Texas Occupations Code
§ 351.408 — CONTROL OF OPTOMETRY
OC § 351.408Title 3. HEALTH PROFESSIONS · Part F. PROFESSIONS RELATED TO EYES AND VISION · Ch. 351. OPTOMETRISTS AND THERAPEUTIC OPTOMETRISTS · Art. I. PROHIBITED PRACTICES IN GENERAL
Statute text
View on source(a)This section and Sections 351.602(c)(2), 351.603(b), 351.604(3), and 351.605 shall be liberally construed to prevent manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers of ophthalmic goods from controlling or attempting to control the professional judgment, manner of practice, or practice of an optometrist or therapeutic optometrist.
(b)In this section, "control or attempt to control the professional judgment, manner of practice, or practice of an optometrist or therapeutic optometrist" includes:
(1)setting or attempting to influence the professional fees or office hours of an optometrist or therapeutic optometrist;
(2)restricting or attempting to restrict an optometrist's or therapeutic optometrist's freedom to see a patient by appointment;
(3)terminating or threatening to terminate an agreement, including a lease, or other relationship in an attempt to control the professional judgment, manner of practice, or practice of an optometrist or therapeutic optometrist;
(4)providing, hiring, or sharing employees, business services, or similar items to or with an optometrist or therapeutic optometrist; and
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Legislative history
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.