Bill Text: CA SB1478 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Chaptered

California Senate Bill 1478

Bill Title: Veterinary medicine: registered veterinary technicians.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 5-2)

Status: (Passed) 2024-08-19 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 192, Statutes of 2024. [SB1478 Detail]

Download: California-2023-SB1478-Chaptered.html

Senate Bill No. 1478

CHAPTER 192

An act to amend Section 4840 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to healing arts.

[ Approved by Governor August 19, 2024. Filed with Secretary of State August 19, 2024. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 1478, Nguyen. Veterinary medicine: registered veterinary technicians.

Existing law, the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act, establishes the Veterinary Medical Board within the Department of Consumer Affairs for the licensure and regulation of veterinarians and the practice of veterinary medicine. Under existing law, registered veterinary technicians are authorized to perform animal health care services on animals impounded by a state, county, city, or city and county agency pursuant to the order of a veterinarian licensed or authorized to practice in this state. Existing law makes a violation of the act a crime.

This bill would authorize the order established by the veterinarian that authorizes a registered veterinary technician to perform animal health care services, as described, to include, among other things, information pertaining to time periods by which an impounded animal is required to be assessed at intake and monitored while in the custody of an agency, protocols to address the treatment of common medical conditions encountered in impounded animals, and communication requirements between the registered veterinary technician and the supervising veterinarian.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 4840 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:

4840.

(a) Registered veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants are approved to perform those animal health care services prescribed by law under the supervision of a veterinarian licensed or authorized to practice in this state.

(b) (1) Registered veterinary technicians may perform animal health care services on those animals impounded by a state, county, city, or city and county agency pursuant to the direct order, written order, or telephonic order of a veterinarian licensed or authorized to practice in this state.

(2) An order established by a veterinarian pursuant to paragraph (1) may include any of the following information:

(A) Time periods by which an impounded animal is required to be assessed at intake and monitored while in the custody of an agency.

(B) Protocols to address the treatment of common medical conditions encountered in impounded animals.

(D) Protocols for controlling the acute pain of an impounded animal.

(E) Communication requirements between the registered veterinary technician and the supervising veterinarian.

(F) Euthanasia criteria for medically related cases.

(c) Registered veterinary technicians may apply for registration from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration that authorizes the direct purchase of sodium pentobarbital for the performance of euthanasia as provided for in paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 4827 without the supervision or authorization of a licensed veterinarian.

(d) Registered veterinary technicians may act as an agent of the supervising veterinarian in establishing the veterinarian-client-patient relationship for the purposes of administering preventive or prophylactic vaccines or medications for the control or eradication of apparent or anticipated internal or external parasites in accordance with subdivision (b) of Section 4826.7.