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UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 2563
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A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION establishing the Optometric Practice Task 1
Force. 2
WHEREAS, the field of optometry has undergone significant clinical and 3
technological evolution which has expanded the primary eye care services available to 4
residents of the Commonwealth; and 5
WHEREAS, the complexity of modern optometric practice requires a regulatory 6
framework that balances patient access to care with the highest standards of c linical 7
safety; and 8
WHEREAS, recent legislative and administrative changes to licensure 9
requirements, specifically licensure exam requirements, have altered the profession and 10
practice of optometry; and 11
WHEREAS, the maintenance of professional competency t hrough rigorous training 12
and licensure requirements is essential to ensuring that practitioners remain current and 13
up to date in a rapidly advancing profession; and 14
WHEREAS, recent legislative and regulatory changes have expanded therapeutic 15
practice and t he scope of optometric practice to include certain traditionally ophthalmic 16
procedures such as injections and laser surgeries; and 17
WHEREAS, the Kentucky Board of Optometric Examiners (KBOE) is charged 18
with the responsibility of overseeing these expanded practice privileges to ensure uniform 19
adherence to medical protocols; and 20
WHEREAS, the current composition and structure of the KBOE may warrant 21
reevaluation to ensure it reflects the rapidly evolving and diverse needs of the profession 22
and the public; and 23
WHEREAS, a comprehensive review of the scope of practice of optometrists and 24
regulatory oversight of the profession is critically necessary to provide the General 25
Assembly with informed data-driven recommendations for future policy considerations; 26
NOW, THEREFORE, 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 2563
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Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 1
Kentucky, the House of Representatives concurring therein: 2
Section 1. The Legislative Research Commission is hereby directed to establish 3
the Optometric Practice Task Force. The task force shall conduct a comprehensive review 4
of the regulatory and clinical landscape of the practice of optometry within the 5
Commonwealth and shall specifically review and make recommendations regarding, but 6
not limited to, the following: 7
(a) The scope of practice of optometry; 8
(b) Expanded therapeutic practice; 9
(c) Licensure and education requirements; and 10
(d) Composition of the Kentucky Board of Optometric Examiners. 11
Section 2. The Optometric Practice Task Force shall be composed of the 12
following members, with final membership of the task force being subject to the 13
consideration and approval of the Legislative Research Commission: 14
(a) Two members of the House of Representatives who are members of the 15
Interim Joint Committee on Health Services, appointed by the Speaker of the House of 16
Representatives, one of whom shall be designated by the Speaker of the House of 17
Representatives as co-chair of the task force; 18
(b) One member of the House of Representatives who is a member of the Interim 19
Joint Committee on Health Services, appointed by the Minority Floor Leader of the 20
House of Representatives; 21
(c) Two members of the Senate who are members of the Interim Joint Committee 22
on Health Services, appointed by the President of the Senate, one of whom shall be 23
designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives as co-chair of the task force; 24
(d) One member of the Senate who is a member of the Interim Joint Committee 25
on Health Services, appointed by the Minority Floor Leader of the Senate; 26
(e) The President of the Kentucky Board of Optometric Examiners or his or her 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 2563
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designee; 1
(f) The President of the Kentucky Optometric Association or his or her designee; 2
(g) The President of the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure or his or her 3
designee; 4
(h) The President of the Kentucky Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons; 5
(i) A representative of the University of Kentucky College of Medic ine, 6
appointed by the dean of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine; 7
(j) A representative of the University of Louisville School of Medicine, 8
appointed by the dean of the University of Louisville School of Medicine; 9
(k) A representative of the Ken tucky College of Optometry at the University of 10
Pikeville, appointed by the dean of the Kentucky College of Optometry; and 11
(l) The Attorney General or his or her designee. 12
Section 3. The task force shall meet monthly dur ing the 2026 Interim of the 13
General Assembly and shall submit findings and recommendations to the Legislative 14
Research Commission for referral to the appropriate committees by October 31, 2026. 15
Section 4. Provisions of t he Resolution to the contrary notwithstanding, the 16
Legislative Research Commission shall have the authority to alternatively assign the 17
issues identified herein to an interim joint committee or subcommittee thereof, and to 18
designate a study completion date. 19