Sec. 74.001.  DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:
(1)  "Business support services" means business, management, consulting, or administrative services, facilities, or staff provided for an optometrist or an entity that employs or contracts with an optometrist to provide services or products, including:
(A)  office space, furnishings, equipment, supplies, or inventory;
(B)  staff employed by a vision support organization;
(C)  regulatory compliance;
(D)  eye care equipment, supplies, or products;
(E)  information systems;
(F)  marketing or advertising;
(G)  financial services;
(H)  accounting, bookkeeping, or monitoring of accounts receivable;
(I)  payroll or benefits administration;
(J)  billing and collection for services and products;
(K)  reporting and payment of federal or state taxes;
(L)  administration of interest expense or indebtedness incurred to finance the operation of a business;
(M)  insurance services; or
(N)  group purchasing services.
(2)  "Optometrist" means an individual optometrist or therapeutic optometrist licensed to practice optometry in this state.
(3)  "Vision support organization" means an entity that, under one or more agreements, provides two or more business support services to an optometrist.
Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 274 (S.B. 820), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023.