S-2013.1  _______________________________________________

                    SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5657

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Commerce, Trade, Housing & Financial Institutions (originally sponsored by Senators Kohl‑Welles, Jacobsen and Fairley)

Read first time 03/03/99.

Operating veterinary medical facilities.

    AN ACT Relating to providing limited veterinary medical services by animal care and control agencies and nonprofit humane societies; adding new sections to chapter 18.92 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 18.92 RCW to read as follows:

    The legislature finds that overpopulation of pets is a continuing problem in this state.  The legislature further finds that providing low-income pet owners enhanced access to sterilization, vaccination, and electronic identification device implantation would help solve this problem.  The legislature further finds that the integrity of the veterinary licensing program must be maintained to ensure the delivery of safe, high quality veterinary medical services.

    It is the intent of this act to authorize appropriate agencies to offer low-income pet owners certain limited veterinary medical services performed by licensed providers, while maintaining current veterinary licensure requirements.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 18.92 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) It is not a violation of this chapter for an animal care and control agency as defined in RCW 16.52.011, or a bona fide nonprofit humane society that has obtained certification under section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code, to provide the following procedures on animals owned by others, as further limited by this section:

    (a) Surgical and nonsurgical sterilization;

    (b) Inoculation against disease; and

    (c) Implanting of an electronic device for identifying animals.

    (2) To receive services authorized by this section, an animal owner must qualify as a low-income household as defined by RCW 43.185A.010.

    (3) Services and procedures authorized by this section must be performed by a veterinarian licensed under this chapter, or an animal technician or veterinary medication clerk acting under the direction and supervision of a licensed veterinarian.

    (4) It is a violation of this chapter for an animal care and control agency as defined in RCW 16.52.011, or a bona fide nonprofit humane society that has obtained certification under section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code, to provide procedures on animals owned by others, other than those procedures set forth in this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  The department of health shall adopt rules necessary for the implementation of this act, including the qualification of a humane society to provide services under this act, and the method for determining the income level of owners of animals receiving services under this act.

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