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S 393

South Carolina SenateIntroduced

Summary

S 393, which optometrists, was introduced in the Senate on Feb 26, 2025 by Sen. Jason Elliott (R) with 15 co-sponsors. It was referred to Medical Affairs, and last saw action on Jun 4, 2025: Scrivener's error corrected.


Record

Text

S 393 has 15 co-sponsors.

s393/draft.txt
South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
Bill 393
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)
A bill
TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION
40-37-35 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE STATE BOARD OF EXAMINERS IN OPTOMETRY MAY ISSUE
RESTRICTED VOLUNTEER MEMBER LICENSES TO OPTOMETRISTS FROM OTHER STATES WHO MEET
CERTAIN CRITERIA, AND TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SUPERVISION, DURATION,
AND REGULATION OF SUCH LICENSES, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION
40-37-10, RELATING TO MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA BOARD OF
EXAMINERS IN OPTOMETRY, SO AS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS; BY
AMENDING SECTION 40-37-20, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS CONCERNING THE REGULATION OF
OPTOMETRISTS, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-30,
RELATING TO LICENSING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PRACTICE OF OPTOMETRY, SO AS TO
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES THAT CONSTITUTE THE PRACTICE OF OPTOMETRY; BY
AMENDING SECTION 40-37-40, RELATING TO POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD, SO AS TO
PROVIDE THE BOARD SHALL REQUIRE LICENSED OPTOMETRISTS TO MEET EDUCATIONAL AND
COMPETENCE REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD; BY AMENDING SECTION
40-37-245, RELATING TO EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE BY ENDORSEMENT,
SO AS TO ALLOW EXAMINATION EQUIVALENTS AS DETERMINED BY THE BOARD; BY AMENDING
SECTION 40-37-290, RELATING TO THE PURCHASING, PRESCRIBING, AND ADMINISTERING
PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS BY OPTOMETRISTS, SO AS TO REVISE THE REQUIREMENTS AND
LIMIT THE PERMISSIBLE USE OF SUCH MEDICATIONS, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING
SECTION 40-37-310, RELATING TO REFERRALS FOR TREATMENT OF EYE DISEASES, SO AS
TO REMOVE PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE TREATMENT OF GLAUCOMA AND PROVISION OF
SURGERY; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-330, RELATING TO USE OF OPTOMETRISTS'
SERVICES AUTHORIZED FOR AGENCY AND SCHOOL-REQUIRED EXAMINATIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE
OPTOMETRISTS MAY PROVIDE VISION OR EYE CARE SERVICES AT A SCHOOL IF APPROVED BY
THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-420,
RELATING TO PRACTICE REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING CERTAIN LICENSEES, SO AS TO DELETE
THE EXISTING PROVISIONS, TO PROVIDE PERSONS LICENSED AS OPTOMETRISTS IN THIS
STATE MAY CONTINUE PRACTICING UNDER CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS EXCEPT THAT SUCH
PERSONS LICENSED BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2013, MUST FULFILl CREDENTIALING
REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM CERTAIN TREATMENTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 38-79-30,
RELATING TO PROVISIONS LIMITING LIABILITY FOR VOLUNTEER HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS
UNDER MEDICAL MALPRACTICE INSURANCE LAWS, SO AS TO REMOVE A PROVISION
CONCERNING NOTICE REQUIREMENTS TO PATIENTS, AND TO INCLUDE OPTOMETRISTS AMONG
THE VOLUNTEERS INCLUDED IN THESE PROVISIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-30-310,
RELATING TO IMMUNITY FROM LIABILITY FOR FREE HEALTHCARE SERVICES, so as to
include volunteer optometrists; AND BY REPEALING SECTION 40-37-300 RELATING TO
ESTABLISHING PHARMACIES OR SELLING PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS, and DISPENSING
CONTACT LENSES.
Be it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Chapter 37, Title 40 of the S.C. Code is amended by
adding:
Section
40-37-35. (A) The State Board of Examiners in
Optometry may issue a restricted volunteer license to an optometrist who:
(1)
has held a license issued by the board or the corresponding license as a
licensee in good standing in another state that is equivalent to a South
Carolina license in regard to scope of practice, education, experience, and
training as determined by the board;
(2)
has passed an examination as prescribed by the board;
(3)
has not failed the corresponding clinical examination of the state that issued
the license within the past five years;
(4)
has not been the subject of disciplinary action in any jurisdiction; and
