Whereas, the State Board of Optometry has always budgeted for and paid for independent staffing at its offices; and

Whereas, the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation has recently advised the board that it can not have outside staffing; and

Whereas, the board has a budget that has been approved that funds the independent staff positions; and

Whereas, in order to continue the board's practice of using independent staff, this legislation must be approved immediately; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §2416, as amended by PL 1993, c. 600, Pt. A, §145, is further amended by inserting at the end a new paragraph to read:

The board may employ, fix the salary of and prescribe the duties of other personnel as the board determines necessary.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This bill allows the State Board of Optometry to hire such independent staff as may be necessary to conduct the business of the board.