SB 875 (Helton/Hilliard): Requires out-of-state pharmaceutical suppliers who provide controlled dangerous substances to individuals to obtain a registration from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control. This law specifically excludes from this requirement wholesale distributors who ship to pharmacies or other registered entities.

SB 1069 (Robinson/Settle): Allows a physician assistant under the supervision and direction of a licensed physician to prescribe medical supplies and drugs that are on the Physician Assistant Drug Formulary -- including certain controlled medications if the physician assistant is registered pursuant to the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Act. The bill prohibits physician assistants from dispensing drugs but allows them to request, receive, and sign for professional samples and distribute the samples to patients. SB 1069 also adds ambulatory surgical centers or other settings authorized by a supervising physician to the definition of "patient care setting" as that term is used in the Oklahoma Pharmacy Act.

SB 1157 (Hendrick/Cox): Makes it possible for an insurance adjuster trainee who fails the regular licensing examination to continue working under the trainee license until a second attempt at the examination (if taken within 30 days) and until the results of the second examination are known.

SB 1192 (Morgan/Wells): States that the practice of optometry includes laser surgery procedures, excluding retina, laser in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK), and cosmetic lid surgery. Optometrists wishing to perform laser surgery procedures must be certified to do so by the Board of Examiners in Optometry. The bill states that only the Board of Examiners in Optometry can say what constitutes the practice of optometry.

SB 1233 (Leftwich/Paulk): Relates to licensing of companies in the alarm system business. Expands the definition of "alarm industry" to include both the maintenance and inspection of alarm systems, but exempts inspections of one-and two-family dwellings.

SB 1236 (Muegge/Wells): Grants authority to, and makes it the duty of, investigators for the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners to inspect the records of licensees with regard to compliance with narcotics and dangerous drug laws and regulations. The bill also affirms that investigators who are certified peace officers have statewide jurisdiction and the powers of peace officers. SB 1236 also adds to the Oklahoma Veterinary Practice Act a definition for the term "ECFVG certificate," which relates to recognition of veterinary training in foreign countries.

SB 1310 (Fisher/Askins): Makes the academic preparation required prior to application for a CPA certificate more prescriptive effective July 1, 2003. On that date, the academic requirement, previously a bachelor's degree with an accounting major including 30 hours of accounting and 18 from a specified list of related fields, is increased to a 156-hour program (which includes a bachelor's degree) of which a minimum of 76 hours must be at the upper division (junior or senior) level or graduate level and of which 36 hours must be in upper division or graduate accounting courses and 9 chosen from upper division or graduate courses from a specified list of related fields.

SB 1359 (Maddox/Boyd, Laura): Allows, in response to a disaster, out-of-state psychologists to be exempt from provisions of the Psychologists Licensing Act if they are rendering services in cooperation with the American Red Cross or as members of the Disaster Response Network of the American Psychological Association. The Oklahoma State Board of Examiners of Psychologists must be notified in advance of the rendering of the services. The bill also authorizes the Board to issue a license to a person who holds a current Certificate of Professional Qualification in Psychology from the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards.

HB 2443 (Vaughn/Williamson): Adds the practice of professional counseling as duly performed by licensed persons and the practice of marital and family therapy as duly performed by licensed persons to those professional services which are covered by the Professional Entity Act as found in Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes (Corporations).

HB 2563 (Bastin/Herbert): Makes a number of modifications to the Oklahoma Real Estate Code. Mainly, the bill clarifies that the term "real estate" applies to condos, time-shares, and cooperatives; defines a "broker associate" as a licensed broker who does for another broker whatever brokers do; and excludes people who recommend property for lease to a family member, friend, or coworker from licensure requirements if the resident referral fee received does not exceed $50.

HB 2917 (Lindley/Leftwich): Changes the Board of Chiropractic Examiners' renewal license fee for chiropractors from $150 to $125. Also allows chiropractors to sign public health certificates as do MD's and DO's, including statements exempting children from immunizations otherwise required.

HB 3244 (Staggs/Robinson): Makes several changes to the act regulating the practice of speech-language pathology and audiology services, mainly clarifying differences between the two kinds of practice and revising educational requirements for speech-language pathology to meet or exceed national standards. The act restates the powers and duties of the regulatory Board (now called the Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology), which is given authority to modify fees, require continuing education of licensees, and impose administrative fines not to exceed $10,000.

OTHER MEASURES: The following enacted measures made minor changes in regulation of certain professions:

SB 448 (Robinson/Stanley): State Dental Act

HB 2279 (Stanley/Morgan): Licensed Professional Counselor Act and Marital and Family Therapist Licensure Act

HB 2405 (Toure/Morgan): State Architectural Act