HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2330        FILED ON: 2/17/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 406

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Daniel J. Hunt

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act regulating the practice and licensure of veterinary technicians.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2330        FILED ON: 2/17/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 406

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act regulating the practice and licensure of veterinary technicians.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Findings. The general court finds that:

(1) veterinary technicians are essential members of veterinary teams; and

(2) veterinary technicians protect consumers, the public health, and health and safety in

veterinary offices and in other areas of animal medical care and welfare; and

(3) an increase in pet ownership has increased the need and demand for veterinary care

while advances in veterinary medicine have elevated the level of care and existing best practices;

and

(4) it is in the best interest of the commonwealth to promote the advancement of

veterinary technicians, their management and professionalism, while making use of existing

accredited private and public training already available in the commonwealth.

SECTION 2. Chapter 13 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 26 the

following section:-

Section 26A. Subsidiary Board for Veterinary Technology.

Section 1. As used in sections one to six, inclusive, the following words shall have the

following meanings:-

“Subsidiary board”, the subsidiary board for veterinary technology.

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“Veterinary technology”, the performance of services within the field of veterinary

medicine by a person who, for compensation or personal profit, is employed by or under the

supervision of a licensed veterinarian to perform such duties as are required in carrying out

medical orders as prescribed by a licensed veterinarian requiring an understanding of veterinary

science,

“Veterinary technician”, a graduate of an American Veterinary Medical Associationaccredited program in veterinary technology or veterinary nursing who has achieved a passing

score on an approved licensing exam as determined by the board of registration in veterinary

medicine and has successfully applied for a license in the commonwealth.

“Veterinary assistant”, an individual working as part of a veterinary healthcare team who

is not licensed as a veterinary technician.

Section 2. There shall be a subsidiary board for veterinary technology within and subject

to the control of the board of registration in veterinary medicine.

(a) The subsidiary board shall be comprised of five members appointed by the governor.

One member shall be a veterinarian member of the board of registration in veterinary medicine.

Three members shall be veterinary technicians selected from a list of nominees provided to the

governor by the Massachusetts Veterinary Technician Association. One member shall be

appointed as the public member of the subsidiary board.

(b) The subsidiary board is subject to the board of registration in veterinary medicine, and

the subsidiary board’s recommendations and decisions are subject to approval by the full board

of registration in veterinary medicine.

(c) Each member of the subsidiary board shall be a legal resident of the commonwealth.

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(d) Each veterinary technician member of the subsidiary board shall be licensed to

practice veterinary technology in the commonwealth.

(e) Until the effective date of regulations establishing the criteria for licensed veterinary

technicians, the veterinary technicians appointed to the subsidiary board shall be Massachusetts

Veterinary Technician Association Certified Veterinary Technicians.

(f) Member of the subsidiary board shall be appointed for two-year terms, except that the

initial veterinarian appointee and one of the initial veterinary technician appointees shall be

appointed for three-year terms.

(g) During the initial two years, rules and procedures for veterinary technician licensure

will be established by the subsidiary board subject to approval by the board of registration of

veterinary medicine. After those rules are established, each veterinary technician member shall

be a Massachusetts licensed veterinary technician.

(h) The subsidiary board shall draft and propose criteria and regulations by which

veterinary technicians shall be licensed and registered in the commonwealth, subject to approval

by the board of registration in veterinary medicine.

(i) The subsidiary board shall delineate the duties which supervising, licensed

veterinarians may assign to licensed veterinary technicians, and to non-licensed veterinary

assistants, consistent with good veterinary medical practice in the best interests of consumers.

(j) The subsidiary board shall, subject to the approval of the board of registration of

veterinary medicine, change or alter the duties and rights granted to licensed veterinary

technicians and veterinary assistants as deemed necessary or appropriate by the subsidiary board

to reflect changes in the practice of veterinary technology over time.

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(k) The subsidiary board shall also provide education regarding differences in the duties

and actions allowed for by licensed veterinary technicians and unlicensed veterinary assistants.

Section 3. (a) The subsidiary board shall draft regulations to govern the practice of

veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants., including criteria for licensure of veterinary

technicians and for the maintenance, suspension, or revocation of licenses.

(b) The regulations established by the subsidiary board shall not apply to veterinary

technicians employed by a research institution as defined in section 136A of chapter 140.

(c) Veterinary students and veterinary technician students working under the supervision

of a licensed veterinarian or a licensed veterinary technician may engage in activities necessary

to learn and practice supervised techniques on patients. The subsidiary board may recommend

additional categories of individuals who may engage in activities necessary to learn and practice

supervised techniques on patients.

Section 4. The rules created by the subsidiary board and approved by the board of

registration in veterinary medicine shall not apply to individual veterinary technicians or

veterinary assistants who are working

(a) a research institution as defined in Section 136Aof Chapter 140., and

(b) special cases, including veterinary technicians or veterinary assistants working with zoos and

aquaria, diagnostic facilities, licensed wildlife rehabilitation facilities and other such special

cases as the subsidiary board shall identify.

Section 5. (a) The subsidiary board shall propose the criteria by which a veterinary

technician is deemed a licensed veterinary technician or a non-licensed assistant. Any rules that

allow individuals currently working as non-credentialed technicians to become licensed without

a formal degree in veterinary technology shall have an end date to be determined by the

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subsidiary board subject to approval by the board of registration in veterinary medicine. Any

such rule will include consideration of experience, education, and examination.

(b) The subsidiary board shall propose continuing education requirements for licensed

veterinary technicians.

(c) The subsidiary board may recommend the suspension or revocation of a veterinary

technician’s license for failure to abide by the general laws or regulations promulgated by the

board of registration in veterinary medicine.

Section 6. Only those individuals who are licensed may utilize the title of veterinary

technician. Regardless of job description and duties, anyone who does not hold a valid license to

practice veterinary technology in the commonwealth, yet who functions in a similar capacity of

supporting the overall care of veterinary patients, shall be referred to as a veterinary assistant.

Any individual or veterinary practice who is found to be inappropriately using the title veterinary

technician may be subject to fines as established by the board of registration in veterinary

medicine.