Struck = removed from the bill ·
added = the amendment's new text.
StrickenHall languageof wouldthe beHouse deletedof fromRepresentatives and94th underlinedGeneral languageAssembly would- beRegular addedSession, to2023 presentAmendment law.Form ______________________________________________________________________ Subtitle of House Bill No.
Act1182 161TO ofPROVIDE theCLARITY RegularREGARDING SessionTHE StateCERTIFICATION ofOF ArkansasA AsVETERINARY Engrossed:TECHNICIAN SPECIALIST;
H1/31/23AND H2/2/23TO S2/15/23AUTHORIZE 94thPRESCRIPTIVE GeneralAUTHORITY AssemblyFOR A BillVETERINARY RegularTECHNICIAN Session,SPECIALIST 2023IN HOUSEA BILLCOLLABORATIVE 1182PRACTICE 5AGREEMENT By:WITH A VETERINARIAN.
Representatives______________________________________________________________________ Vaught,Amendment WardlawNo. By:
Senator2 Hillto 8House ForBill An1182 ActAmend ToHouse BeBill EntitledNo. AN ACT TO PROVIDE CLARITY REGARDING THE CERTIFICATION OF A VETERINARY TECHNICIAN SPECIALIST;
TO1182 AUTHORIZEas Aengrossed COLLABORATIVEH1/31/23 PRACTICE(version: AGREEMENT BETWEEN A VETERINARIAN AND A VETERINARY TECHNICIAN SPECIALIST;
AND1/31/2023 FOR9:39:40 OTHERAM): PURPOSES.
SubtitleAdd TOSenator PROVIDEHill CLARITYas REGARDINGa THEcosponsor CERTIFICATIONof OFthe Abill VETERINARY*.JMB211* TECHNICIANBy: SPECIALIST;
ANDRepresentative TOVaught______________________________________________________________________________ AUTHORIZEJMB/JMB A- COLLABORATIVE01-31-2023 PRACTICE11:05:32 AGREEMENT_________________________ BETWEENJMB211 AChief VETERINARIANClerk AND A VETERINARY TECHNICIAN SPECIALIST.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
SECTION 1.
Arkansas Code § 17-101-102, concerning definitions within the Arkansas Veterinary Medical Practice Act, is amended to add additional subdivisions to read as follows:
(18) “Collaborative practice agreement” means a written plan that identifies a veterinarian and a veterinary technician specialist who agree to collaborate together in the joint management of the health care of the veterinarian's animal patients and that outlines procedures for consultation with or referral to the collaborating veterinarian or other healthcare professionals as indicated by an animal patient's healthcare needs;
*JMB180* 02-15-2023 13:41:53 JMB180 As Engrossed:
H1/31/23 H2/2/23 S2/15/23 HB1182 (19) “Collaborating veterinarian” means a veterinarian licensed under this chapter who enters into a collaborative practice agreement with a veterinary technician specialist and who resides and practices in this state;
and (20) "Specialized veterinary technology" means the performance of all aspects of medical care, services, diagnosis, prognosis, and the administration of appliances and prescribed drugs, medications, and treatment of an animal patient under the direct supervision, indirect supervision, or immediate supervision of a collaborating veterinarian.
SECTION 2.
Arkansas Code § 17-101-306(i)-(j), concerning the certification of veterinary technicians, veterinary technologists, and veterinary technician specialists, are amended to read as follows:
(i) A veterinary technician, veterinary technologist, or veterinary technician specialist shall not receive a fee or other compensation for veterinary services or veterinary technology services other than the salary or other compensation paid to the veterinary technician, veterinary technologist, or veterinary technician specialist by the veterinary clinic, veterinary practice, or veterinarian by which he or she is employed.
(j)(1) The Veterinary Medical Examining Board may issue additional certifications for a veterinary technician specialist.
(2) For an applicant seeking certification as a veterinary technician specialist, the Veterinary Medical Examining Board may require an initial application, application fee as determined by the Veterinary Medical Examining Board, renewal application, renewal application fee as determined by the Veterinary Medical Examining Board, and any other relevant information determined by the Veterinary Medical Examining Board.
SECTION 3.
Arkansas Code § 17-101-310, concerning required continuing education under the Arkansas Veterinary Medical Practice Act, is amended to add an additional subsection to read as follows:
(d)(1) A veterinary technician specialist shall complete an additional eight (8) hours of advanced continuing education in his or her area of specialty each year before veterinary technician specialist certification renewal.
(2) A veterinary technician specialist shall maintain an active 02-15-2023 13:41:53 JMB180 As Engrossed:
H1/31/23 H2/2/23 S2/15/23 HB1182 veterinary technician certification in this state and fulfill all continuing education hours required for the veterinary technician certification.
4 SECTION 4.
Arkansas Code Title 17, Chapter 101, Subchapter 3, is amended to add additional sections to read as follows:
17-101-319.
Veterinary technician specialist — Certification.
(a)(1) The Veterinary Medical Examining Board shall issue additional certifications for a veterinary technician specialist.
(2) For an applicant seeking certification as a veterinary technician specialist, the board may require:
(A) An initial application and an initial application fee as determined by the board;
(B) A renewal application and a renewal application fee as determined by the board;
and (C) Any other relevant information determined by the board.
