sb17_LC_21_9376S_hrcs_7.html
07 LC 21 9376S

The House Committee on Rules offers the following substitute to SB 17:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend Chapter 30 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to optometrists, so as to provide for additional pharmaceutical agents which may be used by a doctor of optometry for treatment purposes; to provide for a standard of care; 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 revising subparagraph (D) of paragraph (2) of Code Section 43-30-1, relating to definitions, as follows:
"(D) Pharmaceutical agents which are used by a doctor of optometry for treatment purposes and administered orally may only be:
(i)(I) Nonnarcotic oral analgesics and Schedule III or Schedule IV controlled substances which are oral analgesics;
(ii)(II) Used for ocular pain; and
(iii)(III) Used for no more than 72 hours without consultation with the patient´s physician; or
(ii) Oral and topical pharmaceutical agents related to the diagnosis or treatment of diseases and conditions of the eye and adnexa oculi except Schedule I or Schedule II controlled substances; provided, however, that oral steroids shall be limited to a maximum seven-day dose pack. Doctors of optometry using such oral and topical pharmaceutical agents shall be held to the same standard of care imposed by Code Section 51-1-27 as would be applied to a physician licensed under Chapter 34 of this title performing similar acts."

SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.