CA AB 1502

Title: Veterinary medicine: California Veterinary Medical Board.
Author: Marc Berman

Summary
AB 1502, as amended, Berman. Veterinary medicine: California Veterinary Medical Board. (1) Existing law, the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act, establishes the California Veterinary Medical Board, until January 1, 2026, within the Department of Consumer Affairs and sets forth its powers and duties relating to the licensure and regulation of veterinarians, veterinarian technicians, and the practice of veterinary medicine. Existing law, until January 1, 2026, authorizes the board to appoint a person exempt from civil service as an executive officer to exercise the powers and perform the duties delegated by the board and vested in them. Existing law establishes the membership of the board, including 4 licensed veterinarians, 1 registered veterinary technician, and 3 public members. Existing law makes a violation of the act a crime.This bill would extend the existence of the board to until January 1, 2030, add an additional registered veterinary technician member to the board, and make conforming changes. The bill would require at least one of the licensed veterinarian members to specialize in equine or livestock care, or both.(2) Existing law requires an individual to meet certain requirements for registration as a veterinary technician, as defined, including furnishing satisfactory evidence of educational or experiential qualifications, as specified.This bill would expand the qualifications that the applicant for registration as a veterinary technician may furnish as proof of compliance with the educational or experiential qualifications requirement to include, among other things, graduation from a veterinary college recognized by the board. The bill would expand the requirements of registration as a veterinary technician to include, among other things, submission of a full set of fingerprints for the purpose of conducting a criminal history record check and a state and federal criminal offender record information search, as specified.(3) Existing law requires an individual to meet certain requirements for issuance of a veterinary assistant controlled substance permit, including submitting to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information, as specified.This bill would require an applicant for a veterinary assistant controlled substance permit to disclose each state, Canadian province, or United States territory in which the applicant currently holds or has ever held a license, registration, certificate, or permit to practice veterinary medicine.(4) Existing law requires a veterinarian to keep a written record of all animals receiving veterinary services, and to provide a summary of that record to the owner of animals receiving veterinary services, when requested. Existing law requires the board to establish the minimum amount of information to be included in written records and summaries and the minimum duration of time that a licensed premises must retain the written record or a copy of the written record.This bill would instead require a veterinarian to provide a client or client’s authorized agent with a copy of that record, upon their request, as specified. The bill would also require the veterinarian, if requested by the client or client’s authorized agent, as specified, because the animal is in critical condition or direct transfer to another veterinary premises for medical care is recommended, to provide a copy or summary of the written record to the client or the client’s authorized agent. If a written record is not available upon release of the animal patient, the bill would require the veterinarian to communicate information to facilitate continuity of care of the animal patient either to the receiving veterinarian or veterinary premises or, if the receiving veterinary premises is unknown, to the client or the client’s authorized agent.This bill would also require a licensee manager to provide a client or client’s authorized agent, upon their request, with a record of client payments made to the ve

Status
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

Bill Documents
CA AB 1502 - 04/30/25 - Amended Assembly
04/30/25 - CA AB 1502 (04/30/25 - Amended Assembly)