/ Bill sponsor Sen. Manny Diaz Jr. promised he would make changes as it maneuvers through the legislative session. Amid heavy opposition from physicians, the Senate Health Policy Committee approved a bill that would authorize optometrists to perform some laser surgeries and prescribe opioids. Jump-starting an annual tug-of-war over who can treat patients, a Senate panel has approved a bill that would authorize optometrists to perform some laser surgeries and prescribe opioids for patients. The vote, however, came amid heavy opposition from physicians and suggestions from some Republican lawmakers that they were only voting for the bill out of deference to bill sponsor Manny Diaz Jr., a Hialeah Republican who is chairman of the Senate Health Policy Committee.