The California State Board of Optometry's top concern is keeping the public safe when it comes to giving out, regulating, and disciplining optometry licenses. If keeping the public safe ever conflicts with other goals, the public's safety must come first.

The California State Board of Optometry, part of the Department of Consumer Affairs, is responsible for enforcing optometry laws. It has 11 members, including five from the public and one who is a registered dispensing optician. Six members are needed for decisions. The board can investigate, discipline, and uphold previous decisions regarding optometry practices. This authority lasts until January 1, 2026, after which the board's future will be reviewed by legislative committees.

This section outlines who can be a member of the optometry board. Most members must be registered optometrists practicing in California or part of an optometry school faculty. Public members can’t be licensed optometrists or part of any board related to optometry, nor can they have any financial interest in optical businesses. A person can't serve more than two consecutive terms. No more than two faculty members can serve on the board at one time, and faculty members can't act as public members. Also, changes to these rules apply to appointments made from January 1, 2016, onward.

This section describes how board members are appointed, their terms, and how vacancies are filled. Board members serve for four-year terms, but some initial appointments have different term lengths. The Governor appoints several members, and additional members are appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules and the Speaker of the Assembly. Specific provisions govern appointments made after January 1, 2003, and January 1, 2016, including the replacement of certain members with a registered dispensing optician, spectacle lens dispenser, or contact lens dispenser.

This law section states that the board must choose a president, a vice president, and a secretary from among its members. These officers will serve for one year or until new officers are elected and qualified to take over.

The board can choose someone to be an executive officer who is not part of the usual government employment system. This officer will have the powers and responsibilities given by the board. However, this rule is only valid until January 1, 2026, after which it will no longer be in effect.

Members of the board are entitled to daily payments and reimbursement for expenses under Section 103.

This law states that the board must have regular meetings four times a year, once every three months. Additionally, special meetings can be called if most board members ask for one, or if the president decides to call one.

The board is required to maintain detailed records of all its professionals who hold licenses, as well as its actions and meetings.

This law establishes a committee under the California State Board of Optometry to oversee the practice of dispensing opticians, spectacle lens dispensers, and contact lens dispensers. The committee has five members, including opticians and public representatives. It's tasked with advising on registration standards, reviewing disciplinary guidelines, and suggesting regulation changes. They meet at least twice a year, and their recommendations on practice changes must be decided on by the board within 90 days. The appointment of committee members involves both the board and the Governor, with members serving four-year terms but not exceeding two consecutive terms.

This law gives the California State Board of Optometry the power to make rules related to certain medical practices. Any existing regulations previously adopted by the Medical Board of California will still be valid, but any reference to the old board should now be understood to mean the California State Board of Optometry, unless it obviously applies to something else.

This law states that a specific board is responsible for accrediting schools, colleges, and universities, whether located inside or outside California, if they offer adequate educational programs to train optometrists.

This law transfers the responsibility for programs related to nonresident contact lens sellers and various lens dispensing programs from the Medical Board of California to the State Board of Optometry. The change includes the transfer of all duties, powers, and responsibilities. Additionally, the State Board of Optometry will take control over all records, equipment, and other materials previously managed by the Medical Board of California for these programs.

The board can decide whether to give or take away an optometry license. They can also hold hearings and swear in people to give testimony about these decisions.

This law allows a board to create rules about how it operates, how people apply and are tested for an optometry license, and how the profession is practiced. These rules must fit within the existing laws and can be changed by following a specific legal process.

This law allows the board overseeing optometrists to create rules to make sure these professionals are well-trained to protect public health and safety. These rules can cover how schools that teach optometry get accredited. The board can also choose to follow guidance from respected national accrediting agencies when setting these standards.

This law allows the board to create rules about the basic standards needed for optometry services and office conditions. These rules ensure that people getting eye care services are kept safe and healthy.

This law allows the board to create rules about how much training and supervision assistants need.

This law states that, unless specified in other sections (3102 and 3103), a board cannot create or change rules about setting prices or how commodities are advertised, according to Section 651.3.

This law allows the board to have an official seal and set up permanent office locations.

This section states that a board must hire an executive officer and other help as needed to implement the rules in this chapter. The executive officer will carry out tasks assigned by the board and report back to them. The executive officer can't be a board member. The board, with the Finance Director's approval, decides the executive officer's salary. The executive officer can be reimbursed for travel and other necessary expenses while doing their job.

This law states that the Attorney General will serve as the lawyer for the board, and the board is responsible for paying for these legal services.

The board in charge of optometry can inspect places where optometry services, such as eye exams and treatments, or services related to contact lenses and glasses, are being offered or thought to be offered. However, this authority does not extend to medical practices.