Revision: April 28, 2026, 9:36 a.m.
Senate Executive Departments and Administration
April 22, 2026
2026-1637s
09/05
Amendment to HB 1312
Amend the bill by replacing all after section 1 with the following:
2 Optometry; Definitions. Amend RSA 327:1, III(c)-(m) to read as follows:
(c) Miotic agents [approved pursuant to RSA 327:6-a, VI].
(d) Antibiotics, [sulfonomides] sulfonamides, and combinations thereof, which are topically applied or orally administered to treat or alleviate the effects of disease or abnormal conditions of the human eye, adnexa, and eyelids, or structures posterior to the iris[, approved pursuant to RSA 327:6-a, VI].
(e) Anti-allergy medications, including but not limited to antihistamines, decongestants, and mast-cell stabilizers which are topically applied.
(f) Anesthetics and dyes which are topically applied.
(g) Ocular lubricants and hypertonic agents which are topically applied.
(h) Orally administered analgesic agents used for the purpose of alleviating pain caused by a disease or abnormal condition of the human eye or eyelid, or structures posterior to the iris. This may include class III and IV controlled substances [approved pursuant to RSA 327:6-a, VI and included in the formulary].
(i) Other pharmaceutical agents, any solely diagnostic agents, and diagnostic agents combined with pharmaceutical agents as defined in this paragraph and included in the formulary [as approved] pursuant to RSA 327:6-a, VI.
(j) Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents [approved pursuant to RSA 327:6-a, VI].
(k) Anti-glaucoma agents provided that an optometrist may dispense or prescribe such agents if the optometrist has met the requirements of RSA 327:6-c.
(l) Corticosteroids which are topically applied[, as approved by the board].
(m) Antivirals [which are approved pursuant to RSA 327:6-a, VI].
3 Optometry; Authorization for Pharmaceutical Agents. Amend RSA 327:6-a, VI to read as follows:
VI. [To the extent approval of pharmaceuticals is referenced in RSA 327:1, III,] The board shall have the authority to review and [approve pharmaceuticals] update the formulary for pharmaceutical agents as described in RSA 327:1, III(i) for use by optometrists certified to use pharmaceutical agents in the practice of optometry.
4 Office of Professional Licensure and Certification; Rulemaking Authority. Amend RSA 310:6, II to read as follows:
II. Such organizational and procedural rules necessary to administer the boards in the office, including rules governing the administration of complaints and investigations, hearings, disciplinary and non-disciplinary proceedings, manufactured housing dispute resolution, inspections, payment processing procedures, board subcommittees, and application procedures. For purposes of this paragraph, "manufactured housing dispute resolution" means a program for the timely resolution of disputes between manufacturers, retailers, and installers of manufactured homes, including the issuance of appropriate orders, regarding responsibility for the correction or repair of defects in manufactured homes for defects that are reported during the one-year period beginning on the date of installation.
5 Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy; Rulemaking Authority. Amend RSA 328-J:7, XII to read as follows:
XII. Standards for educational [program approval by the executive director] programs which shall be no less stringent than the standards approved by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, Joint Review Committee on Education in Nuclear Medicine Technology, or Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
6 New Paragraph; Family Mediators; Definitions. Amend RSA 328-C:2 by inserting after paragraph VI the following new paragraph:
VI-a. "Office" or "OPLC" means the office of professional licensure and certification.
7 Family Mediators; Board. Amend RSA 328-C:4, I(d) to read as follows:
(d) Three certified family mediators, [nominated by the New Hampshire Conflict Resolution Association and] appointed by the governor with the consent of the council.
8 Family Mediators; Board. Amend RSA 328-C:4, III to read as follows:
III.(a) The board shall hold 6 regular meetings each year, [one each in January, March, May, June or July or August, September, and November,] and special meetings at such times as it may deem necessary. Annually, in January, the board shall establish a time of day and day of the month for the regular meetings.
(b) [If a regular meeting cannot occur on the designated day because of a lack of a quorum, weather conditions, or an emergency, it shall be rescheduled within the specified month.
(c)] A quorum shall be [3] a majority of the members currently serving on the board.
9 Family Mediators; Qualifications. Amend RSA 328-C:5, VI-VII to read as follows:
VI. Certification of a mediator or a mediator training program shall be valid for [3] 2 years from the date of issuance, and shall expire [3] 2 years from the date of issuance, unless renewed pursuant to RSA 310:8 and rules adopted by the board pursuant to RSA 541-A.
VII. If timely and sufficient application has been made in accordance with [board rules for renewal of certification] RSA 310:8, III, the existing certification shall not expire until the [board] office has taken final action on the application for renewal. If the application is either untimely or insufficient, [it] the license shall [lapse] expire and be subject to reinstatement in accordance with RSA 310:8 and rules adopted by the board pursuant to RSA 541-A.
10 Family Mediators; Confidentiality of Information. Amend the introductory paragraph of RSA 328-C:5-a, I to read as follows:
I. Unless waived by the person to whom the information pertains, the following information relative to certified family mediators, applicants for certification, qualified interns, and formerly certified family mediators which may be in the possession of the office or the board shall be confidential and shall not be subject to disclosure, except as provided in paragraph II, absent an order of the court:
11 Family Mediators; Continuing Education. Amend RSA 328-C:6 to read as follows:
328-C:6 Continuing Education. To renew a certification, each family mediator shall provide evidence of attendance within the last [3] 2 years of at least [24] 16 hours of continuing education approved by the board. A certified family mediator training program seeking renewal shall provide evidence that it has met any reporting requirements established under RSA 328-C:4-a and that each of the family mediators associated with the program has met the annual continuing education requirements.
12 Repeal. The following are repealed:
I. RSA 309-B:4, VI(h), relative to board of accountancy rulemaking on administrative fines.
II. RSA 328-J:8, relative to medical imaging and radiation therapy educational programs.
III. RSA 328-C:4-a, I, relative to compiling and maintaining a public list of certified family mediators and certified family training programs.
13 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
2026-1637s
AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill:
I. Authorizes boards under the purview of the office of professional licensure and certification to establish subcommittees, subject to rules established by the office.
II. Removes the authority of the board of registration in optometry to modify the list of approved pharmaceuticals for use by optometrists, except to update the formulary for pharmaceutical agents.
III. Moves the approval of medical imaging and radiation therapy educational programs to the rulemaking authority of the executive director of the office of professional licensure and certification, in consultation with the advisory board of medical imaging and radiation therapy.
IV. Modifies the duties of the board of family mediator certification and reallocates certain authority to the office of professional licensure and certification.
V. Removes the authority of the board of accountancy to establish administrative fines by rule.