Sunset Law; Alabama Board of Optometry continued with modification until October 1, 2029
HB124 is a sunset bill that continues the Alabama Board of Optometry through October 1, 2029, while making several changes to the board’s governing statutes. The bill updates provisions on limited licenses for optometric faculty and student residents, allows the board to communicate with licensees by additional methods including electronic mail, increases the per diem paid to board members, and revises recordkeeping rules by removing the secretary’s registry as the official book of records. It also makes technical and conforming changes throughout the optometry chapter to reflect modernized notice, filing, and administrative practices.
The bill also creates the Alabama Board of Optometry Fund in the State Treasury. Money received by the board would be deposited into that fund and used for board operations, enforcement, salaries, and other authorized costs, with unencumbered balances carrying forward rather than reverting to the General Fund. The bill amends several sections of the Code of Alabama 1975, including Sections 34-22-5, 34-22-8, 34-22-22, 34-22-40, 34-22-41, and 34-22-43, and it becomes effective June 1, 2025.
HB124 extends the statutory life of the Alabama Board of Optometry and modifies the regulatory framework governing optometry practice in Alabama. It affects licensing and discipline procedures, continuing education compliance, annual renewal and fee requirements, board governance, and the handling of board records and communications. The bill also establishes a dedicated treasury fund for the board, changing how board revenues are held, spent, and carried over from year to year.
The bill appears to have broad support and little visible opposition. It passed the House and the second house unanimously, with 101-0 and 32-0 votes respectively, and there are no committee transcript snippets indicating controversy or debate. The overall sentiment reflected in the voting history is favorable and routine, consistent with a sunset continuation measure with administrative updates.
No major points of contention are evident in the available record. The main substantive changes are administrative and professional-regulatory in nature: higher board per diem, expanded electronic notice and communication, revised recordkeeping, and creation of a dedicated fund. If any concerns existed, they are not reflected in the voting record or committee materials provided, and the unanimous votes suggest the bill was noncontroversial.