HB563 Alabama 2015 Session

Sponsors

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Veterinary Practice Act, definition of practice of veterinary revised to prohibit unlicensed persons from directly supervising services, spay neuter clinics included as veterinary facilities, certain nonprofit employed vets exempted from prohibition against working for unlicensed employer, Secs. 34-29-61, 34-29-87, 34-29-88 am'd.

Description

Under existing law, the Alabama Veterinary Practice Act governs the practice of veterinary medicine in the state.

This bill would provide further for the definition of the practice of veterinary medicine to prohibit any person, other than a licensed veterinarian, from directly supervising veterinary medical services or making certain decisions relating to the medical or surgical treatment of animals.

This bill would include a spay neuter clinic under the definition of a veterinary facility, and would limit the scope of services offered at a spay neuter clinic.

This bill would exempt licensed veterinarians employed by nonprofit spay neuter clinics from certain prohibitions against practicing veterinary medicine as an employee of a person not licensed by the board.

This bill would subject spay neuter clinics to the same permits and requirements as other veterinary facilities and would require certain records to be maintained.

This bill would also specify that licensed veterinarians continue to exercise the standard of care, professional judgment, and humane treatment of animals required under the practice act as amended.

To amend Sections 34-29-61, 34-29-87, and 34-29-88, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the Alabama Veterinary Practice Act; to provide further for the definition of the practice of veterinary medicine to prohibit any person, other than a licensed veterinarian, from directly supervising veterinary medical services or making certain decisions relating to the medical or surgical treatment of animals; to include a spay neuter clinic under the definition of a veterinary facility, and to limit the scope of services offered at a spay neuter clinic; to exempt licensed veterinarians employed by nonprofit spay neuter clinics from certain prohibitions against practicing veterinary medicine as an employee of a person not licensed by the board; subject spay neuter clinics to the same permits and requirements as other veterinary facilities; to provide certain record-keeping responsibilities; and to specify that licensed veterinarians continue to exercise the standard of care, professional judgment, and humane treatment of animals required under the practice act as amended.

Subjects

Veterinarians