New York S 621: Relates to the use of topical pharmaceutical agents

Bill Text

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S00621 Summary:

BILL NOS00621 

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SAME ASSAME AS A02202

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SPONSORLIU

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COSPNSRADDABBO, OBERACKER, ROLISON, SCARCELLA-SPANTON

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MLTSPNSR

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Amd §7101-a, Ed L

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Amends the definitions of diagnostic pharmaceuticals, topical therapeutic pharmaceutical agents, and therapeutic pharmaceutical agents for treatment of glaucoma and ocular hypertension as they relate to the certification to use therapeutic drugs in the practice of optometry.

Go to top S00621 Actions:

BILL NOS00621 

&nbsp

01/08/2025REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION

01/07/2026REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION

Go to topS00621 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS00621 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS00621 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 621

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 (Prefiled)

 January 8, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. LIU -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
 printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education

 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the use of topical
 pharmaceutical agents

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. Paragraphs (d), (e) and (f) of subdivision 1 of section
 2 7101-a of the education law, paragraph (d) as added by chapter 517 of
 3 the laws of 1995 and paragraphs (e) and (f) as amended by chapter 506 of
 4 the laws of 2021, are amended to read as follows:
 5 (d) Diagnostic pharmaceuticals. Diagnostic pharmaceuticals shall mean
 6 those drugs which shall be limited to topical applications [to the
 7 surface of the eye] for the purpose of diagnostic examination of the eye
 8 [and shall be limited to:
 9 (i) Anesthetic agents;
 10 (ii) Mydriatics;
 11 (iii) Cycloplegics;
 12 (iv) Miotics;
 13 (v) Disclosing agents and other substances used in conjunction with
 14 these drugs as part of a diagnostic procedure] and adnexa.
 15 (e) Topical therapeutic pharmaceutical agents. Topical therapeutic
 16 pharmaceutical agents shall mean those drugs which shall be limited to
 17 topical application [to the surface of the eye] for therapeutic purposes
 18 [and shall be limited to:
 19 (i) antibiotic/antimicrobials;
 20 (ii) decongestants/anti-allergenics;
 21 (iii) non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents;
 22 (iv) steroidal anti-inflammatory agents;
 23 (v) antiviral agents;
 24 (vi) hyperosmotic/hypertonic agents;

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD02383-01-5

 S. 621 2

 1 (vii) cycloplegics;
 2 (viii) artificial tears and lubricants; and
 3 (ix) immunosuppressive agents] of the eye and adnexa.
 4 (f) Therapeutic pharmaceutical agents for treatment of glaucoma and
 5 ocular hypertension. Therapeutic pharmaceutical agents for treatment of
 6 glaucoma and ocular hypertension shall mean those drugs which shall be
 7 limited to topical application [to the surface] for therapeutic purposes
 8 of the eye and [shall be limited to:
 9 (i) beta blockers;
 10 (ii) alpha agonists;
 11 (iii) direct acting cholinergic agents;
 12 (iv) prostaglandin analogs; and
 13 (v) carbonic anhydrase inhibitors] adnexa.
 14 § 2. Paragraph (e) of subdivision 4 of section 7101-a of the education
 15 law, as added by chapter 517 of the laws of 1995 and as relettered by
 16 chapter 506 of the laws of 2021, is amended to read as follows:
 17 (e) The provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subdivision shall
 18 not apply to (i) graduates of an appropriate program approved by the
 19 department who have successfully passed the examination on the use of
 20 diagnostic and therapeutic [drugs] agents and who graduated subsequent
 21 to January first, nineteen hundred ninety-three; or (ii) optometrists
 22 who have been certified for at least five years to use [phase one]
 23 topical therapeutic agents and [phase two drugs] therapeutic pharmaceu-
 24 tical agents for treatment of glaucoma and ocular hypertension in anoth-
 25 er jurisdiction, have demonstrated such use in independently managed
 26 patients, and have been licensed in accordance with section seventy-one
 27 hundred four of this chapter. Provided, however, no optometrist exempt
 28 under this paragraph sha