HB1408: HB1408 Veterinarians; authorize licensed veterinary technicians to administer antirabies vaccinations to animals

26 LC 60 0304/AP House Bill 1408 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE) By: Representatives Camp of the 135th, Hagan of the 156th, Cooper of the 45th, Cox of the 28th, Jasperse of the 11th, and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Chapter 19 of Title 31 and Chapter 50 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia1 Annotated, relating to control of rabies and veterinarians and veterinary technicians,2 respectively, so as to authorize licensed veterinary technicians under the direct supervision3 of a licensed veterinarian to administer antirabies vaccination s to animals required by this4 state to be inoculated against rabies; to update terminology and make conforming changes;5 to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:7 SECTION 1.8 Chapter 19 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotate d, relating to control of9 rabies, is amended by revising Code Section 31-19-5, relating to inoculation of canines and10 felines against rabies, as follows:11 "31-19-5.12 The county boards of health are empowered and required to adopt and promulgate rules13 and regulations requiring canines and felines to be inoculated against rabies and to14 prescribe the intervals and means of inoculation, the fees to be paid in county sponsored15 clinics, that procedures be in compliance with the recommendati ons of the National16 H. B. 1408 - 1 - 26 LC 60 0304/AP Association of State Public Health Veterinarians for identifyin g inoculated canines and17 felines, and all other procedures applicable thereto. As used in this chapter, the term18 'inoculation against rabies' means the administering by a licen sed veterinarian o f a n19 antirabies vaccine approved by the department by a licensed vet erinarian or a licensed20 veterinary technician in accordance with Code Section 43-50-54.1."21 SECTION 2.22 Said chapter is further amended by revising subsection (b) of Code Section 31-19-7, relating23 to county rabies control officer, as follows:24 "(b) The county governing aut hority of each county is authorize d to levy a fee not to25 exceed 50¢ for each dog, such fee to be collected by the veteri narian administering or26 directly supervising the administration of the antirabies vaccine required by this chapter. 27 This fee shall be in addition to that provided for in Code Section 31-19-5. If any county28 has no resident veterinarian, the out-of-county veterinarian ad ministering or directly29 supervising the administration of the antirabies vaccine and collecting the fee provided for30 by this Code section shall forward to the treasurer of the coun ty of the dog owner's31 residence the fee prescribed by that county's governing authority."32 SECTION 3.33 Chapter 50 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to veterinarians34 and veterinary technicians, is amended in Article 1, relating to general provisions, by revising35 paragraphs (25) and (26) of Code Section 43-50-3, relating to definitions, as follows:36 "(25) 'Practice veterinary medicine' or 'practice of veterinary medicine' means:37 (A) To diagnose, treat, correct, change, relieve, or prevent animal disease, deformity,38 defect, injury, or other physical or mental conditions, includi ng the prescribing,39 administration, or dispensing of any prescription drug, medicine, biologic, apparatus,40 application, anesthetic, or other therapeutic or diagnostic substance or technique on, for,41 H. B. 1408 - 2 - 26 LC 60 0304/AP or to any animal, including, but not limited to, the use of complementary, alternative,42 and integrative therapies, animal dentistry, manual or mechanic al adjustment43 procedures, physical therapy, rehabilitation, surgery, diagnostic veterinary pathology,44 any manual, mechanical, biological, or chemical procedure used for pregnancy testing45 or for correcting sterility or infertility, or to render advice or recommendations with46 regard to any of the above; but not including such administration or dispensing pursuant47 to prescription or direction of a licensed veterinarian;48 (B)(i) To apply or use any instrument or device on any portion of an animal's tooth,49 gum, or any related tissue for the prevention, cure, or relief of any wound, fracture,50 injury, disease, or other condition of an animal's tooth, gum, or related tissue.51 (ii) To engage in preventive dental procedures on animals, including, but not limited52 to, the removal of calculus, soft deposits, plaque, or stains o r the smoothing, filing,53 or polishing of tooth surfaces.54 (iii) Nothing in this subparagraph shall prohibit any person f rom utilizing cotton55 swabs, gauze, dental floss, dentifrice, toothbrushes, or simila r items to clean an56 animal's teeth;57 (C) To represent, directly or indirectly, publicly or privately, an ability and willingness58 to do any act described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph;59 (D) To use any title, words, abbreviation, or letters in a manner or under circumstances60 which induce the belief that the person using them is legally authorized or qualified to61 perform an act included in this paragraph. Such use shall be evidence of the intention62 to represent oneself as engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine;63 (E) To apply principles of environmental sanitation, food insp ection, environmental64 pollution control, zoonotic disease control, and disaster medicine in the promotion and65 protection of public health as it specifically relates to animals. This subparagraph shall66 apply only to licensed veterinarians and not to other qualified persons;67 H. B. 1408 - 3 - 26 LC 60 0304/AP (F) To collect blood or other samples for the purpose of diagnosing diseases or related68 conditions. This subparagraph shall not apply to unlicensed professionals employed by69 or under contract with the United States Department of Agricult ure or the Georgia70 Department of Agriculture who are engaged in their official duties; or71 ( G ) T o a d m i n i s t e r a r a b i e s an antirabies vaccination to any animal that the state72 requires to be vaccinated, but shall not include the administra tion of an antirabies73 vaccination by a licensed veterinary technician pursuant to Code Section 43-50-54.1. 74 (26) 'Practice veterinary technology' means:75 (A) To perform animal patient care or other services that requ ire a technical76 understanding of veterinary medicine by a licensed veterinary technician on the basis77 of written or oral instruction of a licensed veterinarian, excl uding diagnosing,78 prognosing, performing surgery, prescribing, or dispensing;79 (B) To represent, directly or indirectly, publicly or privately, an ability and willingness80 to engage in any act described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph; or81 (C) To use any title, words, abbreviation, or letters, while e ngaged in the practice of82 licensed veterinary technology, in a manner or under circumstan ces that induce the83 belief that the person using them is qualified to engage in an act included in84 subparagraph (A) of this paragraph; or85 (D) To administer an antirabies vaccination in accordance with Code86 Section 43-50-54.1."87 SECTION 4.88 Said chapter is further amended in Article 3, relating to licen sing, by adding a new Code89 section to read as follows:90 H. B. 1408 - 4 - 26 LC 60 0304/AP "43-50-54.1.91 A licensed veterinary technician working under a licensed veterinarian's direct supervision,92 as defined by the board pursuant to Code Section 43-50-54, may administer an antirabies93 vaccination to any animal that the state requires to be vaccinated."94 SECTION 5.95 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.96 H. B. 1408 - 5 -