Providing for veterinary medicine, including the care of animals under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian, providing penalties, and including effective date provisions

GENERAL.10).11). Under current law, a licensed veterinarian may employ one or more veterinary assistants who must be certified by the board and may perform functions under the direct supervision of the licensed veterinarian, excluding diagnosis, prescription, or surgery. 8). AUXILIARY VETERINARY PERSONNEL —— QUALIFICATIONS. The bill recognizes three types of auxiliary veterinary personnel: the two current personnel, a certified veterinary assistant and a certified veterinary technician; and new personnel, referred to as a licensed veterinary technician. The bill provides that auxiliary veterinary personnel must meet qualification requirements set forth in rules adopted by the board. The board may require that a certified veterinary technician have completed an accredited or approved veterinary technology program, received a passing score on a national veterinary technician examination, passed a board-administered examination, or assisted a licensed veterinarian for a minimum number of hours., master of veterinary clinical care).32). AUXILIARY VETERINARY PERSONNEL —— SCOPE OF AUTHORITY.31). Each type of auxiliary veterinary personnel is subject to its own level of supervision which includes associated tasks that may be delegated by a licensed veterinarian.34).34). A certified veterinary assistant can only provide authorized veterinary services within the limits prescribed by the board.35). AUXILIARY VETERINARY PERSONNEL —— RECOGNIZED CREDENTIALS. The board must recognize credentials of auxiliary veterinary personnel issued by other jurisdictions. The bill also provides that a person who is not a certified veterinary assistant, certified veterinary technician, or licensed veterinary technician commits a simple misdemeanor by wrongfully claiming to hold such a credential. UNAUTHORIZED PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. A person who acts in violation of requirements governing veterinary medicine may be guilty of a fraudulent practice.8). ADMINISTRATIVE RULES. The bill requires the board to begin the process of adopting rules required to implement the bill’s provisions by September 1, 2023. These provisions take effect upon enactment. PENALTIES. A simple misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than days and a fine of at least $105 but not more than $855. The penalties for fraudulent practice range from a simple misdemeanor to a class “C” felony depending upon the amount of money or value of the property involved. A serious misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine of at least $430 but not more than $2,560. An aggravated misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than two years and a fine of at least $855 but not more than $8,540. A class “D” felony is punishable by confinement for no more than five years and a fine of at least $1,025 but not more than $10,245.14).