(5)
has at least five years of clinical practice in the field for which he is
seeking the license.
(B) A
person holding a restricted volunteer license under this section:
(1)
only may practice in clinics prescribed by the board in regulation;
(2)
only may treat patients who have no insurance or who are not eligible for
financial assistance for optometric services; and
(3)
may not receive remuneration directly or indirectly for providing optometric
services.
(C) An
optometrist with a restricted volunteer license issued under this section
shall, every thirty days, review the cases of all patients he or she treated
during the preceding thirty-day period with an optometrist who holds an active
license issued by the South Carolina State Board of Examiners in Optometry.
(D) A
license issued under this section is valid for two years from the date of issue
and must be maintained in accordance with continuing education requirements and
procedures established by the board in regulation. The license may be renewed
pursuant to procedures established by the board in regulation.
(E)(1) An optometrist who holds a
restricted volunteer license issued pursuant to this section is subject to the
provisions of this chapter and regulations promulgated pursuant to this chapter
except as otherwise provided in this section.
(2)
An optometrist holding a volunteer license may not hold any other active
license issued under this chapter and regulations promulgated pursuant to this
chapter.
(3)
An optometrist holding a volunteer license may not be eligible for election to
the South Carolina Board of Examiners in Optometry.
SECTION 2. Section 40-37-10(A) of the S.C. Code is amended to
read:
(A) There is created the South Carolina
Board of Examiners in Optometry, which consists of seven members. Five members
must be licensed optometrists appointed by the Governor upon nomination by all
licensed optometrists in this State through an election conducted by the board.
The licensed optometrists eligible for
election must be in good standing with the South Carolina Board of Examiners in
Optometry, must actively be engaged in the delivery of clinical care to
patients in South Carolina, must possess proof of proficiency to engage
in the full scope of practice of optometry as determined by the board, and must have been engaged in the practice of
optometry for at least five years. The Governor may reject any or
all of those nominated upon satisfactory showing of the unfitness of those
rejected. If the Governor declines to appoint any of the nominees submitted,
additional nominees must be submitted in the same manner as the initial
nominees. Vacancies must be filled in the manner of the original appointment
for the unexpired portion of the term. Two members of the board must be
members of the general public who do not derive their income or support from
any optical or opticalophthalmic-related business and who are not related to
an optometrist or a person engaged in an opticalophthalmic-related business. The members from the general
public may be nominated by any individual, group, or association and must be
appointed by the Governor in accordance with Chapter 1 of ,Title 40.
SECTION 3. Section 40-37-20 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
Section
40-37-20. As used in this chapter:
(1)
"Board" means the South Carolina Board of Examiners in Optometry;.
(2) "Optometrist" means a person who
practices optometry. An optometrist is also known as an optometric physician
and a doctor of optometry.
(3) "Practice of optometry" means the
examination, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and management of disorders or
conditions of the eye and its adjacent and associated structures and their
impact on the human body provided by an optometrist within the scope of his or
her education, training, and experience and in accordance with this chapter,
the ethics of the profession, and applicable law. The practice of optometry
also includes the use of medically recognized and appropriate devices,
procedures, and technologies used to evaluate, diagnose, treat, and manage the
health and visual efficiency of the human eye and its adjacent and associated
structures, including the defects of vision and powers necessary to correct
them in order to relieve conditions of the vision system, and ocular
abnormalities, including diseases, disorders, and dystrophies. This includes,
but is not limited to:
(a) prescribing, selling, and adapting
lenses, contact lenses, spectacles, eyeglasses, prisms, and ocular devices;
(b) employing vision therapy or
orthoptics, sports vision therapy, neuro-optometric rehabilitation, and low
vision rehabilitation;