(b)(1) A veterinary technician specialist shall perform specialized veterinary technology under the direction, supervision, and responsibility of the:
(A) Licensed veterinarian with whom he or she is employed;
or (B) Collaborating veterinarian under a collaborative practice agreement.
(2) Supervision of a veterinary technician specialist may be direct supervision, indirect supervision, or immediate supervision.
(3) A veterinarian who utilizes indirect supervision of a veterinary technician specialist shall:
(A) Retain control of and authority over the care of the animal patient;
and (B) Review all record keeping and notes documented by the veterinary technician specialist on the charts regarding the care of the animal patient.
(c)(1) A licensed veterinarian using, supervising, or employing a veterinary technician specialist is individually responsible and liable for the performance of the acts and omissions delegated to the veterinary technician specialist.
02-15-2023 13:41:53 JMB180 As Engrossed:
H1/31/23 H2/2/23 S2/15/23 HB1182 (2) This subsection does not relieve a veterinary technician specialist of any responsibility or liability for any of his or her own acts and omissions.
(3) A licensed veterinarian shall not establish a separate office or clinic in a location other than his or her regular office and place the separate office or clinic under the control or supervision of a veterinary technician specialist.
(d) A veterinary technician specialist may receive compensation for performing the practice of specialized veterinary technology.
(e) A person shall not use or assume the title “certified veterinary technician specialist”, "veterinary technician specialist", "VTS", or “CVTS” or use any words, letters, abbreviations, or insignia indicating or implying that the person holds a veterinary technician specialist certification unless the person is certified by the board.
17-101-320.
Collaborative practice agreement.
(a)(1)(A) A veterinary technician specialist and a veterinarian may enter into a collaborative practice agreement.
(B) A veterinarian shall not enter into a collaborative practice agreement with more than three (3) veterinary technician specialists at one (1) time.
(2) A collaborative practice agreement shall include without limitation provisions addressing:
(A) The location and license details of both the veterinary technician specialist and collaborating veterinarian as well as the availability of the collaborating veterinarian for consultation or referral, or both;
(B) Methods of management of the collaborative practice, which shall include protocols for technical duties and prescriptive authority;
(C) Coverage of the veterinary needs of an animal patient in the emergency absence of the veterinary technician specialist or collaborating veterinarian;
and (D) Quality assurance with monthly reviews of the veterinary technician specialist's animal patients' medical records or case discussions with the collaborating veterinarian.
02-15-2023 13:41:53 JMB180 As Engrossed:
H1/31/23 H2/2/23 S2/15/23 HB1182 (3) If a collaborative practice results in complaints of violations of this chapter, the Veterinary Medical Examining Board may review the role of the collaborating veterinarian or the veterinary technician specialist in the collaborative practice to determine if the collaborating veterinarian or the veterinary technician specialist is unable to manage his or her responsibilities under the collaborative practice agreement without an adverse effect on the quality of care of the animal patient.
(4) A veterinary technician specialist shall notify the board in writing within seven (7) days following the termination of a collaborative practice agreement.
(b)(1) A veterinary technician specialist may receive drugs, medicines, or therapeutic devices appropriate to the veterinary technician specialist's area of practice.
(2) If the collaborative practice agreement between a veterinary technician specialist and a collaborating veterinarian is terminated, a new collaborative practice agreement shall be required.
(3) Under the supervision of a collaborating veterinarian, a veterinary technician specialist may:
(A)(i) Establish care for new animal patients by forming a preliminary veterinarian-client-patient relationship on behalf of the collaborating veterinarian with the animal patient or client, order diagnostics, provide a diagnosis or a prognosis, and develop treatment plans with a collaborating veterinarian.
(ii) The collaborating veterinarian shall complete the veterinarian-client-patient relationship by personally seeing the animal patient within fifteen (15) days;
(B) Perform the induction, maintenance, and monitoring of anesthesia for an animal patient except when in conflict with state or federal law;
(C) Perform minor dental and surgical procedures on animal patients, excluding abdominal, thoracic, or orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery;
(D) Administer a drug or controlled substance to prevent suffering of animal patients, including without limitation euthanasia, under direct communication with a collaborating veterinarian;
(E) Initiate and perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation on 02-15-2023 13:41:53 JMB180 As Engrossed:
H1/31/23 H2/2/23 S2/15/23 HB1182 animal patients, including administration of medication and defibrillation, and provide immediate post-resuscitation care according to established protocols except when in conflict with state or federal law;
and (F) Dispense and administer medicines or therapeutic devices for animal patients except when in conflict with state or federal law.
(c) The veterinary technician specialist shall keep accurate records in accordance with the rules of the board, including without limitation the medical history, physical examination, other evaluations and consultations, treatment plan objective, informed consent noted in the animal patient's record, treatment, prescriptions, and medications given, agreements regarding the animal patient, and periodic reviews.
SECTION 5.
Arkansas Code § 20-19-302(6), concerning the definition of "vaccination against rabies" within the Rabies Control Act, is amended to read as follows:
(6) “Vaccination against rabies” means the injection, subcutaneously or otherwise, of antirabic vaccine, as approved by the United States Department of Agriculture or the State Board of Health and administered by a licensed veterinarian, veterinary technician, veterinary technologist, veterinary technician specialist, or agent of the Department of Health.
/s/Vaught APPROVED:
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