Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-935-050 Animal health care tasks, consider amending WAC 246-935-050 to allow registered veterinary technicians to suture preexisting wounds and incisions under the direct supervision of a veterinarian. As part of this process, WAC 246-935-050 will be reviewed in its entirety for clarity, content and accuracy.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 18.92.030.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: In May 2004, the Veterinary Board of Governors (board) received a petition for rule making from the Washington State Association of Veterinary Technicians requesting consideration for registered veterinary technicians to suture preexisting wounds and incisions under direct supervision of a veterinarian. In response, the board met in August 2004 to initiate rule proceedings to consider whether rules should be adopted that would authorize supervised suture of preexisting wounds and incisions by veterinary technicians. Some items within the petition required further evaluation and research. The board is now prepared to move forward with rule making.

     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 Judy Haenke, Program Manager, Veterinary Board of Governors, P.O. Box 47868, Olympia, WA 98504-7868, judy.haenke@doh.wa.gov, (360) 236-4947, fax (360) 586-4359.

December 6, 2005

Steven Saxe

Executive Director