BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1980
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 1980 (Hayashi)
As Amended April 28, 2010
Majority vote
BUSINESS & PROFESSIONS 10-0
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|Ayes:|Hayashi, Emmerson, | | |
| |Conway, Eng, Hernandez, | | |
| |Hill, Ma, Nava, Niello, | | |
| |Ruskin | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Authorizes the administration of first aid to sick,
injured, homeless, or unwanted domestic pets or animals by
employees of an animal control shelter or humane society.
Specifically, this bill :
1)Authorizes the administration of first aid to sick, injured,
homeless, or unwanted domestic pets or animals without the
presence of a veterinarian by employees of an animal control
shelter and its agencies or humane society.
2)States that this bill does not authorize a person to act
outside the scope of his or her employment.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Provides for the regulation of the practice of veterinary
medicine by the Veterinary Medical Board (Board) and prohibits
that practice without a license.
2)Specifies that the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act (Act) does
not prohibit an employee of an animal control shelter or human
society from administering sodium pentobarbital for euthanasia
if the employee has received proper training in that
administration.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown. This bill is keyed non-fiscal by the
Legislative Counsel.
COMMENTS : According to the author's office, "Many animals
arrive at shelters during off hours and in emergency conditions.
AB 1980
Page 2
They need immediate attention which may not be available by a
veterinarian, such as treating cuts or injuries. Additionally,
since smaller animal control agencies may not have a
veterinarian on staff, sick or injured animals may suffer
needlessly while waiting for medical care by an outside
veterinarian."
The Board's mission is to provide protection to consumers and
animals through proper licensing of veterinarians and registered
veterinary technicians, and through vigorous, objective
enforcement of the Act.
Although the Board does not regulate shelters, per se, various
changes in the landscape of animal shelters and shelter medicine
have caused the Board to review the veterinary medicine
requirements for shelters.
According to the Board, if shelters are providing veterinary
care, they are practicing veterinary medicine. The Act defines
the practice of veterinary medicine as diagnosing, prescribing,
and treating of an animal for the prevention, cure, relief of a
wound, fracture, bodily injury, or disease. These procedures
fall under the jurisdiction of the Board.
Animal control shelters are regulated under the California Food
and Agriculture Code, Civil Code, and Penal Code. City, county,
and city and county animal control shelters and its agencies are
mandated to provide "necessary and prompt veterinary medical
care to animals housed in an animal control shelter" to care for
adoptable animals and protect the public good.
The Board has interpreted the "necessary and prompt" requirement
of veterinary medical care to permit unlicensed employees to
administer basic care to protect the public and animals in the
absence of a veterinarian. All other on-going and regular
AB 1980
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veterinary medical care must be provided by or under the
supervision of a licensed California veterinarian.
Thus, this bill codifies existing interpretations of the Board
and clarifies that it is not intended to impact any existing
scopes of practice.
Analysis Prepared by : Rebecca May / B.,P. & C.P. / (916)
319-3301
FN: 0004145