65-1522. Professional corporations, limited liability company, associations, sole practitioners; practice locations, franchise agreements. (a) A licensee may practice optometry under the name of a professional corporation, authorized by K.S.A. 17-2706, and amendments thereto, or a limited liability company authorized by K.S.A. 17-7668, and amendments thereto. Such professional corporate name or limited liability company name may contain a trade name or assumed name approved by the board.

(b) A licensee may practice as a sole practitioner or may associate with other licensees or health care providers licensed under the laws of the state of Kansas and may practice optometry as a sole practitioner or in such associations under a trade or assumed name approved by the board.

(c) A licensee may practice in a medical facility, medical care facility or a governmental institution or agency.

(d) A licensee shall not be limited in the number of locations from which the licensee may engage in the practice of optometry pursuant to subsections (a), (b) and (c).

(e) In all office locations a licensee shall:

(1) Provide adequate staff during the hours of its operation and shall provide the necessary optometric equipment to enable a licensee to provide adequate optometric care on the premises; and

(2) provide that there shall be present at the office location a person licensed by optometry law when optometric practice acts requiring a license are performed at the office location.

(f) Nothing herein contained shall be construed to permit the franchised practice of optometry except that a licensee may purchase a franchise to engage in the business of optical dispensing separate and apart from any of the licensee's offices for the practice of optometry so long as the terms of the franchise agreement do not violate the optometry law.

History: L. 1990, ch. 223, § 18; L. 1996, ch. 95, § 6; L. 1999, ch. 23, § 7; L. 1999, ch. 152, § 1; Jan. 1, 2000.