Texas Optometry Board:

An Inventory of Optometry Board Records at the Texas State Archives, 1921-2006

Agency History

The Texas Optometry Board regulates the practice of optometry in Texas to ensure that the public is protected from incompetent services, fraud, and misrepresentation. Duties of the Board are to administer examinations, issue licenses, investigate and adjudicate complaints if possible, enforce advertising regulations and limitations, and renew licenses. Licenses are renewed annually, and beginning in 1975, continuing education became a mandatory requirement for license renewals. The Board also makes available to the public information of consumer interest describing the regulatory functions of the Board, procedures for filing complaints, and how complaints are resolved. In 1981, the Board was given the authority to promulgate procedural rules and regulations. In 1991, the Optometry Act was changed to allow for the licensing of therapeutic optometrists, allowing optometrists to treat certain conditions of the eye, remove foreign materials from the eye, and prescribe certain medications.

The Board enforces the standards of conduct of optometrists and investigates complaints. Enforcement actions taken against optometrists include revoking, suspending, or refusing to issue licenses. An Investigative Committee, composed of Board members who are licensed or therapeutic optometrists, conducts the investigations, with the Executive Director supervising the proceedings. Informal conferences are held to determine the outcome of the complaint. Proposed orders re: disciplinary action are then presented to the Board for approval. Cases not resolved in the conferences are referred to the State Office of Administrative Hearings.

The state of Texas began regulating the practice of optometry in 1921, through the creation of the Texas State Board of Examiners in Optometry, Senate Bill 50, 37th Legislature, 2nd Called Session. The board was given the task of regulating, through examination and licensing, optometrists in Texas. The Board was originally composed of five members, later six, all licensed optometrists, appointed by the Governor to six-year overlapping terms.

The Texas Optometry Board was created in 1969 by Senate Bill 781, 61st Legislature, Regular Session, to replace the State Board of Examiners in Optometry. The Optometry Board was initially composed of six members, all licensed optometrists, appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate, to six-year overlapping terms. In 1981, the board was increased to nine members, all appointed by the Governor as previously. Six members must be Texas residents and practicing licensed optometrists for at least five years, three of them affiliated with the Texas Optometric Association, the other three with the Texas Association of Optometrists, Inc. The three remaining members are from the general public. The chair is elected by the Board. As of 2006 the board employed an Executive Director and several administrative and clerical staff. There are no formal divisions.

(Sources include: Guide to Texas State Agencies, various editions and the agency's records.)

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Scope and Contents of the Records

The Texas Optometry Board regulates the practice of optometry in Texas to ensure that the public is protected from incompetent services, fraud, and misrepresentation. The records of the Optometry Board consist of minutes, agenda, meeting files, correspondence, reports, surveys, rules and regulations, and a policies and procedures manual. Minutes are also present for the Texas State Board of Examiners in Optometry, predecessor to the Optometry Board. Dates covered are 1921-2006. Topics covered in these files include issuing licenses, conducting examinations, handling complaints, continuing education issues, and rule changes.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

None.

Restrictions on Use

Most records created by Texas state agencies are not copyrighted and may be freely used in any way. State records also include materials received by, not created by, state agencies. Copyright remains with the creator. The researcher is responsible for complying with U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.)

Technical Requirements

None.

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Related Material

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item and cite the series), Texas Optometry Board records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession numbers: 1996/070, 1997/031, 1997/032, 1998/018, 1999/005, 2000/014, 2001/045, 2002/126, 2003/016, 2004/112, 2005/033, 2005/113, 2006/045, 2006/062

These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Texas Optometry Board on March 1, and October 27, 1996; October 7, 1997; September 20, 1998; September 16, 1999; October 19, 2000; April 11 and September 24, 2002; and March 12, 2004; February 25 and November 4, 2005; and by the Texas Legislative Reference Library on September 29, 2004 and November 8, 2005.

Processing Information

Laura Saegert, March 1997, October 1997, August 1998, October 1999, December 2000, December 2001, September 2004, October 2006

Appraisal Information

These records were appraised by the State Archives staff as archival on April 22, 1996 as part of an agency-wide appraisal of the Texas Optometry Board. For more information about the appraisal of the Texas Optometry Board records, see the appraisal report by State Archives staff on file in the search room of the Archives and Information Services Division. It can also be found on the website of the Texas State Library at http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/arc/appraisal/optometry.html

Accruals

Minutes and agenda are sent to the State Archives two to three times a year.

Location of Originals

Original minutes are located at the Texas Optometry Board.

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Detailed Description of the Records

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