§ 12-275-109 — Volunteer optometrist license

(1) A person licensed to
practice optometry pursuant to this article 275 may apply to the board for
volunteer licensure status. The board shall designate the form and manner of the
application. The board may:

(a) Grant the application by issuing a volunteer license; or

(b) Deny the application if the licensee has been disciplined for any of the
causes set forth in section 12-275-120.

(2) A person applying for a license under this section:

(a) Must either:

(I) Hold an active and unrestricted license to practice optometry in Colorado
and be in active practice in this state; or

(II) Have been on inactive status pursuant to section 12-20-203 for not more
than two years; and

(b) Shall:

(I) Pay a reduced license fee in lieu of the fee authorized by section 12-20-105. The director shall reduce the volunteer optometrist license fee from the
license fee charged pursuant to sections 12-20-202 and 12-275-115 (1).

(II) Attest that, after a date certain, the applicant will no longer earn income
as an optometrist;

(III) Maintain liability insurance as provided in section 12-275-128; and

(IV) Comply with the continuing education requirements established in
section 12-275-115 (3); except that the board may establish lesser continuing
education requirements for volunteer licensees.

(3) The face of each volunteer license issued pursuant to this section shall
plainly indicate the volunteer status of the licensee.

(4) The board may conduct disciplinary proceedings pursuant to section 12-275-122 against any person licensed under this section for an act committed while
the person was licensed pursuant to this section.

(5) A person licensed under this section may apply to the board for a return
to active licensure status by filing an application in the form and manner
designated by the board. The board may approve the application and issue a license
to practice optometry or may deny the application if the licensee has been
disciplined for or engaged in any of the activities set forth in section 12-275-120.

(6) An optometrist with a volunteer license shall provide optometry services
only if the services are performed on a limited basis for no fee or other
compensation.

Legislative History

Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 1415, � 1, effective October 1.