Idaho State Board of Optometry
Minutes
of May 06, 2005
ROLL CALL: Gary Walker, Chair
Steven Snapp, Vice Chair
John Rietz, Board Member
Daniel Tiller, Board Member
Michael Flandro, Board Member
BUREAU
STAFF: Rayola Jacobsen, Bureau Chief
Roger Hales, Administrative Attorney
Sandee Hitesman, Office Specialist II
OTHER’S PRESENT: Larry Benton, Idaho Optometry Association
Chairman, Gary Walker,
called meeting to order at 1:05 p.m.
Dr. Rietz joined the
meeting via conference call at 1:15 p.m.
Dr. Flandro joined the
meeting at 1:17 p.m.
Motion was made by Dr.
Tiller to approve the minutes of the February 18, 2005 board meeting as written.
Seconded by Dr. Snapp, carried.
Ms. Jacobsen gave the legislative report. Legislation presented by the board to change the license renewal dates to birth dates passed. The Bureau will be providing services to three new boards in fiscal year 2006; Contractors, Propane Dealers, and Naturopathic Physicians.
Hearing Aid Dealers and
Fitters will be combined with Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists
under the new Speech and Hearing Services Board. The Bureau has received hiring
authority for three new investigators and two new secretaries to help maintain
these new boards. The Bureau will
also be remodeling the office to make room for the new employees.
Ms. Jacobsen gave the
financial report. As of 3-31-2005,
the board has a balance of $8,213.78 in appropriation with a negative cash
balance of $8,560.53. The board has
an appropriation of $50,658.82 in the special account with a cash balance of
$67,109.15. Ms. Jacobsen noted that
the billing for the ISBO Sponsored Education Program 2004 Idaho Congress has
just been received today from Larry Benton.
Motion was made by Dr.
Snapp to allow the Bureau to transfer $25,000.00 from the board’s special
account to the board’s general account. The
Bureau is authorized to pay up to $10,000.00 for the ISBO Sponsored Education
Program 2004 Idaho Congress. Seconded
by Dr. Tiller, carried.
Ms. Jacobsen gave the
investigative report. There have
been four complaints for fiscal year 2005.
Three of these are currently under investigation, and one has been closed
subsequent to legal review. There
were seven complaints for fiscal year 2004.
Two of these complaints have been closed, two are closed subsequent to
legal review, and three are under investigation.
There were two complaints for fiscal year 2003.
One of these complaints is closed, and one is currently under
investigation.
The Bureau has hired an
investigator for the Northern Region. This
investigator is currently in training, and should be in the field within the
next week.
The board reviewed a
disciplinary matter OPT-2005-1, concerning an
Optician alleged to be writing prescriptions and forging an Optometrists name.
The Idaho Optometric act exempts
Opticians from regulation. Attorney, Roger Hales, will follow up with
Deputy Attorney General, Stephanie Guyon, on investigating this case further.
Mr. Hales noted that the exemption in the Optometric Act may have to be
addressed. The board discussed
striking the last sentence in Section 54-1502, I.C.
The board asked Mr. Larry Benton to approach the IOA with a request for
their assistance in changing the law, and to contact the AOA regarding the
board’s intentions. Mr. Benton noted that he would approach the IOA at their next
meeting.
Motion was made by Dr.
Tiller to direct attorney, Roger Hales, to pursue contacting the Deputy Attorney
General in allowing the board to take action in the complaint against
case#OPT-2005-1. Seconded by Dr.
Reitz, carried.
Attorney, Roger Hales,
discussed the legislative basis behind the board’s special account.
In 1919 the Optometry Act was created.
At that time, law enforcement enforced the Optometry Act.
Licensing fees were sent to a General Fund account.
In 1972, Legislation created the State of Idaho Board of Optometry, and
the State Board fund. Law
Enforcement was still the regulating agency.
Now there were two funds, one with the State Board of Optometry, and one
with law enforcement. In 1974,
Legislation created the Idaho Bureau of Occupational Licenses.
The State of Idaho Board of Optometry was put under the Idaho Bureau of
Occupational Licenses at this time, and the “two fund” system was not
changed.
The board reviewed the
proposed law changes.
Motion was made by Dr.
Tiller to approve the proposed language for law changes as written.
Seconded by Dr. Flandro, carried.
Mr. Larry Benton addressed the board. The Optometric Association is very appreciative of the State Board of Optometry’s sponsorship of the continuing education program each year.
The Optometric
Association is holding another conference this year on September 22, 2005 in
Idaho Falls, Idaho. There will be a
total of 24 continuing education hours offered.
Six of those hours will be in practice management, and 18 hours will be
clinical. This seminar is free to
Idaho Optometrists. Breakfast and
snacks are furnished, along with all registration materials. Mr. Benton noted that the association is able to offer this
seminar free each year, because of the State Board of Optometry’s sponsorship.
Motion was made by Dr.
Snapp to sponsor $10,000.00 for the ISBO Sponsored Education Program 2005 Idaho
Congress. Seconded by Dr. Tiller, carried.
The board received a
letter regarding the board’s license renewal form.
The Bureau has bolded certain items on the renewal form, to help the form
be returned to the Bureau completed. If
this form is not completed, it is returned to the licensee for completion.
If this form is not received completed in the office before the license
expires, the licensee must pay a license reinstatement fee set by the board, to
activate this license. The renewal
form is a standard form used for all professions under the Bureau of
Occupational Licenses.
Motion was made by Dr.
Tiller to close this issue, and not respond to the respondent.
Seconded by Dr. Snapp, carried.
The board reviewed
continuing education audits. The
board approved all audits submitted.
A request was submitted
to the board regarding obtaining CPR certification on-line.
It was noted that the board will not allow on-line CPR certification.
The board discussed
adding a CPR course to the IOA convention in September 2005.
Dr. Walker will discuss with the IOA about adding a CPR course to this
convention.
It was noted that Dr.
Walker’s term will expire with the board June 30, 2005.
Dr. Steven Snapp will be the State of Idaho Board of Optometry Chairman
starting July 01, 2005.
The next board meeting is
scheduled for August 05, 2005 @ 9:00 a.m. in conference room C.
Motion was made by Dr. Rietz to adjourn the meeting at 3:00 p.m. Seconded by Dr. Tiller, carried.
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Last Modified - June 30, 2006