SB 1194
Initials PAB/AH Page 1 Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-sixth Legislature
First Regular Session
Senate: NREW DPA 6-1-0-0 | 3
rd
Read DPA 27-2-1-0
SB1194: state veterinarian; certified rabies vaccinator
Sponsor: Senator Borrelli, LD 30
Committee on Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Overview
Allows a certified rabies vaccinator who is not a licensed veterinarian to administer rabies
vaccines to animals on the premises of a shelter or animal rescue organization facility subject to
certain conditions and establishes procedures for certifying this vaccinator.
History
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rabies is a preventable viral disease
that infects the central nervous system of mammals causing brain disease and eventual death.
Rabies is most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. In Arizona, most rabies hosts
are bats, skunks and foxes. When rabies infection increases in these groups, other mammals,
including bobcats, coyotes, javelina, cats, dogs, horses and cows can become affected.
According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, there were 83 cases of documented
rabies-positive wild animals and 53 domestic animals exposed to rabid animals in 2021. In the
same year, 18 humans were exposed to rabid animals. The last documented human rabies death
in Arizona was in 1981.
Regular rabies vaccinations are effective in preventing rabies in pets and animals. All animals
vaccinated against rabies in Arizona must follow the prescriptions of the National Association of
State Public Health Veterinarian's Compendium of Animal Rabies Control (2016) including use of
a U.S. Department of Agriculture-licensed vaccine with at least a three-year duration of immunity.
Additionally, all rabies vaccines require boosters (A.A.C. R3-2-409). Only licensed veterinarians
may administer rabies vaccines in Arizona (A.R.S. § 11-1001).
All dogs in Arizona must be licensed, which requires the dog's owner or veterinarian to present a
signed paper or electronic copy of the dog's rabies vaccination (A.R.S. § 11-1010). There are no
rabies vaccination requirements for cats.
Provisions
1. Allows a certified rabies vaccinator who is not a licensed veterinarian to administer rabies
vaccines to animals at a shelter or animal rescue organization facility located in a county with
a population of less than 400,000 people or a census county division with less than 50,000
people if a licensed veterinarian is not available. (Sec. 1, 3 and 5-6)
2. Requires a licensed veterinarian to provide in-person training and, upon completing training,
written certification to each person the veterinarian appoints to administer rabies vaccines.
(Sec. 6)
3. States that initial rabies vaccination certifications last for one year and subsequent
certifications last for two years upon renewal as prescribed by the State Veterinarian. (Sec. 6)
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note SB 1194
Initials PAB/AH Page 2 Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs
4. Requires a certified rabies vaccinator to maintain records of all vaccinations administered for
three years and record any adverse events. (Sec. 6)
5. Exempts a licensed veterinarian who appoints a certified rabies vaccinator from liability for
any action taken by a certified rabies vaccinator while administering a rabies vaccine. (Sec.
6)
6. Exempts a certified rabies vaccinator from veterinarian licensing requirements. (Sec. 4, 7)
7. Requires the State Veterinarian to adopt rules to implement the requirements for training,
certifying and overseeing certified rabies vaccinators. (Sec. 2)
8. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1-5 and 7)