SECTION 1. Chapter 13 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 26 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 26. (a) There shall be a board of registration in veterinary medicine, in sections 27 and 28 called the board, consisting of 4 veterinarians, 3 licensed veterinary technicians, as defined in section 54A of chapter 112 and 2 representatives of the public, subject to section 9B. Each member shall be appointed by the governor. Each member of the board shall be a legal resident of the commonwealth. Each veterinarian member of the board shall be licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the commonwealth, a graduate of a school or college teaching veterinary medicine and approved by the approving authority and shall have had at least 5 years’ experience in the active practice of veterinary medicine prior to their appointment. Each licensed veterinary technician member shall be licensed in accordance with section 56F of chapter 112 and have at least 5 years experience in the active practice of veterinary technology. No member shall be a member of any faculty in any institution having the power to confer degrees in veterinary medicine. One member thereof shall annually before December first be appointed by the governor, for 5 years from January first following. No member appointed to a full 5-year term shall be reappointed to succeed themself.

SECTION 2. Section 54A of chapter 112 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, after the definition of “Board”, the following definition:-

“Licensed veterinary technician” and “veterinary technician,” a graduate of an American Veterinary Medical Association accredited program in veterinary technology or veterinary nursing who has achieved a passing score on an approved licensing exam as determined by the board and is licensed in the commonwealth.

SECTION 3. Said section 54A of said chapter 112, as so appearing, is hereby further

amended by inserting, after the definition of “Veterinarian,” the following definition:-

“Veterinary assistant,” an individual working as part of a veterinary healthcare team who is not a licensed veterinary technician.

SECTION 4. Said section 54A of said chapter 112, as so appearing, is hereby further

amended by adding the following definition:-

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

medicine by a licensed veterinary technician who 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.

SECTION 5. Said chapter 112 is hereby further amended by inserting after section 56E the following section:-

Section 56F. (a)(1) An individual shall be licensed as a veterinary technician, by the

board, to practice veterinary technology. Only those individuals who are licensed shall utilize the title of veterinary technician. No person shall hold themself out as a licensed veterinary technician in the commonwealth unless licensed in accordance with this section; provided, that any individual or veterinary practice in violation of this subsection may be subject to fines as established by the board.

(2) Veterinary technician students, or other individuals deemed appropriate by the board, 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.

(b)(1) The board shall promulgate rules and regulations by which veterinary technicians shall be licensed and registered in the commonwealth. Any rules that allow individuals to become licensed without a formal degree in veterinary technology shall have an end date no later than July 1, 2030. The board may recommend the suspension or revocation of a veterinary technician’s license for failure to abide by the laws of the commonwealth or regulations promulgated by the board.

(2) The regulations shall: (i) define the duties which supervising, licensed veterinarians may assign to licensed veterinary technicians and to non-licensed veterinary assistants; (ii) address the maintenance, suspension and revocation of licenses; (iii) provide for continuing education requirements for licensed veterinary technicians; (iv) determine the criteria by which an individual shall be deemed a licensed veterinary technician or a veterinary assistant; and (v) establish guidance for students working under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian or licensed veterinarian technician pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection (a).

(c) This section shall not apply to: (i) a research institution as defined in section 136A of chapter 140; or (ii) special cases, including zoos and aquaria, diagnostic facilities, licensed wildlife rehabilitation facilities and any other such special cases as the board shall identify.

SECTION 6. Notwithstanding section 26 of chapter 13 of the General Laws, or any other general or special law to the contrary, the initial appointments of veterinary technicians to the board of registration in veterinary medicine shall be Massachusetts Veterinary Technician Association certified veterinary technicians selected from a list of nominees provided to the governor. For the initial appointments of veterinary technicians, there shall be one 3 year appointment, one 4 year appointment, and one 5 year appointment.

SECTION 7. The board of registration in veterinary medicine shall promulgate regulations pursuant to section 56F of chapter 112 of the General Laws, inserted by section 5, not later than 180 days after the effective date of this act.

SECTION 8. Not later than 180 days after the effective date of this act, the board of

registration in veterinary medicine shall provide information to veterinarians, veterinary technicians, veterinary practices and animal hospitals regarding definitions of roles of licensed veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants as promulgated under regulations pursuant to section 56F of chapter 112 of the General Laws, inserted by section 5.

SECTION 9. The board of registration in veterinary medicine shall issue temporary

licenses for all current certified veterinary technicians through the Massachusetts Veterinary Technician Association and shall promulgate regulations for the temporary licensure of individuals practicing veterinary technology within 180 days of the effective date of this act.

SECTION 10. All individuals practicing veterinary medicine technology required to be licensed pursuant to section 56F of chapter 112 of the General Laws, inserted by section 5, shall be licensed not later than July 1, 2030.