Ch. 692                          MARVIN MANDEL, Governor                              1443

CHAPTER 692
(Senate Bill 559)

AN ACT to add new Section 379A to Article 43 of the Annotated Code of
Maryland (1971 Replacement Volume), title "Health," subtitle "Optometry," to
follow immediately after Section 379 thereof, to require continuing education
for optometrists and relating generally to optometrists and their qualifications.

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That new Section 379A be and it is hereby added to Article 43 of
the Annotated Code of Maryland (1971 Replacement Volume), title "Health,"
subtitle "Optometry," to follow immediately after Section 379 thereof, and to read
as follows:

379A.

ALL REGISTERED OPTOMETRISTS LICENSED IN THE STATE OF
MARYLAND ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE ANNUAL COURSES OF
STUDY IN SUBJECTS RELATING TO THE PRACTICE OF THE
PROFESSION OF OPTOMETRY, TO THE END THAT UTILIZATION
AND APPLICATION OF NEW TECHNIQUES, SCIENTIFIC AND
CLINICAL ADVANCES, AND THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF RESEARCH
WILL ASSURE EXPANSIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE CARE TO THE
PUBLIC. THE LENGTH OF STUDY SHALL BE PRESCRIBED BY THE
BOARD OF EXAMINERS OF OPTOMETRY BUT SHALL NOT EXCEED
TWENTY-FIVE (25) HOURS IN ANY CALENDAR YEAR. ATTENDANCE
MUST BE AT A COURSE OR COURSES APPROVED BY THE BOARD.
ATTENDANCE AT ANY COURSE OR COURSES OF STUDY IS TO BE
CERTIFIED TO THE BOARD UPON A FORM PROVIDED BY THE
BOARD AND SHALL BE SUBMITTED BY EACH REGISTERED
OPTOMETRIST AT THE TIME HE MAKES APPLICATION TO THE
BOARD FOR THE RENEWAL OF HIS LICENSE AND PAYMENT OF HIS
RENEWAL FEE. THE BOARD MAY REFUSE TO RENEW THE LICENSE
OF. ANY REGISTERED OPTOMETRIST WHO HAS FAILED TO CERTIFY
HIS ATTENDANCE, OR HAS FAILED TO ATTEND THE COURSE OR
COURSES. THE BOARD MAY USE UP TO ONE-HALF OF ITS ANNUAL
RENEWAL FEES FOR THE PURPOSES OF CONTRACTING WITH
INSTITUTIONS OF         HIGHER LEARNING. PROFESSIONAL

ORGANIZATIONS, OR QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS FOR THE
PROVIDING OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT MEET THIS
REQUIREMENT. THE BOARD MAY TREAT FUNDS SET ASIDE FOR
THE PURPOSE OF CONTINUING EDUCATION AS STATE FUNDS FOR
THE PURPOSE OF ACCEPTING ANY FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE
UNDER FEDERAL LAW ON A MATCHING BASIS FOR THE
PROMULGATION AND MAINTENANCE OF PROGRAMS OF
CONTINUING EDUCATION. IN NO INSTANCE MAY THE BOARD
REQUIRE A GREATER NUMBER OF HOURS OF STUDY THAN ARE
AVAILABLE AT APPROVED COURSES HELD WITHIN THE STATE,
AND THE BOARD MAY WAIVE THIS REQUIREMENT IN CASES OF
CERTIFIED ILLNESS OR UNDUE HARDSHIP.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take
effect July 1, 1973.