3/6/2018 11:17 am
Date / Time filed with the Register of Regulations 		VA.R. Document Number: R____-______
Virginia Register Publication Information

Transmittal Sheet: Response to Petition for Rulemaking
Initial Agency Notice
X
Agency Decision
Promulgating Board: Board of Optometry
Regulatory Coordinator: Elaine J. Yeatts

(804)367-4688

elaine.yeatts@dhp.virginia.gov
Agency Contact: Leslie L. Knachel

Executive Director

(804)367-4508

leslie.knachel@dhp.virginia.gov
Contact Address: Department of Health Professions

9960 Mayland Drive

Suite 300

Richmond, VA 23233
Chapter Affected:
18 vac 105 - 20: Regulations of the Virginia Board of Optometry
Statutory Authority: State: Chapter 32 of Title 54.1

Federal:
Date Petition Received 10/31/2017
Petitioner Janet Swartz, National Glaucoma Society
 Petitioner's Request
To amend section 70 to add the National Glaucoma Society to the list of approved providers of continuing education or to include a new category for non-profit optometric organizations.
 Agency Plan
In accordance with Virginia law, the petition has been filed with the Register of Regulations and will be published on November 27, 2017.  Comment on the petition may be sent by email, regular mail or posted on the Virginia Regulatory Townhall at www.townhall.virginia.gov; comment will be requested until December 20,2017. Following receipt of all comments on the petition to amend regulations, the Board will decide whether to make any changes to the regulatory language.  This matter will be on the Board's agenda for its next meeting following comment, scheduled for March 2, 2018.  
Publication Date 11/27/2017  (comment period will also begin on this date)
Comment End Date 12/20/2017
 Agency Decision
Take no action
Agency Response Date 03/06/2018
 Agency Decision Text
The Board decided to take no action on the petition for rulemaking at this time. In reviewing the information and the current provisions in section 70 of its regulations, board members determined that an overall review of continuing education providers was warranted before there were any additions or subtractions to the list. In the meantime, if courses offered by the Society are approved by one of the entities currently on the list of approval bodies, those courses would be accepted for continuing education in Virginia.