Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for SB2899

Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act. Extends the repeal of the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987 from January 1, 2017 to January 1, 2027. Amends the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987. Requires applicants or licensees to inform the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation of any change of address within 14 days after the change. Removes language limiting the practice of optometry to examination, diagnosis, and treatment without the use of surgery. Instead, excludes certain ophthalmic procedures from the scope of practice of optometry, except for the preoperative and postoperative care of the procedures. Allows members of the Optometric Licensing and Disciplinary Board to be reimbursed for certain expenses. Limits the liability of members of the Board in certain circumstances. Provides that ocular pharmaceutical agents may be administered by injection in certain circumstances. Removes the requirement that the Department list all persons whose licenses have been suspended or revoked. Provides that any fine imposed under the Act shall be payable within 60 days after the effective date of the order. Provides that the Department shall (rather than may) refuse to issue or suspend a license of licensees who fail to pay taxes. Removes requirements of written reports at the conclusions of hearings. Allows parties to agree to a negotiated consent order. Removes certain requirements concerning hearing officers. Removes provisions requiring the Secretary to explain deviations from Board recommendations. Adds provisions concerning confidentiality of certain information collected by the Department. Makes other changes. Effective immediately, except that certain provisions concerning injections and surgery are effective January 1, 2017.

Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the introduced bill with the following changes: In provisions amending the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987, includes in the definition of "practice of optometry" specific procedures that shall not be prohibited in the Act. In provisions concerning diagnostic and therapeutic authority, provides that intramuscular injections may be used only for the treatment of anaphylaxis. Removes language allowing intravenous injections for fluorescein angiography only. Removes a provision that allows a licensed optometrist to remove superficial foreign bodies from the human eye and adnexa. Provides that a licensed optometrist may give orders for patient care to another health care provider licensed to practice under Illinois law. In a provision relating to the Department's discretion to license an optometrist without examination if he or she is licensed as an optometrist in another state or jurisdiction of the United States, removes a requirement that the applicant have no disciplinary action taken against his or her license in any jurisdiction. Makes other changes. Changes effective date for all provisions to January 1, 2017.

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