2024 -- S 2624

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LC005225

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- OPTICIANS -- QUALIFICATIONS

     

     Introduced By: Senators F. Lombardi, Ciccone, Quezada, Burke, and Tikoian

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 5-35.2-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-35.2 entitled "Opticians"

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is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     5-35.2-2. Qualification of optician applicants.

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     (a) Every applicant for licensure shall present satisfactory evidence, in the form of

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affidavits properly sworn to, that he or she:

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     (1) Is of good moral character; and

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     (2) Has graduated from a two-year (2) school of opticianry approved by the New England

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Association of Schools and Colleges or an equivalent regional accrediting authority or other

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accrediting authority as may be approved by the department with consultation from the advisory

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committee; and or has successfully completed an apprenticeship program registered in accordance

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with chapter 45 of title 28, of not less than four thousand one hundred (4,100) hours in not less than

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two (2) years pursuant to meeting the approval of the applicable requirements of this section; and

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     (3) Has successfully passed the national opticianry competency examination or any other

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written examination approved by the department with consultation from the advisory committee;

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and

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     (4) Has successfully passed a practical examination approved by the department with

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consultation from the advisory committee.

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     (b) Every applicant for licensure who is or has been licensed in an alternate jurisdiction

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shall present satisfactory evidence in the form of affidavits properly sworn to that he or she:

 

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     (1) Is of good moral character; and

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     (2) Has graduated from high school; and

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     (3) Has graduated from a two-year (2) school of opticianry approved by the New England

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Association of Schools and Colleges or an equivalent regional accrediting authority or other

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accrediting authority as may be approved by the department with consultation from the advisory

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committee; or has successfully completed a two-year (2) opticianry apprenticeship program; and

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     (4) Has held a valid license to practice opticianry in another state for at least one year and

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was in good standing during that time; and

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     (5) Has practiced opticianry in this or any other state for a period of not less than one year;

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and

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     (6) Has successfully passed the national opticianry competency examination or any other

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written examination approved by the department with consultation from the advisory committee;

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and

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     (7) Has successfully passed a practical exam approved by the department with consultation

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from the advisory committee.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- OPTICIANS -- QUALIFICATIONS

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     This act would establish a second avenue of qualification as an optician, to include

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successfully completing an apprenticeship program of not less than four thousand one hundred

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(4,100) hours in not less than two (2) years. The act would also remove the standard of “good moral

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character.”

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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