WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor

(C)  THE COURSE IN PHARMACOLOGY REQUIRED BY SUBSECTION (B)
OF THIS SECTION SHALL:

(1)  BE OF AT LEAST THE LENGTH THAT THE BOARD
ESTABLISHES BUT NOT LESS THAN 70 COURSE HOURS;

(2)  PLACE EMPHASIS ON:

(I)  TOPICAL APPLICATION OF OCULAR DIAGNOSTIC
PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXAMINING AND ANALYZING
OCULAR FUNCTIONS; AND

(II)  ALLERGIC REACTIONS TO OCULAR DIAGNOSTIC
PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS; AND

(3)  BE GIVEN BY AN INSTITUTION THAT IS:

(I)  ACCREDITED BY A REGIONAL OR PROFESSIONAL
ACCREDITING ORGANIZATION THAT IS RECOGNIZED OR APPROVED BY THE
UNITED STATES COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION; AND

(II)  APPROVED BY THE BOARD.

(D)  THE BOARD SHALL REVOKE THE CERTIFICATION OF
QUALIFICATION TO ADMINISTER TOPICAL OCULAR DIAGNOSTIC
PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS OF ANY LICENSED OPTOMETRIST WHO DOES NOT
ANNUALLY TAKE A COURSE OF STUDY, APPROVED BY THE BOARD, THAT
RELATES TO THE USE OF THOSE AGENTS.

(E)  CERTIFICATION OF QUALIFICATION UNDER THIS SECTION
AUTHORIZES THE LICENSED OPTOMETRIST WHO IS CERTIFIED UNDER THIS
SECTION TO ADMINISTER A TOPICAL OCULAR DIAGNOSTIC PHARMACEUTICAL
AGENT TO A PATIENT FOR DIAGNOSTIC PURPOSES BUT NOT FOR PURPOSES
OF TREATMENT.

(F)  EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY AUTHORIZED UNDER THIS SECTION FOR
DIAGNOSTIC PURPOSES, AN OPTOMETRIST MAY NOT ADMINISTER DRUGS OR
MEDICINE TO ANY PATIENT EXCEPT FOR DIAGNOSTIC PURPOSES.

(G)  THE DEPARTMENT SHALL COLLECT AND REPORT STATISTICAL
INFORMATION ON THE INCIDENCES OF NEGATIVE REACTIONS TO THE
ADMINISTRATION BY OPTOMETRISTS OF TOPICAL OCULAR DIAGNOSTIC
PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Department
of Health and Mental Hygiene, after consultation with the State
Board of Examiners in Optometry shall, by regulation under the
Administrative Procedure Act, authorize the use of specific drugs
or medicine by licensed optometrists within 3 months after the
effective date of this Act.

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