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Bill

SB 352

Board of Optometry rule relating to schedule of fees

2026 Regular Session

Allows West Virginia's Board of Optometry to set and adjust licensing fees administratively rather than requiring legislative approval for each change.

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Bill Summary · SB 352

Legislative bill overview

SB 352 authorizes the West Virginia Board of Optometry to establish and modify a schedule of fees for optometry licensing, renewal, and related services without requiring legislative approval each time fees change. This allows the Board to adjust fees administratively while remaining subject to existing rulemaking procedures and public notice requirements.

Why is this important

Fee-setting authority affects how much optometrists pay to practice, which can indirectly influence eye care accessibility and costs for consumers. Streamlining fee adjustments prevents regulatory lags where fees become outdated relative to operational costs, but it also reduces direct legislative oversight of what practitioners must pay.

Potential points of contention

  • Regulatory oversight reduction: Transferring fee-setting from legislature to agency reduces direct democratic input on how much practitioners must pay to operate
  • Consumer impact clarity: Unclear whether fee increases could be passed to patients through higher eye exam and service costs
  • Scope of rate-setting discretion: Depends on whether the bill establishes limits, caps, or benchmarks for how much the Board can increase fees

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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