a veteran. Existing law authorizes the Board to issue a license by endorsement to certain persons who hold a corresponding valid and unrestricted license to engage in the practice of optometry in the District of Columbia or any state or territory of the United States and who meet certain other requirements. (NRS 636.206) Section 24 of this bill requires the: (1) corresponding license to be active; and (2) applicant to not have been licensed by the Board to practice optometry in this State in the immediately preceding year. Existing law requires a licensee to notify the Executive Director of the Board in advance of changing the location where the licensee practices optometry or establishing an additional location to practice optometry. (NRS 636.370) Section 15 of this bill requires a licensee to notify the Board not later than 30 days after a change of the personal mailing address or primary telephone number of the licensee or the electronic mail address that the licensee most recently provided to the Board. Section 16 of this bill requires a licensee to report to the Board within 30 days the revocation, suspension or surrender of, or any disciplinary action taken against, a license, certificate or registration to practice any occupation or profession issued by any other jurisdiction. Existing law prohibits an optometrist from owning all or any part of an optometry practice under an assumed or fictitious name unless the optometrist has been issued a certificate of registration by the Board to practice optometry under the assumed or fictitious name at a specified location. (NRS 636.350) Section 26 of this bill specifies that each person who owns any part of such a practice hold an active license to practice optometry in this State and have been issued such a certificate of registration. Section 14 of this bill: (1) authorizes a surviving family member of a licensed optometrist who has died and who was the sole owner of an optometry practice to own the optometry practice without holding a license to practice optometry in this State for not more than 1 year after the death of the licensed optometrist; and (2) clarifies that such ownership does not exempt a person from the requirement to obtain a license to engage in the practice of optometry. Section 14 requires such a surviving family member, not later than 1 year after the death of the licensee, to transfer ownership of that optometry practice to another licensed optometrist or to dissolve the practice. Existing law prohibits a person from engaging in the practice of optometry in this State unless the person is licensed by the Board. (NRS 636.145) Section 17 of this bill authorizes students who are participating in certain externship programs pursuant to a course of study in optometry or certain persons engaged in a residency program for optometry to perform certain procedures pursuant to those programs which constitute engaging in the practice of optometry. Section 22 of this bill makes a conforming change to indicate that the performance of such procedures does not constitute the unlawful practice of optometry. Existing law authorizes a licensed optometrist to prescribe therapeutic or corrective lenses for the correction or relief of or remedy for an abnormal condition or inefficiency of the eye or visual process. (NRS 636.025, 636.215) Section 18 of this bill prohibits a licensed optometrist from issuing, offering to issue, duplicating or extending a prescription for certain lenses if the optometrist has not performed, or does not have access to records relating to, a comprehensive eye examination performed within the immediately preceding 2 years on the intended recipient of the lenses. Existing law defines the term “telehealth” to mean the delivery of services from a provider of health care to a patient at a different location through the use of information and audio-visual communication technology, not including facsimile or electronic mail. (NRS 629.515) Section 8 of this bill defines the term “optometric telemedicine” to mean, in general, the use of telehealth by a licensed optometrist to deliver health care services within the scope of the practice of optometry to a patient at a different location. Section 19 of this bill authorizes and sets forth certain requirements for the use of optometric telemedicine by a licensed optometrist for certain purposes. Section 19 requires, with certain exceptions, a licensed optometrist to have performed a comprehensive examination on a patient within the immediately preceding 2 years to deliver health care services to the patient through optometric telemedicine. Section 19 additionally authorizes an licensed optometrist to remotely monitor certain health data of a patient. Existing law authorizes the State Board of Health to prescribe regulations relating to the operation of medical laboratories and the qualifications of the directors of those laboratories. (NRS 652.130) Section 29 of this bill requires the regulations to include licensed optometrists among the licensed physicians qualified to serve as the laboratory director of certain laboratories under certain circumstances.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 636.015, 636.143, 636.145, 636.150, 636.206, 636.207, 636.350, 636.370, 636.420, 652.130, 652.210
Reprint 1: 636.015, 636.143, 636.145, 636.206, 636.350, 636.420, 652.130
Reprint 2: 636.015, 636.143, 636.145, 636.206, 636.350, 636.420, 652.130
Reprint 3: 636.015, 636.143, 636.145, 636.206, 636.350, 636.420, 652.130
As Enrolled: 636.015, 636.143, 636.145, 636.206, 636.350, 636.420, 652.130
BDR: 636.015, 636.143, 636.145, 636.150, 636.206, 636.207, 636.350, 636.370, 636.420, 652.130, 652.210