UPDATE: This proposal has been scheduled for public hearing before the Connecticut General Assembly, Public Health Committee on Monday March 21. The ZOOM Hearing starts at 9:00AM. Your written or verbal testimony is essential. Contact the COA at CTOpt@aol.com
S.B No. 329 has been put on the calendar of the Public Health Committee of the Connecticut Legislature. If passed, the proposal drafted by Warby Parker will change the way opticianry is practiced in Connecticut.
Founded in 2010, Warby-Parker began operating exclusively as an online retailer of prescription eyewear and sunglasses. In 2013, they opened their first brick-and-mortar store. Headquartered in New York City, they currently have three physical stores in Connecticut located in Farmington, New Haven, and Norwalk.
Claiming a shortage of opticians to meet the needs of some stores to maintain business hours 7 days a week, the proposed legislation would allow, that in the event of reasonably unanticipated circumstances, an optical establishment could, for a period of time, remain open during regular business hours without the supervision of a licensed optician.
Unanticipated circumstances would include but not be limited to the licensed optician's illness, injury, family emergency, termination or resignation from the optical establishment. The language would allow that an optical establishment could remain open, without licensed supervision, as long as reasonable action was taken to have another licensed optician present at the establishment during regular business hours. The period of time to remain open and what constitutes reasonable action is not defined.
The proposal also includes a requirement that an optical department in any establishment, office or store that displays optical glasses, kindred products or other instruments to aid vision for purchase online, be required to obtain an optical selling permit.
Members of the C.O.A. Board of Directors and our lobbyist, and representatives from Warby Parker and its lobbyists, have met with State representative Johnathan Steinberg. Representative Steinberg (D) from the 136th district of Westport serves as House Chair of the Legislature’s Public Health Committee. The committee will soon conduct a public hearing on this proposal.
The Connecticut Opticians Association is concerned about the impact this proposal will have on the welfare and safety of Connecticut consumers. The COA is opposed to the passage of this bill.
Your COA has been, and will continue to be, diligent in following the progress of this legislation. We will notify you when a date is set for the public hearing on the proposal.
Anyone who is interested in testifying before the committee should contact the Connecticut Opticians Association, Executive Director at CTOpt@aol.com. Be sure to include your phone, your home address and your business address.