[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6606389,"mediaKeyId","2965307-8decbbe9414891981cfafa5daf354b5e","parentId",2965307,"title","California optometry board approves responses to sunset review; asks legislature to raise fee ceiling and review UC funding","audioSeconds",2666,"startMs",2634000,"endMs",5300000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2965307-8decbbe9414891981cfafa5daf354b5e&start=2634&end=5300","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2965307-8decbbe9414891981cfafa5daf354b5e/thumbnail_2634000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6606389/California/California-optometry-board-approves-responses-to-sunset-review-asks-legislature-to-raise-fee-ceiling-and-review-UC-funding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6606389-bd1375629d6c256bb68cfda6fb8d05da/orig.mp4?Expires=1770431819&Signature=fm1GYUE465IyUAGMvCZf0lyuPsqxml1HIS8rZkIZAucw1S56Yq1KIAYQLf0o8b~U8qVQGESxAOuIO9VbTXngPMRTHRhhbuCGZEp2Hj34gMpd~550QCXKUUsKARCR3QqbDiXfEe3UWjA6u9NK-7~c8NODPjja9XowIEfcaxkjWS6ZzWyOg1B9HqpKYQvDyveGbqL2~jn0VnIBU3M69S~6TS2uMpWwr08G2HYMRzbvNuKBhcgQ9Ina3jBFTuJ8ENaLxQCPZVpjhp3X4dzpMJMY~MHXsRY0FahDJxIURJfTJOt0R9ZIOzZ-KFyERZNyVs0623k50GD70lixgkCSk5yKhg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Respiratory Care Board of California","date","2025-04-11T21:36:37.68Z","article","The California State Board of Optometry voted on April 15 to approve the board’s responses to the Joint Sunset Review committees’ background paper, directing staff to finalize and submit the answers to the Legislature with several board‑approved amendments.

In the approved response the board asked the Legislature to increase the statutory ceiling on optometry fees — a change the board said would allow it to adopt regulatory fee adjustments in the future without immediately imposing higher fees on licensees. Board members emphasized they did not at this time plan to increase fees on licensees but want the authority to adjust maximums if future conditions warrant it.

The board also voted to request that legislative committees review the current $16 per renewal remittance to the University of California and consider whether the amount or the arrangement should be reduced or adjusted. Board members said they have begun discussions with UC officials but sought legislative clarification and potential reduction given the board’s staffing and budget pressures.

Other items the board approved in the responses included: supporting a statutory increase to the board’s mandatory reserve cap (from the current six‑month limit toward parity with other DCA programs), recommending the removal or relaxation of the cap on mobile optometric offices, endorsing authority to require email addresses from applicants and licensees for official communications, and asking the Legislature to consider tools and resources to improve enforcement against unregistered or noncompliant optical businesses.

The board also voted to approve several related motions made during the meeting: to ask the Legislature to consider raising citation caps (which have not been updated in 25 years), to request expanded enforcement tools and resources, and to ask that optician probationary registration authority be examined (bringing optician rules in line with optometry where applicable). The board approved the overall packet of responses with a roll‑call vote and authorized staff to make technical edits and submit the package to the legislative committees.

The board also took committee positions on pending bills discussed at the meeting. Notably, it adopted a \"neutral unless amended\" posture on a bill addressing private‑equity influence in health practices (SB 351), seeking language to include optometry in the bill’s protections; it signaled support for its own sunset bill (SB 776) and said it would continue to monitor related legislation, including teleconferencing extensions and emergency waivers for licensing during declared disasters.

Board Executive Officer Gregory Pruden told members the responses were intended to be candid about the board’s operations and financial position while asking the Legislature for flexibility and additional clarity where needed. The roll calls on the package and on individual motions were recorded as unanimous among members present.

Votes at a glance

- Approve board responses to the Sunset Review background paper and submit to the committees (motion to approve and finalize responses): passed (roll‑call recorded unanimous).
- Request Legislature to enact a higher statutory fee ceiling so the board can pursue regulatory fee increases when warranted: passed.
- Request Legislature to review the $16 per renewal remittance to the University of California and consider reducing it: passed.
- Amend response to ask for additional enforcement tools and resources (including citation authority changes): passed.
- Support SB 776 (board’s sunset bill): passed (board supported the bill and authorized EO to work with author).

