A Kentucky state senator has filed a resolution calling for a comprehensive review of the state’s oversight of optometrists, including licensing standards and the scope of practice. Sen. Stephen Meredith (R-Leitchfield) filed Senate Concurrent Resolution 172 on March 18, proposing a task force to examine the Board of Optometric Examiners. This action follows disclosures that the board improperly waived national exam requirements for 21 optometrists between 2020 and 2023, a practice a state attorney general found violated law.
Key Takeaways:
- Senate Resolution 172 seeks a task force to review Kentucky’s optometry board, licensure, and scope of practice.
- The review follows an attorney general’s opinion that the board illegally waived exam requirements for 21 licensees.
- The task force, including lawmakers, doctors, and educators, must report findings by October 31.
- Supporters see it as a necessary step for reform, while critics argue it delays urgent action on public safety.
Resolution Aims for Legislative Roadmap by 2027
The proposed task force would include legislators, optometrists, ophthalmologists, and representatives from medical and optometry schools. It is directed to meet monthly and provide findings to the General Assembly by October 31. Sen. Meredith, who chairs the Senate Health Services Committee, stated the goal is to gather thorough input to inform potential legislative changes when the full legislature reconvenes in 2027, emphasizing he wants "everybody to be heard" without rushing the process.
Review Prompted by Licensing Waivers for Recent Graduates
The push for review stems from reporting that the Kentucky Board of Optometric Examiners granted licenses to individuals who had not passed all required national exam sections. An attorney general’s opinion last year found these waivers, granted via internal board votes, were "null, void and unenforceable" because the board must enact public regulations to change standards. Among those receiving a waiver was the daughter of the board’s former president, who resigned in December.
Debate Centers on Pace of Reform and License Validity
The proposal has received mixed reactions. The Kentucky Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons supports the task force, stating it welcomes discussion to strengthen patient safety laws. Conversely, the Kentucky Optometric Association prefers allowing a separate board-proposed work group to finish first. Critically, some ophthalmologists argue the task force delays addressing whether licenses granted via waivers are valid, asserting the public remains at risk.
Expert Analysis: The creation of a task force represents a legislative approach to systemic issues identified within a professional licensing board, explained Dr. William "Chip" Richardson, a Georgetown ophthalmologist. He notes that while structured review has value, it also postpones immediate resolution of questions about improperly issued licenses, which a state legal opinion found were granted without authority.
Sources
https://www.kentucky.com/news/local/education/article314835386.html
