Bill Text: CA AB317 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Veterinary medicine: temporary shelter.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Vetoed) 2016-01-15 - Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file. [AB317 Detail]

Download: California-2015-AB317-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 317	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 26, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Maienschein

                        FEBRUARY 13, 2015

   An act to  amend Section 921 of   add Section
4853.7 to  the Business and Professions Code, relating to
 healing arts   veterinary medicine  .



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 317, as amended, Maienschein.  Health care
professionals.   Veterinary medicine: temporary shelter
facility.  
   Under existing law, the Veterinary Medical Board licenses and
regulates veterinarians and the practice of veterinary medicine. It
is unlawful for any person to practice veterinary medicine in this
state unless he or she holds a valid, unexpired, and unrevoked
license issued by the board, except under specified circumstances.
 
   Existing law requires the registration of all premises where
veterinary medicine, veterinary dentistry, or veterinary surgery is
being practiced. Existing law also requires these premises, and all
instruments, apparatus, and apparel used in connection with those
practices, to be kept clean and sanitary at all times, and to conform
to those minimum standards established by the board. Existing law
makes it a misdemeanor to violate these provisions regulating the
practice of veterinary medicine.  
   This bill would exempt from the premises registration requirements
an organization that establishes a temporary shelter facility during
a state of emergency to provide veterinary medical care by a
veterinarian who is regularly licensed in another state or territory
of the United States if the temporary shelter facility meets
specified requirements.  
   Existing law, the Health Care Professional Disaster Response Act,
states findings of the Legislature regarding the shortage of
qualified health care practitioners during times of national or state
disasters, and authorizes a physician and surgeon, whose license has
been expired for less than 5 years and who meets specified criteria,
to obtain a license without paying fees.  
   This bill would make a nonsubstantive change to those provisions.

   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no
  yes . State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   SECTION 1.    Section 4853.7 is added to the 
 Business and Professions Code   , to read:  
   4853.7.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, an
organization that establishes a temporary shelter facility to provide
veterinary medical care, shelter, and food and water during a state
of emergency, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 8558, by a
veterinarian who is regularly licensed in another state or territory
of the United States shall be exempt from the premises registration
requirements of this chapter if the following requirements are met:
   (a) A notice is posted in a conspicuous location that the
temporary shelter facility is being used for the diagnosis and
treatment of animals affected by the state of emergency and that this
diagnosis and treatment is provided by a veterinarian who is
licensed in another state or territory of the United States.
   (b) The temporary shelter facility complies with the standards
established pursuant to Section 4854.
   (c) The temporary shelter ceases operations within 60 days after
its establishment unless the board grants an extension of this date
to protect the public health and safety of the animals within the
temporary shelter.  
       
  SECTION 1.    Section 921 of the Business and
Professions Code is amended to read:
   921.  (a) The Legislature finds and declares the following:
   (1) In times of national or state disasters, a shortage of
qualified health care practitioners may exist in areas throughout the
state where they are desperately required to respond to public
health emergencies.
   (2) Health care practitioners with lapsed or inactive licenses
could potentially serve in those areas where a shortage of qualified
health care practitioners exists, if licensing requirements were
streamlined and fees curtailed.
   (b) Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature to address
these matters through the provisions of the Health Care Professional
Disaster Response Act.