HB 432 - VETERINARY LICENSING Number 0625 CHAIRMAN KOTT announced that the next order of business to come before the House Labor and Commerce Committee was HOUSE BILL NO. 432, "An Act relating to the practice of veterinary medicine." GEORGE DOZIER, staff to Chairman Kott, explained HB 432 accomplishes three or four different goals. He said it contains a provision which prescribes the fraudulent use or procurement of a veterinarian license. It also prescribes the act of fraudulently claiming to have such a license. It makes it a unclassified misdemeanor with up to a $10,000 fine for violation of those provisions. Mr. Dozier explained the second section of the bill recognizes that at one time an organization used to give standardized tests. That organization is no longer in existence. It is now called something else and the test is also called something else. It changes certain references to the licensure provisions from the National Board of Veterinarian Examiners to the National Board of Examination Committee. The same thing is done further on changing the old organization known as the American Veterinarian Association's Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinarian Graduates to the National Board of Examination Committees Education Commission for foreign Veterinarian Graduates. Mr. Dozier explained the bill also requires veterinary technicians to be licensed and requires the board to promulgate regulations concerning that licensure. Number 0723 CHAIRMAN KOTT announced that the first witness would be Dr. Dee Thornell, testifying via teleconference from Anchorage. DEANNA J. THORNELL, of the Board of Veterinary Examiners, stated that while current law makes it illegal to practice veterinary medicine in the state without a license, no penalties are mandated. HB 432 would mandate a $10,000 fine and imprisonment of up to one year for a person found in violation of the licensing requirements. Number 0850 CHAIRMAN KOTT asked if all recommendations contained in HB 432 have been approved by the Board of Veterinary Licensing. DR. THORNELL responded that they have. She added that the change related to licensing veterinary technicians is consistent with every other state in the union. REPRESENTATIVE ELTON stated he was somewhat surprised that the provisions for licensing veterinary technicians are to be supervised by the veterinary board. This seems like having doctors oversee licensing requirements for nurses. He asked if this was a common procedure. DR. THORNELL replied that it is consistent with the other states. Also, it would not be financially feasible to create a separate board for licensing veterinary technicians, because there are so few in the state. Some states do provide extra seats on the veterinary board for licensed technicians. REPRESENTATIVE ELTON then asked if the cost of the licensing procedures for veterinary technicians would be borne by the veterinarians. DR. THORNELL responded that the technicians are already bearing the cost of their own examinations. In essence, the legislation only changes the title from "registered veterinary technician" to "licensed veterinary technician." All of the statutes are already in place for registering veterinary technicians. Number 1016 CATHERINE REARDON, Director, Division of Occupational Licensing, Department of Commerce and Economic Development, stated that she was available to answer questions from the committee. CHAIRMAN KOTT announced that, there being no questions or additional witnesses wishing to testify, public testimony on HB 432 was closed. REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG made a motion that HB 432, with individual recommendations and attached zero fiscal note, be passed out of the House Labor and Commerce Committee. CHAIRMAN KOTT announced that, there being no objections, HB 432 with individual recommendations and accompanying zero fiscal note was passed out of the House Labor and Commerce Committee.