What's happening
This bill allows trained and registered adults to assist physicians and optometrists in administering certain eye drops under supervision.
Why it matters
Expands the healthcare workforce. by allowing trained adults (not just doctors or optometrists) to administer specific eye drops, potentially increasing efficiency and access to eye care services, especially in busy practices or underserved areas.
Includes strict qualification and supervision requirements. assistants must be over 18, complete a state-approved curriculum and exam, register with the state, and work only under the direct, on-site supervision of a licensed physician or optometrist, which aims to maintain patient safety.
May reduce patient wait times and streamline workflow. in eye care settings by delegating routine but time-consuming tasks to trained assistants, freeing up highly trained professionals for more complex cases.
Establishes a regulated pathway for non-physician support roles. in eye care, which could set a precedent for similar delegation in other healthcare fields, potentially reshaping how minor medical procedures are managed in New York.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Trained Staff Give Eye Drops
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Assembly Member · Assembly District 108
20 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Substituted by S4469B
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.544
- Rules report cal.544
- Reported
- Reported referred to rules
- Reported referred to ways and means
- Print number 3822d
- Amend and recommit to higher education
- Print number 3822c
- Amend and recommit to higher education
- Print number 3822b
- Amend and recommit to higher education
Show 3 earlier actions
- Print number 3822a
- Amend and recommit to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Allow Trained Staff Give Eye Drops
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Toby Ann Stavisky
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3822--D
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 31, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. McDONALD, GUNTHER, PICHARDO, SEAWRIGHT, GARBARI- NO, WILLIAMS, DICKENS, LUPARDO, FAHY, D'URSO, ARROYO, MONTESANO, COOK, GOTTFRIED, LAVINE, RA, SMITH, ASHBY, REYES, STIRPE, SIMON -- Multi- Sponsored by -- M. of A. SAYEGH -- read once and… Show allHide
Introduced by M. of A. McDONALD, GUNTHER, PICHARDO, SEAWRIGHT, GARBARI- NO, WILLIAMS, DICKENS, LUPARDO, FAHY, D'URSO, ARROYO, MONTESANO, COOK, GOTTFRIED, LAVINE, RA, SMITH, ASHBY, REYES, STIRPE, SIMON -- Multi- Sponsored by -- M. of A. SAYEGH -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -again reported from said committee with amendments, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- again reported from said committee with amendments, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- again reported from said committee with amendments, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the delegation of certain professional responsibilities for instilling mydriatic or cycloplegic eye drops
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 25 of section 6530 of the education law, as added by chapter 606 of the laws of 1991, is amended to read as follows:
25. a. Delegating professional responsibilities to a person when the licensee delegating such responsibilities knows or has reason to know that such person is not qualified, by training, by experience, or by licensure, to perform them[;].
b. A person shall be deemed qualified to assist a physician licensed pursuant to article one hundred thirty-one of this title in the care of a patient for the purpose of instilling mydriatic or cycloplegic eye drops (hereinafter "dilating eye drops") and anesthetic eye drops in conjunction with such dilating drops to the surface of the eye of a patient, provided that the person instilling such dilating eye drops and anesthetic eye drops is under the on-site supervision of a physician pursuant to such article one hundred thirty-one and such person is over
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00577-07-9
A. 3822--D 2
the age of eighteen, successfully completes a curriculum and examination approved by the department demonstrating that such person has the requisite experience to instill dilating eye drops and anesthetic eye drops used in conjunction with such dilating eye drops to the surface of the eye and registers with the department after paying the requisite fee in accordance with the commissioner's regulations;
§ 2. Section 7106 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 4 to read as follows:
4. Notwithstanding subdivision seven of section six thousand five hundred nine of this title, a licensed optometrist may delegate the care of a patient for the specific purpose of instilling mydriatic or cycloplegic eye drops (hereinafter "dilating eye drops") and anesthetic eye drops used in conjunction with such dilating eye drops to the surface of the eye of a patient, provided that the person instilling such dilating eye drops and anesthetic eye drops is deemed qualified to assist, and is under the on-site supervision of a licensed optometrist. A person shall be deemed qualified for purposes of this subdivision and shall be permitted to assist a licensed optometrist for the purpose of instilling dilating eye drops and anesthetic eye drops used in conjunction with such dilating eye drops only if such person is over the age of eighteen, successfully completes a curriculum and examination approved by the department demonstrating the requisite experience to instill dilating eye drops and anesthetic eye drops used in conjunction with such dilating eye drops to the surface of the eye and registers with the department after paying the requisite fee in accordance with the commissioner's regulations.
§ 3. This act shall take effect eighteen months after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.