2608                                         LAWS OF MARYLAND                      [Ch. 757

(House Bill 933)
AN ACT concerning

Optometry — Freedom of Choice

FOR the purpose of providing that State and local
governmental entities and agencies may not interfere
with the public's complete freedom of choice in
selection of duly—licensed ocular practitioners with
respect to services rendered within the scope of
optometry as defined by State law and providing that
optometrists' reports shall be honored by State and
local governmental entities and agencies and

providing__an exception to the provisions of this

Act.

BY adding to

Article 43 - Health

Section 385A

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1971 Replacement Volume and 1973 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That new Section 385A be and it is hereby added
to Article 43 — Health, of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1971 Replacement Volume and 1973 Supplement) to read as
follows:

Article 43 - Health
385A.

NO STATE, COUNTY, OR MUNICIPAL BOARD, COMMISSION,
AUTHORITY, DEPARTMENT, OR OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY,
INCLUDING THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND STATE HEALTH
DEPARTMENT, CREATED OR EXISTING BY LAW, MAY, IN THE
PERFORMANCE OF ITS DUTIES, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY
INTERFERE WITH THE PUBLIC'S COMPLETE FREEDOM OF CHOICE IN
SELECTION OF DULY-LICENSED OCULAR PRACTITIONERS WITH
RESPECT TO SERVICES RENDERED WITHIN THE SCOPE OF
OPTOMETRY AS DEFINED BY STATE LAW. THE DELIVERY OF

OPTOMETRIC SERVICES AS DEFINED BY STATE LAW TO THE

EMPLOYEES OF ANY STATE, COUNTY, MUNICIPALITY, OR ANY UNIT
THEREOF, BY A DULY LICENSED OCULAR PRACTITIONER THROUGH
ANY AGREEMENT, CONTRACTUAL OR OTHERWISE, IS NOT A
VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION.

ALL STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL BOARDS,
COMMISSIONS, AUTHORITIES, DEPARTMENTS, AND OTHER