State Board of Optometry Examiners public meetings in 2024
8 substantive meetings from 2024, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
State Board of Optometry Examiners
The Louisiana State Board of Optometry Examiners is meeting to discuss and potentially vote on licensing matters, disciplinary actions, and other regulatory business. The agenda includes items related to the practice of optometry in the state.
- Discussion and possible action on licensing applications.
- Review and potential action on disciplinary cases.
- Consideration of proposed rule changes or policy updates.
- Discussion of board administrative and financial matters.
The Board voted to ratify approaches to resolve litigation with the OAL and continue working toward a settlement. Other actions included changing licensure endorsement fee rules and approving two new licenses. The Board also established a quarterly payment plan for insurance premiums.
- Approved ratifying approaches to resolve OAL litigation (unanimous, Dr. Gerdes abstained)
- Approved continuing to work with OAL on a settlement (unanimous, Dr. Gerdes abstained)
- Approved amending rule to charge $1,500 licensure by endorsement fee only if license is approved (unanimous)
- Approved licensure by endorsement for Dr. Trang and Dr. Tong pending proof of advanced procedures training
- Approved paying ORM insurance premium invoice in quarterly payments (unanimous)
- Approved October 4, 2024 meeting minutes (unanimous)
- Adopted updated agenda (unanimous)
State Board of Optometry Examiners
The Louisiana State Board of Optometry Examiners is holding a meeting on October 4, 2024, at 9:00 AM at BREC, 6201 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge. The agenda contains only procedural items; no specific decisions or discussions are listed.
The Board unanimously approved a proposed rule regarding continuing education per Act 194 of 2023, including specific wording changes. The Board also confirmed compliance with Act 393 of 2023 regarding disability accommodations.
- Approved updated agenda (unanimous)
- Approved August 26, 2024 meeting minutes (unanimous)
- Approved proposed continuing education rule with changes to add the word 'approved' before source (unanimous)
- Confirmed compliance with Act 393 of 2023 regarding disability accommodations
State Board of Optometry Examiners
This is a procedural meeting of the Louisiana State Board of Optometry Examiners. The agenda contains only meeting logistics and no specific items for decision or discussion.
The Board established a two-person committee to research telehealth rules and fees. It also updated authorized bank signatories and approved formal notification letters for delinquent licensees.
- Approved sending formal letters to all non-renewing licensees (Unanimous)
- Approved formation of Telehealth committee consisting of Dr. Kasovich and Dr. Lamar (Unanimous)
- Approved adding Dr. Kasovich and Dr. LaPoint to bank signature card and removing Dr. Gerdes and Dr. Sehon (Unanimous)
- Ratified Dr. Katovich's approval for Dr. Gerdes to sign checks until today's meeting (Unanimous)
- Approved amendment to May 17, 2024 minutes regarding Daryl Purpera (Unanimous)
- Approved sending signed subpoena to Walmart regarding Judy Diggins complaint (Unanimous)
- Approved committee of Dr. Kasovich and Mrs. Wicker to meet with OAL regarding litigation (Passed; Dr. Gerdes abstained)
State Board of Optometry Examiners
The Board is meeting to count ballots and assist in scoring licensing exams. No formal meeting will take place and no other business will be discussed or acted upon.
- Ballot counting on July 12, 2024
- Licensing exam scoring on July 13, 2024
State Board of Optometry Examiners
The agenda provides notice for a meeting of the Louisiana State Board of Optometry Examiners. No specific discussion items or decisions were listed in the provided text.
The Board voted to transition the Executive Director from a temporary to a permanent position. It also approved the implementation of disability accommodations required by Act 393. Other items regarding telehealth and pharmaceutical dispensing rules had no updates.
- Changed Executive Director position from temporary to permanent with 12 month notice to vacate (Unanimous)
- Approved implementation of disability accommodations required by Act 393 (Unanimous)
- Approved April 2, 2024 meeting minutes (Unanimous)
- Adopted amended agenda to include appointment of a new Secretary (Unanimous)
- Agreed to have Daryl Purpura assist with the annual audit but not lead it
State Board of Optometry Examiners
The Board rejected a settlement offer from the OAL dated April 1, 2024. A three-member committee was established to handle future offers and counteroffers from the OAL. The Board also noted that three members will not be submitted for confirmation by the governor's office.
- Rejected OAL settlement offer from April 1, 2024 (unanimous, Dr. Gerdes abstained)
- Approved committee of Dr. Sehon, Dr. LaPoint, and Dr. Richardson to act on OAL offers (unanimous)
- Approved addition of letters regarding governor's confirmation to the agenda (unanimous)
- Approved minutes from December 12, 2023, January 19, 2024, and March 8, 2024 (unanimous)
- Adopted meeting agenda (unanimous)
State Board of Optometry Examiners
The Board elected Dr. Sehon as the new secretary-treasurer and updated the bank signature card to include the President, Executive Director, and Secretary-Treasurer. The Board also decided to maintain the current Executive Director contract pending a Board of Ethics review.
- Elected Dr. Sehon as secretary-treasurer
- Approved updating bank signature card to include Dr. Gerdes, Ms. Cahill, and Dr. Sehon (unanimous)
- Approved keeping current Executive Director contract in place until Board of Ethics responds (unanimous)
- Approved creating draft newsletter content on approved continuing education sources (unanimous)
- Approved renewing Dr. Barun Hazra’s license as inactive for 2024 upon payment of $700.00 (unanimous)
- Postponed approval of December and January minutes until next meeting (unanimous)
- Approved pro-rated payment of $2,212.50 for Dr. Avallone's work through March 11, 2024
State Board of Optometry Examiners
The Board approved the budget with edits and an interim Executive Director agreement starting January 21, 2024. It also approved a contract for license certificates and set the 2024 licensing exam dates. A request for sponsorship to re-take the NBA was denied.
- Approved budget as discussed with edits (Unanimous)
- Approved $786.09 quote for 250 license certificates (Unanimous)
- Denied Ashcon Zadeh's request for sponsorship to re-take NBA (Unanimous)
- Approved licensure endorsement for Dr. Joseph Pruitt
- Approved July 12-13, 2024, dates for licensing exam
- Approved interim Executive Director agreement starting Jan 21, 2024 (Unanimous)
- Authorized Board President to appoint a Secretary between March 1 and March 8 (Unanimous)
- Approved motion to delete three Addenda from previous minutes (5-0)