Amended in Assembly April 27, 2015

Amended in Assembly March 26, 2015

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 317


Introduced by Assembly Member Maienschein

February 13, 2015


An act to add Section 4853.7 to the Business and Professions Code, relating to veterinary medicine.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 317, as amended, Maienschein. Veterinary medicine: temporary shelter facility.

Under existing law, the Veterinary Medical Board licenses and regulates veterinarians and the practice of veterinary medicine. It is unlawful for any person to practice veterinary medicine in this state unless he or she holds a valid, unexpired, and unrevoked license issued by the board, except under specified circumstances.

Existing law requires the registration of all premises where veterinary medicine, veterinary dentistry, or veterinary surgery is being practiced. Existing law also requires these premises, and all instruments, apparatus, and apparel used in connection with those practices, to be kept clean and sanitary at all times, and to conform to those minimum standards established by the board. Existing law makes it a misdemeanor to violate these provisions regulating the practice of veterinary medicine.

This bill would exempt from the premises registration requirements an organization that establishes a temporary shelter facility during a state of emergency to provide veterinary medical care by a veterinarian who is regularly licensedbegin insert in good standingend insert in another state or territory of the United States if the temporary shelter facility meets specified requirements.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

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SECTION 1.  

Section 4853.7 is added to the Business and
2Professions Code
, to read:

3

4853.7.  

Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter,
4an organization that establishes a temporary shelter facility to
5provide veterinary medical care, shelter, and food and water during
6a state of emergency, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 8558,
7by a veterinarian who is regularly licensedbegin insert in good standingend insert in
8another state or territory of the United States shall be exempt from
9the premises registration requirements of this chapter if the
10following requirements are met:

11(a) A notice is posted in a conspicuous location that the
12temporary shelter facility is being used for the diagnosis and
13treatment of animals affected by the state of emergency and that
14this diagnosis and treatment is provided by a veterinarian who is
15licensed in another state or territory of the United States.

16(b) The temporary shelter facility complies with the standards
17established pursuant to Section 4854.

18(c) The temporary shelter ceases operations within 60 days after
19its establishment unless the board grants an extension of this date
20to protect the public health and safety of the animals within the
21temporary shelter.



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