(c) prescribing or using diagnostic and
therapeutic pharmaceutical agents delivered by any route of administration;
(d) performing ophthalmic surgery, as
authorized in this section; and
(e) performing in-office diagnostic
testing or ordering appropriate diagnostic lab or imaging tests for conditions
that may cause ocular abnormalities.
(4) "Ophthalmic surgery" means a
procedure upon the human eye and adjacent and associated structures in which in
vivo tissue is injected, cut, burned, frozen, sutured, epilated, vaporized,
coagulated, or photodisrupted by the use of surgical instrumentation such as,
but not limited to, a scalpel, cryoprobe, laser, electric cautery, or ionizing
radiation. Surgical procedures not involving the eye and its adjacent and
associated structures are not part of the practice of optometry. The practice
of optometry includes the correction and relief of ocular abnormalities by
ophthalmic surgical procedures, subject to the exclusions below. The following
procedures are excluded from the scope of practice of optometry, except for the
preoperative and postoperative care in connection with these procedures:
(a) retinal laser procedures;
(b) penetrating keratoplasty or corneal
transplant of any kind;
(c) injection into the vitreous of the
eye to treat any macular or retinal disease;
(d) the administration of general,
regional, or MAC anesthesia;
(e) LASIK;
(f) corneal implants;
(g) surgery related to removal of the
eye from a living human being;
(h) surgery requiring full thickness
incision or excision of the cornea or sclera;
(i) surgery requiring incision of the
iris and ciliary body, including iris diathermy or cryotherapy;
(j) vitrectomy;
(k) retinal surgery;
(l) surgical extraction of the
intraocular or crystalline lens;
(m) surgical implantation of an
intraocular lens;
(n) incisional or excisional surgery of
the extraocular muscles;
(o) surgery of the eyelid for confirmed
malignancies or for incisional mechanical repair;
(p) surgery of the bony orbit,
including orbital implants;
(q) incisional or excisional surgery of
the lacrimal system; and
(r) surgery requiring full thickness
conjunctivoplasty with graft or flap.
(2)(5) "Contact lens" means any device placed in contact with
the eye for the purpose of correcting vision, therapy, medicinal delivery, or cosmetic alteration;.
(6) "Vision therapy" means a sequence
of neurosensory and neuromuscular activities individually prescribed and
monitored by a doctor to develop, rehabilitate and enhance visual skills and
processing based on the results of a comprehensive eye examination or consultation.
The use of lenses, prisms, filters, occluders, specialized instruments, and
computer programs is an integral part of vision therapy. Vision therapy is used
to treat ocular motility dysfunctions, non-strabismic binocular disorders,
strabismus, amblyopia, accommodative disorders, visual information processing
disorders, and visual sequelae of acquired brain injury.
(3)(7) "Direct supervision" means supervision provided by a
licensed optometrist who must:
(a)
be present in the department or facility where the supervisee is performing
services;
(b)
be immediately available to assist the supervisee in the services being
performed; and
(c)
maintain continued involvement in appropriate aspects of each treatment;.
(4)(8) "Optical supplies" include, but are not limited to,
contact lenses, ophthalmic lenses, ophthalmic frames, and low vision aids;.
(5) "Basic certified
optometrist" means an optometrist without education or training in the use of
pharmaceutical agents and licensed to practice optometry without the use of
pharmaceutical agents;
(6) "Diagnostic certified
optometrist" means an optometrist educated and trained in the use of
pharmaceutical agents for diagnostic purposes only and licensed to practice
optometry in conjunction with the use of pharmaceutical agents for diagnostic
purposes only;
(7) "Therapeutic certified
optometrist" means an optometrist educated and trained in the use of
pharmacological agents for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes and licensed to
practice optometry with the use of pharmacological agents for diagnostic and therapeutic
purposes.
(8)(9) "Operator" means the
licensed optometrist, optometric practice, or organization engaged in providing
optometric services directly or through persons authorized by law to provide
the services.
(10)
"Vision screening" means a test or tests used for
the intent of detecting potential abnormalities of vision. Vision screenings
are also known as vision tests or eye tests. Vision screenings are not
synonymous with an eye exam as defined in Section 40-24-10. Vision screenings
