Brief Description: Changing veterinary technician credentialing to licensure.

Sponsors: By Representatives Haigh, Kretz, Wallace, Walsh, Cody, Strow, Hinkle, Pettigrew, Priest and Dunn.

House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources
Senate Committee on Agriculture & Rural Economic Development

Background:

A veterinary technician is a person who has: successfully completed an examination administered by the state Veterinary Board of Governors (Board), and either (1) completed a post high school course approved by the Board in the care and treatment of animals, or (2) had five years of practical experience, acceptable to the Board, with a licensed veterinarian. Veterinary technicians are registered under the Veterinary Medicine statutes. The Board has six members. Five are licensed veterinarians and one is a lay member. All are appointed by the Governor.

House Bill 1511, introduced during the 2005 legislative session, proposed several changes in the training and credentialing of veterinary technicians, including removing the option of obtaining registration based on five years of experience. The Legislature requested that the Department of Health conduct a "Sunrise Review" on House Bill 1511 in accordance with statutes that limit the circumstances under which a health care profession may be regulated. Under the Sunrise Review process, if regulation is found necessary, the Legislature may consider five regulatory categories, and should select the one that is least restrictive and most consistent with the public interest: (1) stricter civil actions and criminal prosecutions, (2) inspection requirements, (3) registration, (4) certification, or (5) licensure. After undertaking the Sunrise Review on House Bill 1511, the Department of Health issued its recommendations in January 2006.

Summary:

The state Veterinary Board of Governors (Board) must issue a veterinary technician license to a person who has passed a Board-administered examination and has either: (1) completed a post-high school, Board-approved course in animal care and treatment; or (2) had five years of practical experience, acceptable to the Board, with a licensed veterinarian.

The Board is given rule-making authority to identify: (1) experiential requirements for prospective technicians who are following the five year option, and (2) the requirements for the supervising veterinarian's attestation of completion of training and practical experience. The Board is authorized to adopt rules including standards for performance and for continuing education.

The Board is increased from six to seven members, one of whom must be a licensed, employed veterinary technician trained in both small and large animal medicine who is a state resident and U.S. citizen. This member will also be appointed by the Governor but will not vote in Board decisions involving discipline of a veterinarian with respect to standard of care.
Several existing statutory references to "registration" are amended to refer to "licensing."

Votes on Final Passage:

House   97   0
Senate   48   0   (Senate amended)
House   95   0   (House concurred)

Effective: July 22, 2007