Legislative Update on SB 1544

Background

On March 13, 2025, the Florida Legislature heard the merits of a bill in the Senate Health Policy Committee that discussed services that could be provided by delegation to non-licensed individuals (termed technicians) under the direct supervision of an Ophthalmologist, Optometrist or Optician.  Specifically, Senate Bill 1544 titled Opticianry if enacted would have:

“...deleted the ability of an optician to delegate specified acts to unlicensed supportive personnel; AND deleted the ability of an optician, optometrist or ophthalmologist to delegate ANY task in the scope of practice of opticianry to employees working under direct supervision.”

Link to SB1544: CLICK HERE TO VIEW SB1544

Although the hearing of SB 1544 was temporarily “tabled,” it raised a concern about which procedures are safe to delegate to non-licensed personnel and which procedures should be performed by licensed health care practitioners versus technicians under the direct supervision of a health care practitioner.     

Position Statement

Although clerical tasks and data gathering may be performed by non-licensed technicians under the direct supervision of a licensed health care practitioner, non-licensed personnel should never be tasked with procedures clearly reserved for licensed providers. It is the expectation that each licensed provider renders services in accordance with state and federal law and places patient care and safety first and foremost. 

Please report any suspected unlicensed activity immediately to the Florida Department of Health.

Sincerely,

Kenneth W. Lawson, OD 
FOA Legislative Chair