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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3408 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4022
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
James C. Arena-DeRosa
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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
resolve:
Resolve providing for the study and investigation relative to the efficacy of alternative treatments
for veterinary medicine.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:James C. Arena-DeRosa8th Middlesex1/17/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3408 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4022
By Representative Arena-DeRosa of Holliston, a petition (accompanied by resolve, House, No.
4022) of James C. Arena-DeRosa for an investigation by a special commission (including
members of the General Court) relative to the rabies vaccine laws and exempting certain pets
with illness from said vaccine. Public Health.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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Resolve providing for the study and investigation relative to the efficacy of alternative treatments
for veterinary medicine.
1 Resolved, there shall be established, pursuant to section 2A of chapter 4 of the General
2Laws, a special commission for the purposes of a study relative to the efficacy and safety of
3amending the commonwealth’s rabies vaccine laws pursuant to section 145B of chapter 140 of
4the General Laws to exempt certain pets with illness who display a sufficient level of rabies
5antibodies from receiving a rabies vaccine.
6 The members of the special commission shall consist of: (i) the chairs of the joint
7committee on public health or their designees, who shall serve as co-chairs; (ii) the
8commissioner of the department of public health or their designee; (iii) the commissioner of the
9division of occupational licensure or their designee; and (iv) the 5 members of the board of
10registration in veterinary medicine pursuant to section 26 of chapter 13 of the General Laws.
11 The special commission shall determine the safety and efficacy of: (i) administering the
12rabies vaccines to animals with an illness subject to section 145B of chapter 140 of the General 2 of 2
13Laws; and (ii) amending the commonwealth’s rabies vaccine laws to create an exemption for
14animals with an illness whereby a rabies titer test would be used to determine if the animal’s
15rabies antibody levels are high enough to be deemed sufficiently immune and therefore able to
16forego a rabies vaccine.
17 All appointments to the special commission shall be made not later than 30 days after the
18effective date of this resolve.
19 The special commission shall prepare a report detailing the results of the study, along
20with its findings and any recommendations for legislation. The report shall be submitted to the
21clerks of the house of representatives and senate not later than January 1, 2027.