HB288 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Henry A. White

Democrat

Co-Sponsors

Mac McCutcheonMicky Hammon

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Veterinary medicine, definitions, licensure and regulation further provided for, prohibited acts, authorized tasks for veterinary technicians and unlicensed assistants revised, Secs. 34-29-61, 34-29-76, 34-29-77, 34-29-94 am'd.

Summary

HB288 updates Alabama's veterinary laws by revising definitions, expanding permitted tasks for veterinary technicians and unlicensed assistants, and tightening licensure and oversight by the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.

What This Bill Does

It revises definitions and adds new terms to govern veterinary practice, prohibited acts, and authorized tasks for technicians and unlicensed staff. It creates a licensure system for veterinary technicians, including education requirements, national exams, fees, and mandatory continuing education. It clarifies supervision levels (direct, indirect, immediate) and requires a veterinarian-client-patient relationship for telemedicine, while detailing various facility types and on-call requirements. It also establishes enforcement provisions, penalties for violations, and appeals processes, with an effective date linked to passage.

Who It Affects

• Licensed veterinarians in Alabama, who may have expanded or clarified supervision responsibilities and must adhere to updated licensure and practice rules.
• Licensed veterinary technicians, who face new licensure requirements (education, exam, renewal) and gain an expanded but regulated scope of practice under specified supervision levels.
• Unlicensed assistants, who may perform limited tasks under defined supervision and are affected by new supervision rules and potential licensure pathways.
• Veterinary facilities (hospitals, clinics, satellite/mobile units, emergency clinics), which must meet updated facility standards, post service limitations, and ensure appropriate supervision and on-call arrangements.
• Veterinary schools, students, and AVMA-accredited programs, which are referenced for definitions and may be affected by certification and internship standards; there are exemptions for students under supervision.
• Pet owners and clients, who are affected by clearer in-state licensure requirements for telemedicine and the need for a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship in remote care.
• The Alabama State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, which gains expanded authority to regulate licensure, discipline, and enforcement.

Key Provisions

• Defines key terms: ACCREDITED SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE, CONSULTING VETERINARIAN, DIRECT SUPERVISION, INDIRECT SUPERVISION, EMERGENCY, FOREIGN VETERINARY GRADUATE (excluding Canada), IMMEDIATE SUPERVISION, VETERINARIAN, LICENSED VETERINARY TECHNICIAN, and VCPR.
• Telemedicine counts as the practice of veterinary medicine in Alabama, requiring licensure in-state and establishment of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship.
• Creates and clarifies veterinary facilities types (hospital/clinic, specialty, central hospital, satellite/outpatient/mobile clinics, large animal mobile clinics, emergency clinics) with posted service limitations and on-call/supervision requirements.
• Expands the tasks that licensed veterinary technicians may perform under indirect, direct, or immediate supervision, including dental prophylaxis, enemas, ECG, injections, anesthesia-related tasks, diagnostic imaging, laboratory work, suturing, euthanasia, and emergency life-saving procedures under specified conditions.
• Authorize unlicensed assistants to perform specific tasks under indirect or immediate supervision, including basic blood collection, sample handling, surgical site prep, certain medication administrations, and other technician-like duties with board oversight.
• Establishes licensure requirements for veterinary technicians (age, character, educational diploma from AVMA-accredited or board-approved programs, authenticated college transcript, photo, and application fee) and allows for AVMA national licensing exams with a passing standard of at least 70%.
• Requires annual license renewal for veterinary technicians and sets continuing education hours as a condition of renewal.
• Sets grounds for license suspension or revocation (felony, moral turpitude, fraud, gross negligence, unlicensed practice, employing unlicensed persons, etc.) and provides for appeals to the Circuit Court in Montgomery County.
• Imposes minimum display of licenses at workplaces and outlines exemptions for certain students, government or research personnel, and emergency aid providers acting in good faith.
• Outlines the conditions under which out-of-state or foreign veterinarians may practice in Alabama (need for in-state licensing and compliance with article provisions), and lists exemptions for certain roles and activities under supervision.
• Creates enforcement provisions for the board, including revocation/suspension procedures and the option to adopt national examinations or state exams for licensure, as well as consequences for nonrenewal.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Veterinary Medical Examiners, State Board of