H-3902.2 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 2804
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State of Washington 55th Legislature 1998 Regular Session
By Representatives Chandler and Zellinsky
Read first time 01/20/98. Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Ecology.
AN ACT Relating to the ownership of veterinary medical facilities by animal care and control agencies and nonprofit humane societies; amending RCW 18.92.010; and adding a new section to chapter 16.52 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 16.52 RCW to read as follows:
Animal care and control agencies as defined in RCW 16.52.011 and nonprofit humane societies, that have qualified under 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code, and that employ veterinarians may own and operate veterinary medical facilities. Veterinarians employed at these facilities must be licensed under chapter 18.92 RCW. No officer, director, supervisor, or any other individual associated with an animal care and control agency or nonprofit humane society owning and operating a veterinary medical facility may impose any terms or conditions of employment or attempt to direct an employed veterinarian in any way that interferes with the free exercise of the veterinarian's professional judgment or infringes upon the utilization of his or her professional skills.
Sec. 2. RCW 18.92.010 and 1995 c 317 s 1 are each amended to read s follows:
Any person shall be regarded as practicing veterinary medicine, surgery and dentistry within the meaning of this chapter who shall, within this state, (1) by advertisement, or by any notice, sign, or other indication, or by a statement written, printed or oral, in public or private, made, done, or procured by himself or herself, or any other, at his or her request, for him or her, represent, claim, announce, make known or pretend his or her ability or willingness to diagnose or prognose or treat diseases, deformities, defects, wounds, or injuries of animals; (2) or who shall so advertise, make known, represent or claim his or her ability and willingness to prescribe or administer any drug, medicine, treatment, method or practice, or to perform any operation, manipulation, or apply any apparatus or appliance for cure, amelioration, correction or reduction or modification of any animal disease, deformity, defect, wound or injury, for hire, fee, compensation, or reward, promised, offered, expected, received, or accepted directly or indirectly; (3) or who shall within this state diagnose or prognose any animal diseases, deformities, defects, wounds or injuries, for hire, fee, reward, or compensation promised, offered, expected, received, or accepted directly or indirectly; (4) or who shall within this state prescribe or administer any drug, medicine, treatment, method or practice, or perform any operation, or manipulation, or apply any apparatus or appliance for the cure, amelioration, alleviation, correction, or modification of any animal disease, deformity, defect, wound, or injury, for hire, fee, compensation, or reward, promised, offered, expected, received or accepted directly or indirectly; (5) or who performs any manual procedure for the diagnosis of pregnancy, sterility, or infertility upon livestock; (6) or who implants any electronic device for the purpose of establishing or maintaining positive identification of animals.
Except as set forth under section 1 of this act, the opening of an office or place of business for the practice of veterinary medicine, the use of a sign, card, device or advertisement as a practitioner of veterinary medicine or as a person skilled in such practice shall be prima facie evidence of engaging in the practice of veterinary medicine, surgery and dentistry.
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