07 LC 33
1632
Senate
Bill 17
By:
Senators Harp of the 29th, Unterman of the 45th, Hooks of the 14th, Mullis of
the 53rd, Harbison of the 15th and others
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Chapter 30 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to optometrists, so as to authorize certain optometrists to prescribe and
administer oral and topical pharmaceutical agents related to the diagnosis or
treatment of diseases and conditions of the eye and adnexa oculi except Schedule
I and Schedule II controlled substances; to provide for statutory construction;
to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Chapter
30 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
optometrists, is amended by adding to the end of paragraph (2) of Code Section
43-30-1, relating to definitions, new subparagraphs to read as
follows:
"(I)
A doctor of optometry who is certified to use pharmaceutical agents for
treatment purposes shall be authorized to prescribe and administer those oral
pharmaceutical agents medically indicated for the diagnosis, management, or
treatment of diseases and conditions of the eye and adnexa oculi except those
included in Article 2 of Chapter 13 of Title 16, the 'Georgia Controlled
Substances Act,' as Schedule I or Schedule II controlled substances; provided,
however, that a doctor of optometry shall not be authorized to prescribe or
administer oral steroids for a period of more than 7 days.
(J)
Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to authorize a doctor of
optometry to treat diseases and conditions outside the eye and
eyelid."
SECTION
2.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.