BILL ANALYSIS
AB 107
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Date of Hearing: March 17, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS
Mary Hayashi, Chair
AB 107 (Galgiani) - As Introduced: January 12, 2009
SUBJECT : Veterinarians and registered veterinary technicians.
SUMMARY : Requires the California Veterinary Medical Board
(Board) to offer the veterinary licensing exam at least twice a
year; makes other changes related to reciprocity and temporary
licensing requirements for out-of-state veterinarians; clarifies
the enforcement actions that may be taken against a registered
veterinarian technician (RVT); and makes other technical and
conforming changes to the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act.
Specifically, this bill :
1)Clarifies that the Governor appoints five members to the
Board, including one public member.
2)Requires the Board to give the veterinary licensing
examination at least twice per year.
3)Delineates reciprocity requirements, and requires the Board to
waive certain examination requirements and issue a license to
an applicant who fulfills such requirements. This bill also
allows an applicant to use a certificate issued by the Program
for Assessment of Education Equivalence to fulfill the
education requirement for purposes of reciprocity.
4)Requires the Board to issue a temporary license valid for one
year to an eligible applicant who agrees to complete the
approved educational curriculum on regionally specific and
important diseases and conditions in California during the
period of temporary licensure, and who meets all other
specified reciprocity requirements.
5)Allows the Board to extend the expiration date of a temporary
license for not more than one year.
6)Clarifies under what conditions the Board may place on
probation, revoke, suspend the registration of, or take other
enforcement action against a RVT.
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7)Makes various technical and conforming amendments.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Provides for the examination, licensure and regulation of
veterinarians and RVTs by the Board.
2)Requires the Board to ascertain by means of examination given
at least once each year, the professional qualifications of
applicants for licensure and to issue a license to every
qualified applicant.
3)Delineates reciprocity requirements, and requires the Board to
waive certain examination requirements and issue a temporary
license valid for one year to a qualified applicant to
practice veterinary medicine under the supervision of a
licensed California veterinarian.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS :
Purpose of this bill . According to the author's office, "There
is a current veterinarian shortage in California, particularly
affecting the agricultural communities. Part of the shortage
problem is the fact that current law only requires the Board to
offer the veterinary licensing test once a year, thus driving
otherwise qualified veterinarians to leave the state in order to
test for their license and find employment. Current law is also
very cumbersome to practicing veterinarians in other states who
would like to practice in California."
"AB 107 would authorize the Board to offer the veterinary
licensing exam at least twice a year, which would allow a
greater number of candidates to test for their license. AB 107
will also revise current law to provide different paths for
licensed veterinarians from other states to receive reciprocity.
With such a high demand for veterinarians in California, it is
vital that there is no added bureaucracy preventing veterinary
school graduates or licensed veterinarians from other states
from becoming licensed California veterinarians. AB 107 is an
important bill that will ease this existing burden, and allow
for more veterinarians in California."
Background . According to a November 2004 report by the
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University of California Subcommittee on Veterinary Medical
Education, the current national shortfall of at least 1,500
veterinarians could grow to 15,000 or more over the next 20
years. This shortage is especially dire in California where
there are about 17 veterinarians for every 100,000 people - far
below the national average of 27 per 100,000.
The author notes that the current lack of licensed veterinarians
has a direct effect on the safety of our food supply, and cites
an American Veterinary Medical Association study stating that
the demand for "food supply veterinarians" (farm animal
veterinarians) is predicted to increase 12 to 13% over the next
eight years. This research also shows that there will most
likely be a four to five percent decrease of these types of
veterinarians available in our agricultural and farming
communities because of the shortage of veterinarians in this
state.
In 2008, the Department of Consumer Affairs estimated that
AB1760 (Galgiani), a bill identical to AB 107, would result in
an increase of 100 veterinarians in California each year.
Prior Legislation . AB 1760 (Galgiani) of 2008 was an identical
bill that the Governor vetoed. The Governor vetoed a substantial
number of bills that year with the same message that, due to the
delay in passing the 2008-2009 State Budget, he would only sign
bills that were "the highest priority for California." AB 1760
was vetoed for this reason.
SB 2003 (Knight), Chapter 1070, Statutes of 1998, required the
Board to issue temporary licenses to practice veterinary
medicine, changed requirements for testing of applicants,
required and authorized the Board to set and appropriate the
examination and license fees, and created a one-year temporary
license for qualifying internship or residency programs.
Support . The Western United Dairymen and California Cattlemen's
Association assert that
AB 107 will help alleviate California's shortage of food animal
veterinarians by "streamlining the process by which
veterinarians are able to become licensed to practice in
California . . . and is an important first step in ensuring we
have the necessary food animal veterinarians needed to perform
vital services."
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REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
Western United Dairymen (sponsor)
California Cattlemen's Association (sponsor)
California Farm Bureau Federation
Veterinary Medical Association
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Whitney Clark / B. & P. / (916)
319-3301