This is new on the OAA website but what the heck is LR 1844 anyways? ps the new website is nice is you guys have not checked it out.
Issues and Legislation
The Legislative Request list finally came out today. Our bill is on there, it has now been assigned LR (legislative request) #1844. Our bill will now be referred to as LR #1844 until it is printed and assigned an LD (legislative document) #. So if you need to call the State House, talk to Senators or Representative about it, that is the number they need to know to get it for themselves.
The next step is for LR 1844 to be printed, become an LD, then
go through both the House and Senate to be formally referred to the Business & Economic Development Committee. And then of course it will be scheduled for a public hearing.
We learned recently that the Optometrists may not support our bill. Most of the ODs that we speak to individually support educational requirements and understand that there is NOT any hidden agenda to take contact lenses away from their scope of practice or to be able to refract independently. LR#1844 clearly states that. I believe that their national (OAO) opposes any licensing bills for Opticians, regardless of their content.
We are in contact with the COA and the ABO, through the OAA and the NFOS may be able to send someone for the hearing. This is the time to prepare for this. We are looking forward to this hearing and giving testimony is our time to explain to our legislators what Opticians do and why they should support licensing and educational requirements in Maine. The OAM encourages all to participate in the hearing. As soon as we receive the date, we will let you know.
Any questions, just let us know. Call 207-641-2179 or e-mail jok@int-usa.net or snail mail P.O. Box 713, Kennebunk, Maine 04043 or contact the OAM directly at travisleah@powelink.net.
Jackie O'Keefe
Government Affairs Chairman
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