Victorian Numbered Acts Victorian Numbered Acts(1) For section 38(2) of the Optometrists Registration Act 1996 substitute —
"(2) If—
(a) the Board is unable to appoint a panel because there are not enough members available to sit on it; or
(b) the Board is of the opinion that a person with special expertise is required for the hearing—
the President or, in the absence of the President, the Deputy President may fill the vacant positions on the panel by appointing persons who are not members of the Board from a list of persons approved by the Governor in Council under sub-section (2A).
(2A) The Governor in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister, may approve persons who are not members of the Board to be available to be appointed to a panel under sub-section (2).".
(2) For section 45(2) of the Optometrists Registration Act 1996 substitute —
"(2) If—
(a) the Board is unable to appoint a panel because there are not enough members available to sit on it; or
(b) the Board is of the opinion that a person with special expertise is required for the hearing—
the President or, in the absence of the President, the Deputy President may fill the vacant positions on the panel by appointing persons who are not members of the Board from a list of persons approved by the Governor in Council under sub-section (2A).
(2A) The Governor in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister, may approve persons who are not members of the Board to be available to be appointed to a panel under sub-section (2).".
(3) After section 66(1)(e) of the Optometrists Registration Act 1996 insert —
"(ea) to issue and publish guidelines about the minimum terms and conditions of professional indemnity insurance for registered optometrists;".
(4) After section 68(3) of the Optometrists Registration Act 1996 insert —
"(4) Despite sub-section (1) and anything to the contrary in the member's instrument of appointment, a member may, with the consent of the Minister, continue to hold office at the end of his or her appointment for a period not exceeding 3 months to enable the vacancy in the member's office to be filled.".