Illinois Statutes Chapter 225. Professions,Occupations and Business Operations § 80/15.3. The Collaborative Optometric/Ophthalmological Task Force

§ 15.3. The Collaborative Optometric/Ophthalmological Task Force. In order to protect the public and provide quality care, a Collaborative Optometric/Ophthalmological Task Force is established. This Task Force shall collaboratively develop minimum educational requirements for an optometrist to perform advanced optometric procedures. Advanced optometric procedures do not include the use of lasers.

The Collaborative Optometric/Ophthalmological Task Force shall be comprised of a representative of a statewide organization representing optometry, a representative of a statewide organization representing ophthalmology, a representative of a statewide organization representing physicians licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches, a representative of an accredited, private 4-year school of optometry located in a city in Illinois with a population of more than 1,500,000 persons. The Department shall provide administrative support to the Collaborative Optometric/Ophthalmological Task Force. The Task Force shall meet at least monthly.

No later than September 1, 2017, the statewide organization representing ophthalmology shall provide to the Collaborative Optometric/Ophthalmological Task Force its recommended minimum educational requirements for a licensed optometrist to obtain a certification to perform advanced optometric procedures.

No later than January 1, 2018, the Department, in direct consultation with the Collaborative Optometric/Ophthalmological Task Force, shall propose rules for adoption that are consistent with the Task Force's recommendations, or recommend legislation to the General Assembly, providing educational requirements that must be met for an optometrist to obtain certification from a school of optometry approved by the Department to perform advanced optometric procedures as taught (1) at an accredited, private 4-year school of optometry that is located in a city in Illinois with a population in excess of 1,500,000, or (2) at a school of optometry with a curriculum that is substantially similar to the curriculum taught at the school of optometry described in item (1) of this paragraph.