Board members and staff said they will continue to refine language with legislative staff and stakeholders and will return to the board for significant changes. Staff was authorized to make non‑substantive edits to the responses before submission.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","California State Board of Optometry- Board Meeting- April 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Board approved draft responses to the Assembly and Senate background paper for the Sunset Review, asking the legislature to allow a higher statutory fee ceiling, review a $16 remittance to the University of California, raise the statutory reserve cap, and requested additional enforcement tools; the board also took positions on several bills.","taxTitle","Respiratory Care Board of California, Boards and Commissions, Executive, California","taxId",76751,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6606393,"California optometry board advances draft rule to allow radio‑frequency dry‑eye devices, with limits",1321,15463000,16784000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2965307-8decbbe9414891981cfafa5daf354b5e&start=15463&end=16784","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2965307-8decbbe9414891981cfafa5daf354b5e/thumbnail_15463000.jpg","/articles/6606393/California/California-optometry-board-advances-draft-rule-to-allow-radiofrequency-dryeye-devices-with-limits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6606393-4846f335e236ac70a18a062f76e4af10/orig.mp4?Expires=1770431819&Signature=R4b6HLkFPojDz15jz3X7DhmWZ8HkZuZDj9Rie91eX0zmi5GyN90XCxRTPwhxZv6HFKCo4gTO9FmCE60a-BVVBkhzA-nOBpbRgS23EJD2LQdkQ5ziUYZAKEuVOFuXyIZYNS9oD9WmYfu5izozTATmtJjUUD9Wk0OvoA2mv3J~12tQGUQMEAoRJBzYIGjIaCAZ4mkSt6cAav3Bds5IeGxVa1Sc1iuwJSpA1wqHQi4flTiY4Uk2ZtsTBZjpsNanBxMbPXUo0bsiOslyUiF1SLY2WsIT8o4YURy9bLMeYLFuAoegl8gRxw6A7dlECPkXSMKHhrBGiHU-1zM4IoIVdzSJ~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The California State Board of Optometry on April 15 voted to send modified regulations on radio‑frequency devices used to treat dry‑eye disease out for a 15‑day public‑comment period, approving language that narrows the device uses, specifies a frequency range and requires temperature monitoring or temperature presets.

The board’s modified text replaces language about \"heating the tissue\" with language that explicitly limits the rule to devices \"used for the purpose of treating dry eye disease or syndrome,\" and adds controls to ensure surface temperatures remain below limits intended to exclude devices that ablate tissue or are used as electrical surgical units.

Board Executive Officer Gregory Pruden described the edits as intended \"to make clear that this technology is used for the purpose of treating dry eye disease or syndrome,\" and to ensure the rule \"rules out other devices that use RF and ablate the tissue.\" Regulatory counsel Elizabeth Dietzen Olsen told the board she had reviewed case law and definitions and did not find that the radio‑frequency therapy at issue here met the statutory definition of surgery.

Supporters — including several optometrists who submitted letters and testified virtually — told the board RF therapies are widely used elsewhere, non‑invasive and useful for meibomian gland dysfunction and other contributors to dry eye. Opponents, including representatives of physician groups, argued RF stimulates collagen (neocollagenesis) and thus alters tissue, which they said should fall outside the practice of optometry under the statute. Ophthalmology representatives asked the board to investigate clinics already offering RF treatment and discipline any unlawful practice before the rules take effect; the board did not direct such an investigation as part of this vote.

The board’s approved motion, moved by Member Clepa and seconded by Dr. Wong, directs staff to publish the modified text and responses to comments, start a 15‑day public comment period on the revised language, and, if no adverse comments are received on that modified text, to complete the rulemaking. The roll‑call vote was recorded as unanimous by members present.

If the package is finalized after the 15‑day notice and any additional steps required by the Administrative Procedure Act, the rule would be codified at title 16, California Code of Regulations, section 1572 (as proposed) with the temperature and frequency limits included in the final regulatory text. The board also authorized the executive officer to make technical and non‑substantive edits to the rulemaking package.","The California State Board of Optometry voted to publish modified regulatory text for radio‑frequency devices used to treat dry‑eye disease and to seek 15‑day public comment. The change narrows permitted uses, specifies a frequency range, and requires temperature monitoring to rule out surgical RF devices.","actionData","errors"]

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California optometry board approves responses to sunset review; asks legislature to raise fee ceiling and review UC funding

California optometry board advances draft rule to allow radio‑frequency dry‑eye devices, with limits