S-1290.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6037

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

By Senators Prentice, Kohl‑Welles and Parlette

Read first time 02/14/2001.  Referred to Committee on Agriculture & International Trade.

Authorizing animal care and control agencies and nonprofit humane societies to provide limited veterinarian services.

    AN ACT Relating to authorizing animal care and control agencies and nonprofit humane societies to provide limited veterinarian services; and adding a new section to chapter 18.92 RCW.

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:

    (1)(a) Animal care and control agencies as defined in RCW 16.52.011 and nonprofit humane societies, that have qualified under section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code and that employ licensed veterinarians, may own and operate veterinary medical facilities for the purpose of providing veterinary medical services for those animals in their custody, or in the custody of another animal control or nonprofit humane organization qualified under section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code, subject to (b) of this subsection.

    (b)(i) Veterinary medical service for the purpose of electronic identification, surgical sterilization, and vaccination may be provided for animals owned by low-income households.  For purposes of this section, "low-income household" means the same as in RCW 43.185A.010.

    (ii) Veterinary medical service on an emergency basis may be provided for the benefit of anyone on a temporary basis, subject to a local ordinance that defines an emergency situation and establishes temporary time limits.  Any local ordinance addressing the needs under this subsection (1)(b) that was approved by the voters and is in effect on the effective date of this act remains in effect.

    (2) Veterinarians employed at these facilities must be licensed under this chapter.  No officer, director, supervisor, or any other individual associated with an animal care or control agency or nonprofit humane society owning and operating a veterinary medical facility may impose any terms or conditions of employment or direct 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.

    (3)(a) A veterinarian and medical facility operating under this section shall meet the requirements established under this chapter and are subject to the rules adopted by the veterinary board of governors in the same fashion as any licensed veterinarian or veterinary medical facility in the state.

    (b) A veterinarian and medical facility operating under this section are subject to the same rules applicable to any other veterinary medical facility or veterinarian licensed in Washington state, as those rules pertain to advertising.

    (4) The Washington state veterinary board of governors shall adopt rules setting forth the frequency and degree of access to records necessary to ensure that agencies and societies, under subsection (1) of this section, are in compliance with this section.  Any agency or society in noncompliance may be limited in practice by order of the director of the department of health.

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