OCULARIST REGULATION REPEAL                                                           H.B. 4392 (S-1):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

House Bill 4392 (Substitute S-1 as reported)

Sponsor:  Representative Harold Haugh

House Committee:  Regulatory Reform

Senate Committee:  Regulatory Reform

CONTENT

The bill would repeal Article 27 of the Occupational Code, which regulates and provides for the registration of ocularists.

Article 27 specifies requirements for registration as an ocularist, and requires the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs to issue an apprentice registration to a person who applies for registration and furnishes verification from an ocularist stating the applicant is receiving training under his or her direct supervision.

Article 27 defines "ocularist" as an individual registered as an ocularist, and defines "practice of ocularism" as one or more of the following:

-- The design and fabrication of ocular prosthetic appliances.

-- The fitting of ocular prosthetic appliances.

-- The performance of necessary procedures to provide an ocular prosthetic service for the patient in the ocularist's office or laboratory.

The bill is tie-barred to Senate Bill 607, which would repeal Section 62 of the State License Fee Act. That section sets fees for a person registered or seeking registration as an ocularist or an apprentice ocularist.

MCL 339.411 et al.                                                   Legislative Analyst:  Patrick Affholter

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have a likely neutral fiscal impact on the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and no fiscal impact on local units of government. The bill would remove requirements for ocularists to register and pay registration fees. According to the Department, there are currently 14 individuals registered as ocularists, each of whom pays a $40 fee annually to maintain registration. Under the bill, the Department would lose this revenue, but also would no longer incur costs associated with registering ocularists. It is expected that this would have a neutral fiscal impact on the Department.

Date Completed:  5-5-14                                                       Fiscal Analyst:  Josh Sefton

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.