do not result in a diagnosis, treatment, prescription for medication, or
prescription for any adapting lenses, contact lenses,
spectacles, eyeglasses, prism, or ocular devices. Abnormal findings
resulting from a vision screening should result in a referral to a licensed
optometrist or a physician licensed pursuant to Chapter
47, Title 40.
(9)(11) "Community foundation" means an organization,
lawfully organized and in good standing, that typically focuses on supporting a
geographical area by addressing community needs and supporting local
nonprofits.
SECTION 4. Section 40-37-30(B) of the S.C. Code is amended to
read:
(B) A person is deemed to be practicing
optometry within the meaning of this chapter if the person:
(1)
displays a sign or in any way advertises as an optometrist;
(2)
employs any means for the measurement of the powers of vision or the adaptation
of lenses for the aid of vision;
(3)
uses lenses in the testing of the eye in the sale of spectacles, eyeglasses, or
lenses other than lenses actually sold;
(4)
examines the human eye by the employment of any subjective or objective
physical means to ascertain the presence of defects or abnormal conditions for
the purpose of relieving them by the use of lenses, prisms, or other physical
or mechanical means;
(5) assesses, diagnoses, treats, or prescribes treatment for conditions
of the visual system or manages a patient with vision therapy, visual training,
visual rehabilitation, orthoptics or eye exercises or who holds himself out as
being able to do so for the rehabilitation and/or treatment of physical,
physiological, sensorimotor, neuromuscular or perceptual anomalies of the eyes
or vision system or who prescribes or utilizes lenses, prisms, filters,
occlusion or other devices for the enhancement, rehabilitation and/or treatment
of the visual system or prevention of visual dysfunctions, except under the
supervision and management of a licensed optometrist;
(5)(6) practices orthoptics or prescribes contact lenses; or
(6)(7) utilizes pharmaceutical agents for diagnostic and/or
therapeutic purposes in the practice of optometry in accordance with this
chapter.
SECTION 5. Section 40-37-40(A) of the S.C. Code is amended to
read:
(A) The board shall:
(1)
determine the eligibility of applicants for examination and licensure as optometrists;
(2)
prescribe the subjects, character, and manner of licensing examinations;
(3)
adopt a code of professional ethics appropriate to the profession of optometry;
(4)
evaluate and set criteria for continuing education course hours and programs;
(5)
conduct hearings on alleged violations by licensees of this chapter or
regulations promulgated under this chapter;
(6)
discipline persons licensed under this chapter; and
(7)
promulgate regulations in accordance with the South Carolina Administrative
Procedures Act; and
(8) require that any licensed
optometrist licensed to practice pursuant to this chapter meets the educational
and competence criteria established by the board. Evidence of proof of
competency shall be determined by the board.
SECTION 6. Section 40-37-245(3) of the S.C. Code is amended to
read:
(3) satisfactorily passed all required
examinations recognized or conducted by the board including, but not limited
to, the examination of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry or equivalent as determined by the Board of Examiners;
SECTION 7. Section 40-37-290 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
Section
40-37-290. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an optometrist may
purchase, possess, administer, supply, and prescribe, dispense, and sell pharmaceutical agents, including oral and topically applied medications other
than Schedule I and II controlled substances as defined in Section 44-53-110
except controlled substances that have been reclassified from Schedule III to
Schedule II effective on or after October 6, 2014, may continue to be
purchased, possessed, administered, supplied, and
prescribed, and dispensed by an optometrist, for
diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in the practice of optometry. An optometrist only may purchase, possess, administer,
prescribe, dispense, and sell these medications for vision correction and the
treatment of ocular and ocular adnexal eye disease.,
except that:
(1) when prescribing oral
and topically applied medications, an optometrist is limited to these oral
pharmaceutical agents: antihistamines, antimicrobial, antiglaucoma,
over-the-counter drugs, and analgesics for the treatment of ocular and ocular
adnexal eye disease. An optometrist may only prescribe these medications for
the treatment of ocular and ocular adnexal eye disease;
(2) when prescribing
