PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Establish registration/renewal requirements for humane societies and animal control agencies (entities), amend the current record-keeping rule, define emergency and household pet, govern the purchase and use of drugs for the authorized limited services, and rules to ensure that entities are in compliance.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapter 157, Laws of 2002, RCW 18.92.030.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: To implement 2002 legislation. The legislature recognized the need for access to veterinary care for low-income households. The legislature resolved the problem by allowing animal control agencies and humane societies (entities) to provide limited veterinary services. The limited veterinary services are: Electronic identification, surgical sterilization, vaccination, and emergency care. The legislature determined that these entities could provide these limited services only when regulated by the Washington State Veterinary Board of Governors and the Department of Health.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
Process for Developing New Rule: Collaborative rule making.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Karen Kelley, Program Manager, Veterinary Board of Governors, P.O. Box 47868, Olympia, WA 98504-7868, (360) 236-4876, karen.kelley@doh.wa.gov. A rule workshop will be held at the following veterinary board meeting on September 26, 2002, in Yakima, Washington.
June 13, 2002
Karen Kelley
Program Manager