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

                                                                               SUMMARY OF HOUSE-PASSED BILL

                                                                                                         IN COMMITTEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

House Bill 4392 (Substitute H-1 as passed by the House)

Sponsor:  Representative Harold Haugh

House Committee:  Regulatory Reform

Senate Committee:  Regulatory Reform

 

Date Completed:  5-1-14

 

CONTENT

 

The bill would repeal Article 27 of the Occupational Code, which regulates and provides for the registration of ocularists, and would delete a provision of the Code related to ocularists. It also would repeal Section 62 of the State License Fee Act, which specifies various fees for registration as an ocularist.

 

Article 27 specifies requirements for registration as an ocularist, and requires the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) 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. "Practice of ocularism" means 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 Code requires LARA to issue an initial or renewal license or registration within specific time frames. Those requirements do not apply to certain licenses or registrations, including a registration as an ocularist and ocularist apprentice under Article 27. The bill would delete the reference to ocularists and their apprentices in that provision.

 

Section 62 of the State License Fee Act sets fees for a person registered or seeking registration as an ocularist or an apprentice ocularist under Article 27 of the Occupational Code, as shown in Table 1.

 

Table 1

 

Fee Type

Amount

Application processing fee until 9-30-15

$35

Application processing fee after 9-30-15

$15

Registration fee for ocularist, per year until 9-30-15

$40

Registration fee for ocularist, per year after 9-30-15

$20

Registration fee for apprentice, per year until 9-30-15

$20

Registration fee for apprentice, per year after 9-30-15

$10

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.

                                                                                        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.