BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair
107 (Galgiani)
Hearing Date: 6/29/2009 Amended: 6/1/2009
Consultant: Bob Franzoia Policy Vote: B,P&ED 7-0
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BILL SUMMARY: AB 107 would modify the examination requirements
for registration as a veterinary technician on and after January
1, 2011, to require that an applicant for registration pass both
a national licensing examination and an examination specific to
the animal health care tasks limited to California registered
veterinary technicians, as approved by the Veterinary Medical
Board (VMB). This bill would authorize the VMB to assess fines
on, issue citations, and place on probation, a registered
veterinary technician who violates the Veterinary Medicine
Practice Act and make provisions of the act relative to
revocation and reinstatement of licenses applicable to
veterinary technician registrations. This bill would require
that the VMB exam for licensure as a veterinarian be given at
least twice a year, require the VMB to waive the exam
requirement and issue a license to an applicant if he or she
meets certain requirements and would revise the requirements for
issuance of a temporary license to practice veterinary medicine.
Because fees for the reinstatement of a revoked veterinary
technician registration collected by the VMB would be deposited
in the Veterinary Medical Board Contingent Fund, which is a
continuously appropriated fund, this bill would make an
appropriation.
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Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 Fund
Veterinarian exam and $110 $68 $68 Special*
licensing revisions
(revenue) ($25) ($25) ($50)
Special**
* Veterinary Medical Board Contingent Fund (VMBCF)
** VMBCF - $50 annually, ongoing from an increase in licensure
of out-of-state veterinarians
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STAFF COMMENTS:
Currently, the Governor appoints four members of the VMB and the
Senate and Assembly each appoint a public member. Under this
bill, the Governor would appoint five members, with one being a
public member. The Senate and Assembly appointment criteria
would not change.
This bill would require the VMB to waive examination
requirements and issue a temporary license to an applicant who
(1) has either graduated from a veterinary college recognized by
the VMB or possesses a certificate issued by a specified
commission or by the Program for Assessment of Educational
Equivalence and, (2) within three years immediately preceding
filing and application, has practiced clinical veterinary
medicine
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AB 107 (Galgiani)
for a minimum of two years and completed a minimum of 2,944
hours of clinical practice.
It is estimated the provisions of this bill will increase by 100
the number of veterinary licenses issued annually.
Chapter 529/2008 (SB 1584, Padilla) increased the maximum
amounts the VMB may set for specified fees. (The VMB must adopt
regulations in order to increase a fee to a statutory cap.)
Chapter 529/2008 also deleted the requirement that the VMB set
and collect a fee for the national licensing examination, and
required an application fee to be paid by a school or
institution seeking approval of registered veterinary technician
curriculum. These provisions addressed potential revenue
shortfall problems with the VMBCF.
This bill is similar to AB 1760 (Galgiani) 2008 which was vetoed
with the following message: The historic delay in passing the
2008-09 State Budget has forced me to prioritize the bills sent
to my desk at the end of the year's legislative session. Given
the delay, I am only signing bills that are the highest priority
for California. This bill does not meet that standard and I
cannot sign it at this time.
This bill differs in that it would modify the examination
requirements for registration as a veterinary technician on and
after January 1, 2011, to instead require that an applicant pass
both a national licensing examination and an examination
formatted for California veterinary technicians.