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Posted 20 Ocotber 2005
View legislative update (PDF)
This month, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a flurry of bills, some of which will impact veterinary medicine. SB 861 allows cities and counties to pass breed-specific legislation, although not impose absolute bans on specific breeds of dogs. SB 914 generally prohibits the selling of a dog under the age of eight weeks, unless approved by a veterinarian. AB 1428 prohibits killing any animal by means of an intracardiac injection of a euthanasia agent on a conscious animal, unless the animal is heavily sedated or anesthetized in a humane manner, or comatose, or the procedure is otherwise justifiable.
In other state news, Louisiana Governor Blanco signed an executive order extending to Oct. 25 the suspension of the state's licensing requirements for eligible out-of-state veterinarians offering assistance in response to hurricane Katrina. Not many state bills are introduced during the fall months nationally, as most legislatures are already adjourned. However, in Ohio, whose legislature does not adjourn until Dec. 31, recently introduced SB 188 would require the Board of Pharmacy to establish a drug compounding licensing program for retail and other terminal distributors of "dangerous" drugs, including many prescription drugs.
The AVMA State Advocacy Committee held its first meeting in Schaumburg, IL on Oct. 6th. Highlights include:
- Assigned priorities for state legislative and regulatory affairs issues. The priorities are assigned by the committee based on the significance of the issue to veterinary medicine and the AVMA, and the potential national impact beyond a state's borders.
- Agreed that AVMA should continue to work with ASVMAE to obtain the best possible package and price for grassroots software by state VMAs, and promote this resource to all state VMAs by including a training session at the 2006 Public Policy Symposium.
- Concluded that the 2006 Public Policy Symposium be held on December 2-3, 2006 in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. The program is likely to feature an emphasis on specific issues (e.g. scope of practice), informal facilitated sessions, message development, and content that will attract experienced executives and lobbyists, as well as government affairs beginners.
- Asked staff to explore the possibility of creating an on-line database of resources to assist constituent organizations with specific advocacy issues.
Please continue to share your thoughts and suggestions with us regarding state legislative and regulatory affairs. Thanks.
Adrian Hochstadt, JD, CAE
Assistant Director, State Legislative and Regulatory Affairs
American Veterinary Medical Association
ahochstadt@avma.org
TEL: (847) 285-6780
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