BILL ANALYSIS AB 1980 Page 1 ASSEMBLY THIRD READING AB 1980 (Hayashi) As Amended April 28, 2010 Majority vote BUSINESS & PROFESSIONS 10-0 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Ayes:|Hayashi, Emmerson, | | | | |Conway, Eng, Hernandez, | | | | |Hill, Ma, Nava, Niello, | | | | |Ruskin | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Page 3 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