California has introduced a bill that would require the state’s veterinary medical board to prioritize investigations of unlicensed individuals holding themselves to be veterinarians and veterinarian technicians. A public hearing on the measure is set for Monday, April 11, 2011. Under existing law, the state veterinary medical board is required to prioritize its investigative and prosecutorial resources to ensure that disciplinary cases against veterinarians and registered veterinary technicians are handled expeditiously. Senate Bill 697, introduced by Sen. Gloria Negrete McLeod, would require the board to prioritize its resources to ensure that cases against unlicensed and unregistered persons and any person aiding and abetting these unlicensed and unregistered persons are brought in a similar manner. In addition, the bill provides that a person practices veterinary medicine when he or she advertises or represents himself or herself as engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine. Under current law, a person practices veterinary medicine when he or she, among other things, represents himself or herself as engaged in the practice. The Senate committee on business, professions and economic development is scheduled to hear SB 697 on April 11 in the state Capitol. To read the bill in its entirety, click here. <HOME>
