Read first time 01/17/2007.   Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources.

     AN ACT Relating to veterinary technicians; amending RCW 18.92.015, 18.92.021, 18.92.030, 18.92.013, 18.92.140, and 18.92.145; and adding a new section to chapter 18.92 RCW.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 18.92.015 and 2000 c 93 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:
     ((Unless the context clearly requires otherwise,)) The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (("Veterinary technician" means a person who has successfully completed an examination administered by the board and who has either successfully completed a post high school course approved by the board in the care and treatment of animals or had five years' practical experience, acceptable to the board, with a licensed veterinarian.))
     (1) "Board" means the Washington state veterinary board of governors.
     (2) "Department" means the department of health.
     (3) "Secretary" means the secretary of the department of health.
     (4) "Veterinary medication clerk" means a person who has satisfactorily completed a board-approved training program developed in consultation with the board of pharmacy and designed to prepare persons to perform certain nondiscretionary functions defined by the board and used in the dispensing of legend and nonlegend drugs (except controlled substances as defined in or under chapter 69.50 RCW) associated with the practice of veterinary medicine.
     (5) "Veterinary technician" means a person who is licensed by the board upon meeting the requirements of section 2 of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 18.92 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The board shall issue a veterinary technician license to an individual who has:
     (a) Successfully passed an examination administered by the board; and
     (b)(i) Successfully completed a posthigh school course approved by the board in the care and treatment of animals; or
     (ii) Had five years' practical experience, acceptable to the board, with a licensed veterinarian.
     (2) The board shall adopt rules under chapter 34.05 RCW identifying standard tasks and procedures that must be included in the experience of a person who qualifies to take the veterinarian technician examination through the period of practical experience required in subsection (1)(b)(ii) of this section, and requirements for the supervising veterinarian's attestation to completion of the practical experience and that training included the required tasks and procedures.

Sec. 3   RCW 18.92.021 and 1983 c 2 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) There is created a Washington state veterinary board of governors consisting of ((six)) seven members, five of whom shall be licensed veterinarians, one of whom shall be a licensed veterinary technician trained in both large and small animal medicine, and one of whom shall be a lay member.
     (2)(a) The licensed members shall be appointed by the governor. At the time of their appointment the licensed members of the board must be actual residents of the state in active practice as licensed practitioners of veterinary medicine, surgery, and dentistry, or employed as a licensed veterinary technician, as applicable, and must be citizens of the United States. Not more than one licensed veterinary member shall be from the same congressional district. The board shall not be deemed to be unlawfully constituted and a member of the board shall not be deemed ineligible to serve the remainder of the member's unexpired term on the board solely by reason of the establishment of new or revised boundaries for congressional districts.
     (b) The terms of the first licensed members of the board shall be as follows: One member for five, four, three, two, and one years respectively. Thereafter the terms shall be for five years and until their successors are appointed and qualified.
     (((3))) (c) The lay member shall be appointed by the governor for a five year term and until the lay member's successor is appointed.
     (((4))) (d) A member may be appointed to serve a second term, if that term does not run consecutively.
     (e) Vacancies in the board shall be filled by the governor, the appointee to hold office for the remainder of the unexpired term.
     (((5))) (3) The licensed veterinary technician member is a nonvoting member with respect to board decisions related to the discipline of a veterinarian involving standard of care.
     (4) Officers of the board shall be a ((chairman)) chair and a secretary-treasurer to be chosen by the members of the board from among its members.
     (((6))) (5) Four members of the board shall constitute a quorum at meetings of the board.

Sec. 4   RCW 18.92.030 and 2000 c 93 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The board shall develop and administer, or approve, or both, a licensure examination in the subjects determined by the board to be essential to the practice of veterinary medicine, surgery, and dentistry. The board may approve an examination prepared or administered by a private testing agency or association of licensing authorities.
     (2) The board, under chapter 34.05 RCW, may adopt rules necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter, including:
     (a) Standards for the performance of the duties and responsibilities of veterinary technicians and veterinary medication clerks and fixing minimum standards of continuing education for veterinary technicians. The rules shall be adopted in the interest of good veterinary health care delivery to the consuming public and shall not prevent veterinary technicians from inoculating an animal((. The board also has the power to adopt by rule)); and
     (b) Standards prescribing requirements for veterinary medical facilities and fixing minimum standards of continuing veterinary medical education.
     (3) The department is the board's official office of record.

Sec. 5   RCW 18.92.013 and 2000 c 93 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A veterinarian legally prescribing drugs may delegate to a registered veterinary medication clerk or a ((registered)) licensed veterinary technician, while under the veterinarian's direct supervision, certain nondiscretionary functions defined by the board and used in the dispensing of legend and nonlegend drugs (except controlled substances as defined in or under chapter 69.50 RCW) associated with the practice of veterinary medicine. Upon final approval of the packaged prescription following a direct physical inspection of the packaged prescription for proper formulation, packaging, and labeling by the veterinarian, the veterinarian may delegate the delivery of the prescription to a registered veterinary medication clerk or ((registered)) licensed veterinary technician, while under the veterinarian's indirect supervision. Dispensing of drugs by veterinarians, ((registered)) licensed veterinary technicians, and registered veterinary medication clerks shall meet the applicable requirements of chapters 18.64, 69.40, 69.41, and 69.50 RCW and is subject to inspection by the board of pharmacy investigators.
     (2) For the purposes of this section:
     (a) "Direct supervision" means the veterinarian is on the premises and is quickly and easily available; and
     (b) "Indirect supervision" means the veterinarian is not on the premises but has given written or oral instructions for the delegated task.

Sec. 6   RCW 18.92.140 and 2000 c 93 s 13 are each amended to read as follows:
     Each person now qualified to practice veterinary medicine, surgery, and dentistry, ((registered)) licensed as a veterinary technician, or registered as a veterinary medication clerk in this state or who becomes licensed or registered to engage in practice shall comply with administrative procedures, administrative requirements, and fees determined as provided in RCW 43.70.250 and 43.70.280.

Sec. 7   RCW 18.92.145 and 2000 c 93 s 14 are each amended to read as follows:
     Administrative procedures, administrative requirements, and fees shall be established as provided in RCW 43.70.250 and 43.70.280 for the issuance, renewal, or administration of the following licenses, certificates of registration, permits, duplicate licenses, renewals, or examination:
     (1) For a license to practice veterinary medicine, surgery, and dentistry issued upon an examination given by the examining board;
     (2) For a license to practice veterinary medicine, surgery, and dentistry issued upon the basis of a license issued in another state;
     (3) For a ((certificate of registration)) license as a veterinary technician;
     (4) For a certificate of registration as a veterinary medication clerk;
     (5) For a temporary permit to practice veterinary medicine, surgery, and dentistry. The temporary permit fee shall be accompanied by the full amount of the examination fee; and
     (6) For a license to practice specialized veterinary medicine.