BILL ANALYSIS
SB 1584
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 1584 (Padilla)
As Amended August 14, 2008
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :21-15
BUSINESS & PROFESSIONS 7-1
APPROPRIATIONS 12-2
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|Ayes:|Eng, Carter, Hayashi, |Ayes:|Leno, Caballero, Davis, |
| |Hernandez, Price, | |DeSaulnier, Furutani, |
| |Torrico, Lieu | |Huffman, Karnette, |
| | | |Krekorian, Lieu, Ma, |
| | | |Nava, Solorio |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Maze |Nays:|Walters, La Malfa |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Increases various fees for veterinarians and
registered veterinary technicians (RVTs), establishes a
committee to assist the Veterinary Medical Board (VMB) with
rules and regulations, specifies the membership of the RVT
committee, sets investigatory and enforcement priorities, and
makes other changes to the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act
(Act), as specified.
1)Requires the VMB to appoint a voluntary, advisory,
multidisciplinary committee to assist, advise, and make
recommendations for the implementation of rules and
regulations necessary to ensure proper administration of the
Act. The committee shall consist of no more than nine
members, appointed by the VMB.
2)Specifies the membership terms and the composition of the RVT
committee.
3)Amends the RVT exam eligibility requirements to permit that
education or a combination of education and clinical
experience may constitute the equivalent of the current
graduation requirement, as specified.
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4)Increases the regulatory ceiling on certain fees for RVTs,
veterinarians, and veterinary premises.
5)Requires a school or institution to pay for the actual costs
of an onsite inspection conducted by the VMB, as specified.
6)Requires every person registered by the VMB who changes his or
her mailing address to notify the VMB of the new mailing
address within 30 days of the change. States that the VMB
shall not renew the registration of any person who fails to
comply with this section unless the person pays a penalty fee.
7)Requires the VMB to prioritize its investigative and
prosecutorial resources to ensure that the most problematic
veterinarians and RVTs are identified and disciplined
expeditiously.
8)Establishes a priority list for investigative and
prosecutorial resources.
9)Requires the VMB to report annually and make publicly
available the number of disciplinary actions it takes, as
specified.
10)Specifies that veterinarians designated by the VMB to review
and investigate allegations must be employed by the state
either full time or part time and have not been out of
practice for more than four years.
11)Requires the VMB to provide a notice of deficiencies and a
reasonable time for compliance prior to further action for any
violations found as a result of an inspection.
12)Permits the VMB to issue an interim suspension in case where
violations represent an immediate threat to the public and
animal health and safety.
13)Requires the VMB to consider, in making regulations covering
the assessment of civil penalties, whether a violation is
minor.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee analysis, this bill will require:
1)Annual special fund revenues of $480,000 from increased fees
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($440,000) and additional citations ($40,000). [VMB Contingent
Fund]
2)Special fund costs of $170,000 in 2009-10 and $150,000 in
2010-11 for one position to support the advisory committee and
for presumed additional citations and appeals related to a
more targeted enforcement program.
COMMENTS : The VMB licenses and regulates approximately 17,000
licensees including approximately 9,800 veterinarians, 4,200
RVTs and 2,600 veterinary hospitals. The VMB has remained
within its statutory limits and has not sought legislation to
increase the fee ceilings since 1992. According to the VMB, it
increased its fees through the regulatory process on October 1,
2007 to the current statutory maximums to cover increasing costs
of existing business operations. The current statutory fee
ceilings are not sufficient to offset a dwindling Contingent
Fund.
This bill is the result of efforts between the California
Veterinary Medical Association and the VMB to resolve the
differences between an earlier version of this bill and SB 1205
of 2007 (Aanestad), which was held in the Senate Business,
Professions, and Economic Development Committee.
Analysis Prepared by : Sarah Huchel / B. & P. / (916) 319-3301
FN: 0006973