SB 853 Summary

• Establishes the "Eye Care Consumer Protection Law" requiring that spectacles and contact lenses be dispensed only pursuant to valid prescriptions from licensed physicians or optometrists.

• Prohibits unlicensed individuals from performing eye examinations, determining refractive conditions, prescribing spectacles or contact lenses, or using automated refractors without licensee supervision.

• Defines requirements for valid prescriptions for contact lenses (including lens specifications, wearing instructions, and minimum 1-year expiration) and spectacles (including lens power, special requirements, and minimum 1-year expiration).

• Authorizes the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs to investigate violations, issue cease and desist orders, and assess investigation costs.

• Establishes penalties of civil fines of at least $5,000 per violation and criminal penalties of up to 1 year imprisonment or fines between $5,000 and $25,000 for violations or noncompliance with orders.