medications for the treatment of ocular and ocular adnexal disease,
documentation in the patient's chart and appropriate consultations and
referrals must be in accordance with the standard of care provided for in
Section 40-37-310(E);
(3) when prescribing
analgesics, the prescription must be limited to a seven-day supply;
(4) when prescribing
topical steroids, if after twenty-one days of treatment it is necessary to
continue this medication, the optometrist shall communicate and collaborate
with an ophthalmologist;
(5) no medications may be
given by injection or intravenously.
SECTION 8. Section 40-37-310 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
Section
40-37-310. (A) In the diagnosis and
treatment of ocular and ocular adnexal eye disease, documentation in the
patient's chart and appropriate consultations and referrals must be in keeping
with the standards of care provided for in this section.
(B)
In the diagnosis or treatment of eye disease, an optometrist, using judgment
and that degree of skill, care, knowledge, and attention ordinarily possessed
and exercised by optometrists in good standing under like circumstances, shall
refer a patient to an appropriate medical or osteopathic doctor including, but
not limited to, corneal, glaucoma, or retinal ophthalmological specialists when
additional evaluation or treatment is necessary. However, an optometrist may
refer a patient to another optometrist when additional evaluation or treatment
is necessary or to a medical or osteopathic doctor as provided for in this
section, and an optometrist may refer a patient to another optometrist for the
purpose of fitting or dispensing eye glasses, contact lenses, or low vision
aids. The South Carolina Board of Examiners in Optometry shall promulgate
regulations for the maintenance of records of referrals by optometrists in
accordance with this section.
(C) Notwithstanding
subsection (B), in treating and managing glaucoma an optometrist must strive to
achieve a stable range of intraocular pressures considered unlikely to cause
further optic nerve damage in that patient. Once this range of pressures is
selected based on conditions presented by the patient, the optometrist must
enter this range in the patient's chart. If no measurable progress is
achieved in realizing the selected range of pressures within sixty days of
initiating treatment, the optometrist shall refer the patient to an
ophthalmologist. However, when treating acute angle closure glaucoma, an
optometrist immediately shall initiate treatment, after which, the optometrist
shall make an appropriate referral to an ophthalmologist.
(D)(C) An optometrist may perform
ophthalmic surgery, as defined in this chapter.is
prohibited from performing surgery. For purposes of this section surgery
includes, but is not limited to, an invasive procedure using instruments that
require closure by suturing, clamping, or other similar devices or a procedure
in which the presence or assistance of a nurse anesthetist or an
anesthesiologist is required. An optometrist is also prohibited from
performing laser surgery. However, nothing in this section or any other
provision of law may be construed to prohibit an optometrist from removing
superficial ocular and ocular adnexal foreign bodies; removal of other foreign
bodies must be referred to an ophthalmologist.
(E)(D) An optometrist must be held to the same standard of
care as persons licensed under Chapter 47, Title 40, Physicians, Surgeons, and
Osteopaths, and shall maintain a minimum of one million dollars in malpractice
insurance coverage.
SECTION 9. Section 40-37-330 of the S.C. Code is amended by
adding:
(F) Nothing in this section may
prohibit an optometrist from providing vision or eye care services at a school
so long as approved by the individual school administration.
SECTION 10. Section 40-37-420 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
Section
40-37-420. (A) An optometrist licensed for basic practice of optometry as of
July 1, 2005, may continue to practice under the conditions provided for in
this section, and regulations promulgated under this chapter, as of July 1,
2005, until September 30, 2008. A basic certified optometrist may:
(1) employ any means,
other than the use of drugs, for the measurement of the powers of vision or the
adaptation of lenses for the aid of vision;
(2) in the sale of
spectacles, eyeglasses, or lenses, use lenses in the testing of the eye
therefor other than lenses actually sold;
(3) examine the human
eye by the employment of any subjective or objective physical means, without
the use of drugs, to ascertain the presence of defects or abnormal conditions
for the purpose of relieving them by the use of lenses, prisms, or other physical
