BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 761 Page 1 CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS AB 761 (Roger Hernández) As Amended June 4, 2012 Majority vote ----------------------------------------------------------------- |ASSEMBLY: |74-0 |(January 26, |SENATE: |36-0 |(July 6, 2012) | | | |2012) | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- Original Committee Reference: B.,P. & C.P. SUMMARY : Allows optometrists to independently perform waived clinical laboratory tests necessary for the diagnosis of conditions and diseases of the eye. Specifically, this bill : 1)Adds licensed optometrists to the list of persons who are authorized under current law to perform a clinical laboratory test or examination classified as waived under the federal Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) of 1988. 2)Includes, in the definition of "laboratory director" for purposes of a clinical laboratory test or examination classified as waived, a duly licensed optometrist serving as the director of a laboratory, which only performs clinical laboratory testing as authorized in 3) below. 3)Clarifies that an optometrist who is certified to use therapeutic pharmaceutical agents (TPAs) may also perform tear fluid analysis. 4)Allows optometrists who are certified to use TPAs to perform a clinical laboratory test or examination classified as waived under CLIA and as designated under current law, as specified, necessary for the diagnosis of conditions and diseases of the eye or adnexa, or if otherwise specifically authorized by the Optometry Practice Act. 5)Specifies that, for purposes of the Optometry Practice Act, "adnexa" means ocular adnexa. The Senate amendments clarify that an optometrist who is certified to use TPAs may also perform tear fluid analysis. AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill was substantially similar AB 761 Page 2 to the version passed by the Senate. FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations Committee: 1) Personnel costs of an estimated $128,000 in 2012-13, offset by fees payable to the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Fund for registration of optometrists to perform waived testing. 2) Personnel costs of an estimated $124,000 annually, offset by fees payable to the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Fund. Analysis Prepared by : Angela Mapp / B.,P. & C.P. / (916) 319-3301 FN: 0004431