1. 12 AAC 48.035, Military courtesy license, is a proposed new section that establishes a temporary military courtesy license to the spouse of an active duty member of the armed forces of the United States to practice optometry.
2. 12 AAC 48.200, License renewals and continuing education, is proposed to be changed to alter the continuing education requirements.

You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments to Jun Maiquis, Regulations Specialist, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, P.O. Box 110806 Juneau, AK  99811-0806.  Additionally, the Board will accept comments by facsimile at (907) 465-2974 and by electronic mail at jun.maiquis@alaska.gov.  The comments must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on December 29, 2014.

You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Jun Maiquis, Regulations Specialist, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, P.O. Box 110806 Juneau, AK  99811-0806 or by e-mail at jun.maiquis@alaska.gov.  The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period.  The Board will aggregate its response to substantially similar questions and make the questions and response available on the Board’s website at http://commerce.state.ak.us/dnn/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardofOptometry.aspx or on the Alaska Online Public Notice System.  The Board may, but is not required to, answer written questions received after the 10-day cut-off date and before the end of the comment period.

If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Jun Maiquis at (907) 465-2537 no later than December 22, 2014 to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.

For a copy of the proposed regulation changes, contact Jun Maiquis at the address or phone number above, or go to http://commerce.state.ak.us/dnn/portals/5/pub/OPT-0914.pdf

After the public comment period ends, the Board of Examiners in Optometry will either adopt these or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action on them.  The language of the final regulations may be different from that of the proposed regulations.  You should comment during the time allowed if your interests could be affected.  Written comments and questions received are public records and are subject to public inspection.

Statutory Authority:  AS 08.01.063; AS 08.72.050; AS 08.72.110; AS 08.72.170; AS 08.72.181; AS 08.72.272
Statutes Being Implemented, Interpreted, or Made Specific:  AS 08.01.063; AS 08.72.050; AS 08.72.110; AS 08.72.170; AS 08.72.181; AS 08.72.272
Fiscal Information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.

DATE: 11/28/14
Jun Maiquis, Regulations Specialist
Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing

For each occupation regulated under the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, the Division keeps a list of individuals or organizations who are interested in the regulations of that occupation.  The Division automatically sends a Notice of Proposed Regulations to the parties on the appropriate list each time there is a proposed change in an occupation's regulations in Title 12 of the Alaska Administrative Code.  If you would like your address added to or removed from such a list, please send your request to the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing at the address above and include your name, address, and the occupational area in which you are interested.

1.   Adopting agency:  Board of Examiners in Optometry – Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing.

2.   General subject of regulation:  Military courtesy license and continuing education requirements.

4.   Department of Law file number:  To be assigned.

5.   Reason for the proposed action:  Update and clarification of current regulations, and compliance with state statute.

6.   Appropriation/Allocation:  Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing – #2360.

7.   Estimated costs in the aggregate to comply with the proposed action to:

      a. Private Persons: The licensure cost is estimated to be $340 (nonrefundable application fee $100 and proposed military courtesy license fee $240)
      b. Other State Agencies: None
      c. Municipalities: None

8.   Cost of implementation to the state agency and available funding (in thousands of dollars):  No costs are expected in FY 2015 or in subsequent years.

9.   The name of the contact person for the regulations:

            Jun Maiquis, Regulations Specialist
            Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing
            Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development
            Telephone: (907) 465-2537
            E-mail: jun.maiquis@alaska.gov

10.   The origin of the proposed action:  Board of Examiners in Optometry.

11.   Date: 11/28/14
Prepared by: Jun Maiquis, Regulations Specialist