or mechanical means;
(4) practice orthoptics
or prescribe or fit contact lenses;
(B)(1) An optometrist
licensed for diagnostic practice of optometry as of July 1, 2005, may continue
to practice under the conditions provided for in this section, and regulations
promulgated under this chapter, as of July 1, 2005, until September 30, 2008,
if the optometrist has:
(a) complied with
the educational requirements promulgated by the board; and
(b) passed a
pharmaceutical agent examination which must be approved by the board.
(2) Notwithstanding any
other provision of law, a diagnostically certified optometrist may purchase,
possess, and administer pharmaceutical agents including pharmaceutical agents
for topical application, other than controlled substances as defined in Section
44-53-110, for diagnostic purposes in the practice of optometry. For the
purposes of this subsection, "pharmaceutical agent" means: anesthetics,
mydriatics, cycloplegics, miotics, dyes, and over-the-counter drugs. Miotics
may be used only pursuant to the following restrictions:
(a) miotics may not
be used for treatment purposes;
(b) miotics may be
used only for emergency purposes involving the buildup of pressure within the
eyeball and immediately upon this emergency use, the optometrist shall refer
the patient to an ophthalmologist and file with the South Carolina Board of
Examiners in Optometry a written report of the incident in the manner
prescribed by the board by regulation; and the South Carolina Board of
Examiners in Optometry shall ensure that the quality and quantity of miotics
possessed by a diagnostically certified optometrist is consistent with the use
of miotics only for emergency purposes involving the buildup of pressure within
the eyeball.
(C) After September 30,
2008, no person may practice as an optometrist in this State if the person has
not met all requirements of this chapter in effect at that time and as may be
amended in the future. A basic and diagnostically licensed optometrist who
wishes to be recertified after September 30, 2008, shall conform to the
licensing requirements for a therapeutically-certified optometrist as provided
for in regulation.
(D)
A licensee under this chapter must indicate his or her category of licensure
following his or her name or signature on all professional documents.An optometrist licensed to practice optometry prior to January
1, 2026, may continue to practice under the condition provided for in this
section, and regulations promulgated under this chapter. However, an
optometrist licensed to practice optometry prior to January 1, 2013, who
provides correction and relief of ocular abnormalities by surgical procedures
involving surgical adnexa and laser procedures in accordance with this chapter
and section 40-37-20 shall fulfill credentialing requirements as established by
the board.
SECTION 11. Section 38-79-30(C) of the S.C. Code is amended to
read:
(C) For purposes of this section, a health care healthcare provider
includes a dentist maintaining a restricted volunteer license pursuant to
Section 40-15-177, a practitioner maintaining a special volunteer license
pursuant to Section 40-47-34, an optometrist who maintains
a special volunteer license pursuant to Section 40-37-35, and a
chiropractor maintaining a special volunteer license pursuant to Section
40-9-85.
SECTION 12. Section 44-30-310 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
Section
44-30-310. If a health care provider, licensed pursuant to
the laws of this State, informs his or her patient in writing, which may
include use of an electronic medical record device, before treatment that the
treatment to be rendered by the health carehealthcare provider will be provided free of charge, the health carehealthcare
provider is not liable for any civil damages for any personal injury as a
result of any act or omission by the health carehealthcare provider rendering treatment free of charge or
failure to act to provide or arrange for further treatment, except acts or
omission amounting to gross negligence or wilful or wanton misconduct. For
purposes of this section, a health carehealthcare provider includes a dentist maintaining a
restricted volunteer license pursuant to Section 40-15-177, a practitioner
maintaining a special volunteer license pursuant to Section 40-47-34, an optometrist who maintains a special volunteer license
pursuant to Section 40-37-35, and a chiropractor maintaining a special
volunteer license pursuant to Section 40-9-85.
SECTION 13. Section
40-37-300 of the S.C. Code is repealed.
SECTION 14. This act takes effect upon
approval by the Governor.
----XX----
This web page was last updated on June 04, 2025 at 03:17 PM

Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Adding Section 40-37-35 So As To Provide The State Board Of Examiners In Optometry May Issue Restricted Volunteer Member Licenses To Optometrists From Other States Who Meet Certain Criteria, And To Provide Requirements For The Supervision, Duration, And Regulation Of Such Licenses, Among Other Things; By Amending Section 40-37-10, Relating To Membership Requirements For The South Carolina Board Of Examiners In Optometry, So As To Provide Additional Membership Requirements; By Amending Section 40-37-20, Relating To Definitions Concerning The Regulation Of Optometrists, So As To Revise The Definitions; By Amending Section 40-37-30, Relating To Licensing Requirements For The Practice Of Optometry, So As To Provide Additional Activities That Constitute The Practice Of Optometry; By Amending Section 40-37-40, Relating To Powers And Duties Of The Board, So As To Provide The Board Shall Require Licensed Optometrists To Meet Educational And Competence Requirements Established By The Board; By Amending Section 40-37-245, Relating To Examination Requirements For Licensure By Endorsement, So As To Allow Examination Equivalents As Determined By The Board; By Amending Section 40-37-290, Relating To The Purchasing, Prescribing, And Administering Pharmaceutical Agents By Optometrists, So As To Revise The Requirements And Limit The Permissible Use Of Such Medications, Among Other Things; By Amending Section 40-37-310, Relating To Referrals For Treatment Of Eye Diseases, So As To Remove Provisions Concerning The Treatment Of Glaucoma And Provision Of Surgery; By Amending Section 40-37-330, Relating To Use Of Optometrists' Services Authorized For Agency And School-required Examinations, So As To Provide Optometrists May Provide Vision Or Eye Care Services At A School If Approved By The Administration Of The Individual School; By Amending Section 40-37-420, Relating To Practice Requirements Concerning Certain Licensees, So As To Delete The Existing Provisions, To Provide Persons Licensed As Optometrists In This State May Continue Practicing Under Certain Requirements Except That Such Persons Licensed Before January 1, 2013, Must Fulfill Credentialing Requirements To Perform Certain Treatments; By Amending Section 38-79-30, Relating To Provisions Limiting Liability For Volunteer Healthcare Providers Under Medical Malpractice Insurance Laws, So As To Remove A Provision Concerning Notice Requirements To Patients, And To Include Optometrists Among The Volunteers Included In These Provisions; By Amending Section 44-30-310, Relating To Immunity From Liability For Free Healthcare Services, So As To Include Volunteer Optometrists; And By Repealing Section 40-37-300 Relating To Establishing Pharmacies Or Selling Pharmaceutical Agents, And Dispensing Contact Lenses.

Sponsors

Sen. Jason Elliott (R) sponsors S 393, and 15 members have co-sponsored it.

Committees

S 393 went before 1 committee: Medical Affairs.

Medical Affairs
Medical Affairs
Referred to · Feb 26, 2025

History

S 393 has taken 3 actions since Feb 26, 2025, the latest on Jun 4, 2025.

ChamberAction
Jun 4, 2025
Scrivener's error corrected
Feb 26, 2025
Senate
Introduced and read first time
Feb 26, 2025
Senate
Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs

Votes

S 393 has not gone to a roll call.


Source: scstatehouse.gov · legiscan.com