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2005 -- H 6331 | |
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LC02970 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
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IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
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JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2005 | |
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N | |
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HOUSE RESOLUTION HONORING THE RHODE ISLAND OPTOMETRY ASSOCIATION | |
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ON ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY | |
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Introduced By: Representatives Naughton, Palumbo, Ginaitt, Sullivan, and Gemma | |
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Date Introduced: April 05, 2005 | |
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Referred To: House read and passed | |
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WHEREAS, Two forward thinking men, Hiram D. Murray and G. Frederick Beane, met |
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with fifteen of their colleagues in Providence on November 4, 1903 to discuss the formation of a |
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professional society in the State of Rhode Island; and |
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WHEREAS, It was determined that such a society was important to the state, its residents |
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and the profession. It was further determined that the society would exist to promote good |
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fellowship and the mutual improvement of its members along scientific, educational and ethical |
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lines and for the elevation of the profession of optics in general; and |
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WHEREAS, It was further decided that Hiram D. Murray would serve as the first |
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President of the "Rhode Island Society of Optometry". The new society was incorporated under |
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the laws of the State of Rhode Island on November 16, 1903; and |
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WHEREAS, Governor Aram J. Pothier signed Rhode Island's first Optometry Law and |
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Rhode Island became the twenty-first state in the Union to grant legal recognition to optometrists. |
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Under this law, no one was allowed to practice refraction, or "fit" eyes unless found to be |
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thoroughly trained in the science of refraction and the adaptation of lenses to fit the eyes; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1908, the members of the Rhode Island Society of Optometry elected its |
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first woman optometrist in the membership, increasing its rolls to well over 40 members. The |
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Rhode Island Society of Optometry affiliated with the New England Council of Optometrist in |
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1925; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1929, the State of Rhode Island enacted a "Glazed Goods Law", making |
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Rhode Island the third state in the nation to do so. The law prohibited the sale of any eyeglasses |
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or lenses for the correction of vision unless under the direct supervision of a duly licensed |
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optometrist or physician; and |
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WHEREAS, The sum of $200 was collected by each member in 1932 to establish a |
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scholarship fund to help a high school student attend the Massachusetts School of Optometry. In |
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keeping with the intent of the association's forefathers, continuing education credits became |
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mandatory for licensure in the early 1970's, resulting in higher quality educational seminars in |
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Rhode Island; and |
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WHEREAS, On November 11, 1946 the Rhode Island Society of Optometry became |
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known as the Rhode Island Optometric Association and in 1971 Rhode Island became the first |
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state in the nation to allow optometrists to use diagnostic drugs as an aid in examinations. Passage |
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of the law did not ensure the immediate use of these drugs by Rhode Island optometrists as it was |
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necessary for every optometrist to take courses in pharmacology from accredited institutions; and |
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WHEREAS, The first law of its kind in the nation was challenged by Rhode Island |
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ophthalmologists in state court and State Judge Christopher DelSesto upheld the law on two |
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grounds. First, the Ophthalmological Society had no standing to bring suit as they failed to show |
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injury or threat of injury. Judge DelSesto also recognized that the law was a valid exercise of the |
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state's police powers and that the ophthalmologists failed to show that it was unconstitutional; and |
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WHEREAS, Rhode Island optometrists in 1980 became the first optometrists in the |
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nation to be allowed to participate in joint ventures with other medical personnel, placing |
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optometrists on equal standing with ophthalmologists; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout its 100 years of existence, the RIOA has produced some of the |
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most progressive optometrists in the country. The RIOA has been at the forefront of many legal |
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and professional battles and has always strived to maintain the highest standards of patient care, |
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professionalism and ethical behavior; now, therefore be it |
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RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and |
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Providence Plantations hereby congratulates the Rhode Island Optometric Association on its 100 |
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years of service to Rhode Island optometrists and the people of Rhode Island; and be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to |
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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Dr. Fatima Raposo, President of the Rhode |
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Island Optometric Association. |
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LC02970 | |
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