Assigned to NREW AS PASSED BY COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1200
veterinarians; malpractice; unprofessional conduct
Purpose
Expands the conditions of unprofessional or dishonorable conduct and administrative
violations for veterinarians. Increases the civil penalty maximum for veterinary malpractice and
requires the Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board (Board) to increase the charge of
the maximum civil penalty for veterinarian malpractice based on inflation.
Background
The Board may revoke or suspend a veterinary license or impose a civil penalty against
any veterinarian for: 1) unprofessional or dishonorable conduct; 2) publicly professing to cure or
treat diseases of a highly contagious, infections and incurable nature; 3) curing or treating an injury
or deformity in such a way as to deceive the public; and 4) testing any animal for any communicable
disease and knowingly stating verbally or in writing that the animal is diseased or in a disease-free
condition if the statement is contrary to the indication of the test made (A.R.S. § 32-2232).
The GDP price deflator measures changes in the prices of goods and services produced in
the United States, including those exported to other countries. The GDP price deflator is a measure
of inflation and is used by some firms to adjust payments in contracts. The GDP price deflator is
calculated by dividing the nominal GDP by the real GDP and multiplying the results by 100 (U.S.
Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Adds to the condition of unprofessional or dishonorable conduct for veterinarians to include:
a) making a false statement on or altering any document, record or report to include a false
statement concerning the medical treatment of an animal;
b) withholding known medical information about an animal that is necessary for the owner or
caretaker to make an informed decision whether to pursue further treatment of the animal;
and
c) delegating professional responsibilities to a person when knowing or having reason to
know that the person is not qualified by training, experience, education or certification to
perform those responsibilities.
2. Adds to the condition of administrative violation for veterinarians to include, failure to provide
records or copies of records of veterinary medical services, including copies of radiographs, to
the owner of or another veterinarian currently providing veterinary medical services to an
animal within 10 days after the date of the owner's or veterinarian's request or in less than 10
days if the animal's medical condition requires. FACT SHEET – Amended
S.B. 1200
Page 2
3. Increases the civil penalty maximum, from $1,000 to $1,900, for any veterinarian responsible
for statutorily outlined misconduct.
4. Requires the Board to increase the dollar amounts of the maximum civil penalties imposed for
veterinarian malpractice and administrative violation offenses for inflation, based on the GDP
price deflator, for each year beginning January 1, 2025.
5. Makes technical changes.
6. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
1. Removes the requirement for a veterinarian to disclose all known medical information relevant
to the animal's health, including all of the animal's known medical issues, in order for that
veterinarian to avoid committing unprofessional or dishonorable conduct.
2. Modifies the condition of unprofessional or dishonorable conduct relating to a veterinarian
who authorizes an unqualified person to perform veterinary responsibilities.
Senate Action
NREW 2/15/24 DPA 5-1-1
Prepared by Senate Research
February 19, 2024
RA/KP/slp