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Senate committee advances bill removing service restrictions for optometry board positions
Summary
The Senate Committee on Health and Welfare on April 16 reported Senate Bill 10 favorable to the full Senate. Sponsor Senator Gerald Boudreaux said the bill removes outdated restrictions that limit who may serve on state and related boards; supporters said there was no organized opposition.
Senator Gerald Boudreaux brought Senate Bill 10 before the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare on April 16, asking the panel to remove what he described as “erroneous restrictions” that prevent qualified optometrists from serving on state, regional or national boards.
The bill’s sponsor said the measure is a cleanup to earlier legislation and is intended to expand the pool of professionals able to serve. “This is some legislation that's aimed at eliminating what we would call some erroneous restrictions,” Boudreaux said, arguing the change would let “our best and brightest” serve across multiple boards.
In committee, Boudreaux told members the proposal comes without organized opposition from stakeholder groups and was welcomed by professional associations. Committee Vice Chair Jackson Andrews moved to report the bill favorable to the full Senate; the motion carried by voice vote with no objections.
The vote was reported by voice with no roll call recorded. The committee noted that the bill follows prior legislation intended to strengthen patient care and safety in the optometry profession.
Senate Bill 10 now moves to the Senate floor for further consideration.
