05 LC 33
0923
House
Bill 881
By:
Representatives Chambers of the
81st,
Burmeister of the
119th,
Drenner of the
86th,
Henson of the
87th,
Reece of the
27th,
and others
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Code Section 43-29-7 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to license requirements for dispensing opticians, qualifications of applicants,
subjects to be tested on examination, and issuance and display of license, so as
to specify certain requirements for practical training and experience for an
applicant to obtain licensure through an apprenticeship program; to provide for
related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Code
Section 43-29-7 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to license
requirements for dispensing opticians, qualifications of applicants, subjects to
be tested on examination, and issuance and display of license, is amended by
striking subsection (b) and inserting in its place the following:
∀(b)
The board shall admit to examination any candidate who pays the fee provided for
in this chapter and submits evidence satisfactory to the board, verified on
oath, that:
(1)
The applicant is over 18 years of age;
(2)
The applicant has completed a high school education or its equivalent, as
defined by the State Board of Education;
(3)
The applicant is of good moral character; and
(4)
The applicant has satisfactorily completed one school year of not less than an
850 hour course of study in a recognized school of optical dispensing or has had
practical training and experience of a grade and character satisfactory to the
board for not less than two years under the supervision of a
licensed
dispensing optician, a licensed physician, or a licensed optometrist, provided
that any time spent in a recognized school shall be considered as part of the
apprenticeship period.
The practical
training and experience required under this paragraph for an apprenticeship
shall include, at a minimum, 3,500 hours of experience engaged in apprenticeship
functions and shall include instruction in ophthalmic optics, optical laboratory
materials and techniques, eye anatomy and physiology, related laws and
regulations, ophthalmic dispensing theory and application, and basic contact
lens theory. Prior to beginning an apprenticeship, the applicant shall submit a
written statement of intention to qualify through an apprenticeship program
pursuant to this paragraph to the board. Prior to providing instruction to an
apprentice, the supervising licensed dispensing optician, licensed physician, or
licensed optometrist shall provide to the board for approval a written plan of
instruction including, but not limited to, the title of the subject, a
description of the topics presented and the instructional techniques that will
be employed, a list of textbooks and instructional materials, and a description
of the methods of evaluation. Upon completion by the applicant, such training
and experience shall be certified by the supervising licensed dispensing
optician, licensed physician, or licensed optometrist to the
board.∀
SECTION
2.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.