No licensed optometrist shall practice his profession as an employee of any unlicensed person, firm or corporation, provided that said prohibition shall not apply to health service organizations, hospitals, other optometrists or ophthalmologists. Nothing herein contained shall prohibit any registered optometrist or optometrists from continuing his employment in the mercantile establishment in which he or they were employed on June 28, 1963. No rule of the board shall prohibit the practice of optometry on a lessee or sublessee basis in or on the premises of a retail, commercial or mercantile establishment.
(1963, P.A. 429; P.A. 80-484, S. 165, 176.)
History: P.A. 80-484 replaced previous prohibitions against practicing as lessee or sublessee in mercantile establishment, against practicing on behalf of unlicensed person and against unlicensed persons practicing optometry with prohibition against practicing as employee of unlicensed person, firm or corporation and specifically allowed practice of optometry on lessee or sublessee basis on premises of retail, commercial or mercantile establishment.
Prior to statute, court, in considering Sec. 20-133, held legislature did not intend that corporation or other unlicensed person could not employ licensed optometrist at fixed salary to render optometrical services to persons whose obligation to pay for services would run to corporation. 150 C. 290.