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Posted 16 January 2008
View legislative update (PDF)
Over 30 state legislatures have reconvened this month, while a handful finished up their business for 2007. For example, New Jersey's governor signed into law S 1604, establishing a prescription monitoring program with authority over registration and control of controlled dangerous substances. Meanwhile, as typical at this time of year, the new sessions begin to build momentum with the introduction of numerous bills.
Many bills introduced
Potentially significant bills have been drafted, prefiled and introduced on a variety of topics already in 2008. These include:
- Alaska HB 297 – exempts from the definition of veterinary medicine practices related to artificial insemination and farriers, as well as practices commonly performed on farm or domestic animals.
- Indiana SB 316 – a wide ranging revision of the veterinary practice act, including clarification that complementary or alternative therapy fall within the practice of veterinary medicine if performed for compensation.
- Missouri SB 886 – prohibits local ordinances to control dangerous or vicious dogs if specific as to breed.
- Missouri HB 1489, HB 1592 – creates a drug monitoring program and strengthen record keeping and reporting requirements for controlled substances.
- New Hampshire SB 318 – creates the licensed profession of veterinary assistant practitioner and lists tasks under direct and indirect supervision.
- New Hampshire HB 1522 – prohibits the confinement of farm animals in a manner that does not allow them to turn around freely, lie down, stand up, and fully extend their limbs, with some exceptions.
- South Dakota HB 1127 – creates a veterinarian loan repayment program for up to three veterinarians who provide food animal and large animal veterinary medicine services to communities in the state.
- Tennessee SB 2707 – regulates pet dealers and sets license fees for dealers selling dogs or cats.
- Tennessee SB 2738 – makes it illegal to knowingly own a pit bull dog.
- Virginia HB 538 – regulates commercial breeders who maintain 20 or more unsterilized adult female dogs for purpose of commercial breeding during any 12-month period.
- Virginia SB 637 – requires animal control officers to report suspected child abuse or neglect.
- Washington HB 2511 – regulates pet dealers and provides consumers with remedies such as refund or exchange, or reimbursement of veterinary expenses up to 150% of the purchase price of the animal.
- Washington HB 2432, SB 6187 – creates a food animal veterinarian scholarship program for graduates of Washington State College of Veterinary Medicine.
Regulatory activities
The District of Columbia Department of Health approved comprehensive revisions of the pharmacy regulations. There is a new requirement for registration of nonresident pharmacies that dispense or distribute prescription drugs or medical devices into the District.
The California Department of Regulatory Agencies has published a proposed regulation that would allow unregistered assistants with certain experience to take the state RVT examination in 2009 without any educational requirement, bypassing six established routes to eligibility, all of which require an educational component. A hearing was scheduled for Jan. 16.
The Arizona Board of Pharmacy has proposed rules establishing a controlled substances prescription monitoring program that includes a computerized central database tracking system to track the prescription, distribution and consumption of controlled substances.
Did you know? There are 7,882 elected members in our nation's 50 state legislatures, ranging from the 400-strong New Hampshire House of Representatives to Alaska senators who number just twenty. Lawyers are still the largest occupational group in legislatures with about 15%, down considerably from the mid-1970s when one-quarter of legislators were. There are currently 24 veterinarians serving in state legislatures.
The link at the top of the page takes you to the latest chart of significant pending bills and regulations from around the country, including those measures that carry over from 2007 and can still be adopted this year. The 2007 year-end state veterinary legislative report is now available on the AVMA Web site. As we begin the New Year, please keep us posted about developments in your state, and let us know if we can assist you with your advocacy efforts.
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