BILL ANALYSIS AB 107 Page 1 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. AB 107 Page 2 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 AB 107 Page 3 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." AB 107 Page 4 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