Latest News California Governor Signs Law Transforming Relationships Among ODs, Opticians, Optical and MVC Companies By Staff Monday, October 5, 2015 12:30 AM SACRAMENTO, Calif.—Last week, California Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 684 into law on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015, paving the way for more flexibility in relationships among optometrists, opticians, optical companies and managed vision care plans. Prior to the law, licensed optometrists in California could not have a profit-sharing relationship with registered dispensing opticians (RDOs) or optical companies that sold eyeglasses and contact lenses in California. The new law, which goes into effect starting Jan. 1, 2016, will allow optometrists to co-locate with companies that dispense eyeglasses and contact lenses in California. Other provisions of the law include transferring the regulation of RDOs from the Medical Board of California to the California State Board of Optometry, replacing an optometrist with an RDO on the state board, establishing an RDO advisory committee, and establishing a three-year period for the transition of direct employment of optometrists to leasing arrangements. In addition, the new law will allow ownership of a health plan by an optical company or by an RDO.VMail last reported on the bill on Sept. 14. 2015, it’s background and the fact that the California legislature approved the law on Sept. 11, 2015, sending it to the Governor for his signature. For additional background on the new law, see the announcement from the California Optometric Association and the blog post by Kathleen “Kitty” Juniper, Esq. of Buchalter Nemer, P.C., both of whom participated in drafting the bill.