By Delegate Kiss:
H. C. R. 41--"Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study the issue of creating a board relating to optometric practice expansion."
Whereas, This Legislature is committed to access and high quality health care and finds that optometrists and ophthalmologists should study and resolve the issues as to additional services and necessary training which optometrists should be able to offer; and
Whereas, The practice of optometry has advanced and is an integral part of providing health care services; and
Whereas, The increased training and education of optometry and other advancements have made it possible for optometrists to perform additional services; and
Whereas, The study committee on optometric practice will be comprised of twenty members; and
Whereas, The members of this board will be responsible for recommending the additional procedures which optometrists should be authorized to perform and standards for certification and recertification of individual optometrists, including continuing education requirements and training courses for these procedures; and
Whereas, Four of these members must be practicing optometrists and four must be practicing ophthalmologists all of whom will be appointed by the Governor, with the list of ophthalmologists provided by the West Virginia Board of Medicine and the list of optometrists provided the Board of Optometry; and
Whereas, The Speaker of the House of Delegates and the President of the Senate will be responsible for the appointment of four members from their respective Houses and four lay people;
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to study the issue of creating a board relating to optometric expansion; and be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, one thousand nine hundred ninety-seven, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance."