(a) There shall be established under the State Board of Optometry a dispensing optician committee to advise and make recommendations to the board regarding the regulation of dispensing opticians, spectacle lens dispensers, and contact lens dispensers, registered pursuant to Chapter 5.5 (commencing with Section 2550). The committee shall consist of five members, one of whom shall be a registered dispensing optician registered pursuant to Chapter 5.5 (commencing with Section 2550), one of whom shall be a spectacle lens dispenser or contact lens dispenser registered pursuant to Chapter 5.5 (commencing with Section 2550), two of whom shall be public members, and one of whom shall be a member of the board. Initial appointments to the committee shall be made by the board. The board shall stagger the terms of the initial members appointed. The filling of vacancies on the committee shall be made by the board upon recommendations by the committee.

(b) The committee shall be responsible for:

(1) Recommending registration standards and criteria for the registration of dispensing opticians, nonresident contact lens sellers, spectacle lens dispensers, and contact lens dispensers.

(2) Reviewing of the disciplinary guidelines relating to registered dispensing opticians, nonresident contact lens sellers, spectacle lens dispensers, and contact lens dispensers.

(3) Recommending to the board changes or additions to regulations adopted pursuant to Chapter 5.5 (commencing with Section 2550).

(4) Carrying out and implementing all responsibilities and duties imposed upon it pursuant to this chapter or as delegated to it by the board.

(c) The committee shall meet at least twice a year and as needed in order to conduct its business.

(d) Recommendations by the committee regarding scope of practice or regulatory changes or additions shall be approved, modified, or rejected by the board within 90 days of submission of the recommendation to the board. If the board rejects or significantly modifies the intent or scope of the recommendation, the committee may request that the board provide its reasons in writing for rejecting or significantly modifying the recommendation, which shall be provided by the board within 30 days of the request.

(e) After the initial appointments by the board pursuant to subdivision (a), the Governor shall appoint the registered dispensing optician members and the public members. The committee shall submit a recommendation to the board regarding which board member should be appointed to serve on the committee, and the board shall appoint the member to serve. Committee members shall serve a term of four years except for the initial staggered terms. A member may be reappointed, but no person shall serve as a member of the committee for more than two consecutive terms.

(f) The amendments to this section by the act adding this subdivision apply as of January 1, 2016.

(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 31, Sec. 7. (SB 836) Effective June 27, 2016.)