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By a vote of 106 - 17, the Connecticut House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed HB 6997. This bill will only delay the implimenation of the Sunset Law affecting opticians until July 1, 2010.  Members can log-in to Optical News for Members Only  for more information

   Millions of Americans have undergone laser eye surgery to correct bad vision, and along with the procedure's popularity something else is coming into focus: its hazards. For the Full Story, Please login to OPTICAL NEWS

The Sunset Law (CGS §§ 2c-1 – 21) was enacted pursuant to the 1976 study of the Committee on the Structure of State Government, known as the Filer Commission, as part of its extensive recommendations. In addition to the reorganization of state government to consolidate over 200 agencies, boards, and commissions into 21 major departments, PA 77-614, § 574 required the Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee to conduct “sunset” evaluations or performance audits of 94 state government entities over a five-year period. The law required PRI to conduct a performance audit to determine “whether there is a public need for the continued existence of an entity or program. ” The committee was authorized to recommend termination, modification, consolidation, or reestablishment of the entities subject to its review.

Under the provisions of the Sunset Law, any reestablished entity was reinstated for five years, when it was to be subject to another sunset review (CGS § 2c-10). The new cycle was scheduled to begin automatically with a July 1, 1985 termination date. However, the Sunset Law has been repeatedly postponed. Since 1985, the Sunset law has been postponed 5 times: 1985, 1990, 19995, 2000, 2003. The current proposal would postpone the law until July 1, 2010.

2007 Proposal

This year, the Program Review and Investigations Committee reported An Act Concerning the Sunset Law (HB 6997, File 100) to the floor. The bill delays for two years the review of all agencies and programs subject to termination under the Sunset Law, moving the first termination date from July 1, 2008 to July 1, 2010. It also requires the committee to study the law, addressing its needs and merits, alternatives, and other methods to measure performance. The committee must report its findings and recommendations by January 15, 2008.

The Board of Examiners for Opticians has been scheduled for termination on July 1, 2008. The Optician's licensing board and twenty-eight other boards and commission have been scheduled for termination on that date as required by the Connecticut Sunset Law, CGS. Chapt 28; Sec. 2c-2b. 

Under the Sunset Law, 78 licensing, regulatory, and other state agencies and programs terminate on set mandates ( during a 3 year period) unless the General Assembly reestablishes them after the Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee conducts a performance audit of each. The committee must review the public need for each entity according to the established criteria and report to the legislature its recommendations for the entity's abolition, reestablishment, modification, or consolidation. 

The Connecticut Opticians Association continues to monitor the progress of the proposal and will certainly keep our members current with its anticipated impact on the Board of Examiners for Opticians. Representatives of the COA continue to speak with legislators and have testified on behalf of all opticians In Connecticut.

The COA needs the support of all optical personal to defend the Board against Sunset. If our licensing Board is deregulated, opticianry in CT will certainly change, or cease to exist.

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