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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1225 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 207
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Jacob R. Oliveira
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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:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Jacob R. OliveiraHampden, Hampshire and WorcesterAnne M. GobiWorcester and Hampshire1/19/2023Steven S. Howitt4th Bristol2/21/2023 1 of 5
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1225 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 207
By Mr. Oliveira, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 207) of Jacob R. Oliveira, Anne M.
Gobi and Steven S. Howitt for legislation to regulate the practice and licensure of veterinary
technicians. Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 2571 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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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:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 13 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition,
2is hereby amended by inserting after section 26 the following section:-
3 Section 26A. There shall be a subsidiary board for veterinary technology within and
4subject to the control of the board of registration in veterinary medicine. Recommendations and
5decisions of the subsidiary board shall be subject to approval by the board of registration in
6veterinary medicine.
7 The subsidiary board shall be comprised of five members appointed by the governor. One
8member shall be a veterinarian member of the board of registration in veterinary medicine. Three
9members shall be licensed veterinary technicians selected from a list of nominees provided to the 2 of 5
10governor by the Massachusetts Veterinary Technician Association. One member shall be
11appointed as the public member of the subsidiary board. Each member of the subsidiary board
12shall be a legal resident of the commonwealth.
13 Members of the subsidiary board shall be appointed for two-year terms, except that the
14initial veterinarian appointee and one of the initial veterinary technician appointees shall be
15appointed for three-year terms.
16 The members of the subsidiary board shall serve without compensation but shall be
17reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in performance of their duties as members
18or on behalf of the subsidiary board.
19 SECTION 2. Section 54A of chapter 112 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
20amended by adding, after the sixth paragraph, the following:-
21 “Subsidiary board”, the subsidiary board for veterinary technology, as established in
22Section 26A of Chapter 13.
23 “Veterinary technology”, the performance of services within the field of veterinary
24medicine by a person who, for compensation or personal profit, is employed by or under the
25supervision of a licensed veterinarian to perform such duties as are required in carrying out
26medical orders as prescribed by a licensed veterinarian requiring an understanding of veterinary
27science.
28 “Veterinary technician”, a graduate of an American Veterinary Medical Association
29accredited program in veterinary technology or veterinary nursing who has achieved a passing 3 of 5
30score on an approved licensing exam as determined by the board of registration in veterinary
31medicine and has successfully applied for a license in the commonwealth.
32 “Veterinary assistant”, an individual working as part of a veterinary healthcare team who
33is not licensed as a veterinary technician.
34 SECTION 3. Chapter 112 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
35inserting after Section 54A the following new sections:-
36 Section 54B. The subsidiary board shall promulgate rules and regulations by which
37veterinary technicians shall be licensed and registered in the commonwealth, subject to approval
38by the board. The subsidiary board may recommend the suspension or revocation of a veterinary
39technician’s license for failure to abide by the general laws or regulations promulgated by the
40board. The subsidiary board shall provide education regarding differences in the duties and
41actions allowed for by veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants. The subsidiary board
42shall, subject to the approval of the board, change or alter the duties and rights granted to
43veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants to reflect changes in the practice of veterinary
44technology over time.
45 Such regulations, as promulgated by the subsidiary board and approved by the board,
46shall: delineate the duties which supervising, licensed veterinarians may assign to licensed
47veterinary technicians and to non-licensed veterinary assistants, consistent with good veterinary
48medical practice in the best interests of consumers; address the maintenance, suspension, and
49revocation of licenses; and provide for continuing education requirements for licensed veterinary
50technicians. 4 of 5
51 Veterinary technician students, or other individuals deemed appropriate by the subsidiary
52board, working under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian or a licensed veterinary
53technician may engage in activities necessary to learn and practice supervised techniques on
54patients.
55 The subsidiary board shall promulgate the criteria by which an individual is deemed a
56licensed veterinary technician or a non-licensed assistant. Any rules that allow individuals to
57become licensed without a formal degree in veterinary technology shall have an end date to be
58determined by the subsidiary board subject to approval by the board. Any such rule shall include
59consideration of experience, education, and examination.
60 Section 54C. (a) The rules created by the subsidiary board and approved by the board
61shall not apply to individual veterinary technicians or veterinary assistants who are working:
62 (1) as a research institution as defined in section 136A of chapter 140; or
63 (2) with special cases, including veterinary technicians or veterinary assistants working
64with zoos and aquaria, diagnostic facilities, licensed wildlife rehabilitation facilities and other
65such special cases as the subsidiary board shall identify.
66 Section 54D. Only those individuals who are licensed may utilize the title of veterinary
67technician. Regardless of job description and duties, anyone who does not hold a valid license to
68practice veterinary technology in the commonwealth, yet who functions in a similar capacity of
69supporting the overall care of veterinary patients, shall be referred to as a veterinary assistant.
70Any individual or veterinary practice who is found to be inappropriately using the title veterinary
71technician may be subject to fines as established by the board. 5 of 5
72 SECTION 4. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 26A of chapter 13 to the
73contrary, until the effective date of regulations establishing the criteria for licensed veterinary
74technicians, the veterinary technicians appointed to the subsidiary board for veterinary
75technology shall be Massachusetts Veterinary Technician Association Certified Veterinary
76Technicians.
77 SECTION 5. During the initial two years, rules and procedures for veterinary technician
78licensure will be established by the subsidiary board subject to approval by the board of
79registration of veterinary medicine. After those rules are established, each veterinary technician
80member shall be a Massachusetts licensed veterinary technician.
81 SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its passage.