← All South Carolina bills

H4103Introduced in the House

Optometrists

IntroducedHouse Labor, Commerce and Industry

Introduced by Bobby Cox, District 21

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

Writing a plain-English summary of this bill… this can take a few seconds the first time.

Official description

Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Adding Section 40-37-35 So As To Provide The State Board Of Examiners In Optometry May Issue Restricted Volunteer Member Licenses To Optometrists From Other States Who Meet Certain Criteria, And To Provide Requirements For The Supervision, Duration, And Regulation Of Such Licenses, Among Other Things; By Amending Section 40-37-10, Relating To Membership Requirements For The South Carolina Board Of Examiners In Optometry, So As To Provide Additional Membership Requirements; By Amending Section 40-37-20, Relating To Definitions Concerning The Regulation Of Optometrists, So As To Revise The Definitions; By Amending Section 40-37-30, Relating To Licensing Requirements For The Practice Of Optometry, So As To Provide Additional Activities That Constitute The Practice Of Optometry; By Amending Section 40-37-40, Relating To Powers And Duties Of The Board, So As To Provide The Board Shall Require Licensed Optometrists To Meet Educational And Competence Requirements Established By The Board; By Amending Section 40-37-245, Relating To Examination Requirements For Licensure By Endorsement, So As To Allow Examination Equivalents As Determined By The Board; By Amending Section 40-37-290, Relating To The Purchasing, Prescribing, And Administering Pharmaceutical Agents By Optometrists, So As To Revise The Requirements And Limit The Permissible Use Of Such Medications, Among Other Things; By Amending Section 40-37-310, Relating To Referrals For Treatment Of Eye Diseases, So As To Remove Provisions Concerning The Treatment Of Glaucoma And Provision Of Surgery; By Amending Section 40-37-330, Relating To Use Of Optometrists' Services Authorized For Agency And School-required Examinations, So As To Provide Optometrists May Provide Vision Or Eye Care Services At A School If Approved By The Administration Of The Individual School; By Amending Section 40-37-420, Relating To Practice Requirements Concerning Certain Licensees, So As To Delete The Existing Provisions, To Provide Persons Licensed As Optometrists In This State May Continue Practicing Under Certain Requirements Except That Such Persons Licensed Before January 1, 2013, Must Fulfill Credentialing Requirements To Perform Certain Treatments; By Amending Section 38-79-30, Relating To Provisions Limiting Liability For Volunteer Healthcare Providers Under Medical Malpractice Insurance Laws, So As To Remove A Provision Concerning Notice Requirements To Patients, And To Include Optometrists Among The Volunteers Included In These Provisions; By Amending Section 44-30-310, Relating To Immunity From Liability For Free Healthcare Services, So As To Include Volunteer Optometrists; And By Repealing Section 40-37-300 Relating To Establishing Pharmacies Or Selling Pharmaceutical Agents, And Dispensing Contact Lenses.

Where it stands

Recommitted to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry

April 15, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

No recorded vote is available for this bill yet.

Bill history

  1. Introduced and read first time

  2. Referred to Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs

  3. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Bowers, Landing

  4. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Weeks

  5. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Hixon, Bernstein, Beach, Erickson, Vaughan

  6. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Chapman

  7. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Yow

  8. Member(s) request name removed as sponsor: Moss

  9. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Caskey

  10. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Bustos

  11. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Ligon, Wickensimer

  12. Member(s) request name removed as sponsor: Huff

  13. Member(s) request name removed as sponsor: Burns

  14. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: McDaniel

  15. Scrivener's error corrected

  16. Recalled from Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs

  17. Committed to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry

  18. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Rankin

  19. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Waters

  20. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Lastinger

  21. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Grant

  22. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Brewer

  23. Committee report: Favorable with amendment Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs

  24. Scrivener's error corrected

  25. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Gilliard

  26. Recommitted to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry

Verify the information

Our commitment to neutrality

We provide factual information only. We never tell you which politicians or bills to support, and we do not rank, score, or endorse anyone.