Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-933-501 through 246-933-590, authorizing animal care and control agencies and nonprofit humane societies to provide veterinary services. The veterinary board of governors (board) is considering revising sections of chapter 246-933 WAC to implement provisions of SSB 5004 (chapter 142, Laws of 2019). The bill allows animal care and control agencies and nonprofit humane societies to provide additional veterinary services to income-qualified households.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Rule making is required to implement the new law. Currently, rules allow animal control agencies and humane societies (agencies) to provide limited veterinary services to income-qualified households of Washington state. Agencies providing these services must be registered with the department of health. Veterinary services are limited to electronic identification, surgical sterilization, vaccinations, and emergency care. Agencies often see low-income households with animals that need care beyond the limited services. The households often cannot afford regular veterinary care and cannot receive it from the humane societies because of the current limitations. Implementing the law in rule will expand services and bridge the need gap for income-qualified households.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Loralei Walker, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7853, phone 360-236-4947, fax 360-236-2901, TTY 360-833-6388 or 711, email loralei.walker@doh.wa.gov.

Additional comments: Interested persons may sign up for the veterinary email list by visiting https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new, then provide an email address, select (+) "Health Systems Quality Assurance (HSQA)," select (+) "Health Professions," then select "Veterinary Board." Registrants will be notified of public rule-making meetings and asked to participate or submit written comments for consideration.