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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 1220H.P. 795House of Representatives, March 20, 2025
An Act to Allow Chiropractors to Treat Dogs and Equids
Reference to the Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services
suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative FOLEY of Wells.
Cosponsored by Senator BRADSTREET of Kennebec and
Representatives: FLYNN of Albion, MASON of Lisbon, MCINTYRE of Lowell, MORRIS of
Turner, OLSEN of Raymond, POMERLEAU of Standish. Page 1 - 132LR2375(01)
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2 is enacted to read:
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4 For the purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise
5 indicates, "equid" means an animal from the family Equidae, including, but not limited to,
6 a horse, donkey, mule or zebra.
7 The board shall certify a
8 person licensed under this chapter to perform animal chiropractic care if the licensee has
9 successfully completed a 210-hour course of instruction in animal chiropractic care
10 approved by the board.
11 After receiving an initial certification from the board, the licensee must successfully
12 complete at least 20 hours of continuing education prior to each renewal of the licensee's
13 license that is specific to the diagnosis and treatment of animals, including a 2-hour course
14 on contagious, infectious and zoonotic diseases in this State and other locations that might
15 affect a licensee's animal patients.
16 A person licensed under this
17 chapter who is certified by the board pursuant to subsection 2 may perform animal
18 chiropractic care on a conscious dog or equid in accordance with the requirements of this
19 subsection.
20 A. After a referral from a licensed veterinarian, a licensee may perform animal
21 chiropractic care on a dog or equid. The licensee shall submit an initiation of treatment
22 report to the primary veterinarian of the dog or equid within 7 days of providing animal
23 chiropractic care to that dog or equid.
24 B. If a licensee suspects that the dog or equid has a contagious disease required to be
25 reported under state law, the licensee shall notify the primary veterinarian and the
26 Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, division of animal and plant
27 health.
28 C. A licensee may perform animal chiropractic care on a dog or equid without a referral
29 from a licensed veterinarian only upon completion of additional course work approved
30 by the State Board of Veterinary Medicine of at least 8 hours of instruction in
31 contagious, infectious and zoonotic diseases and at least one hour of instruction in
32 animal chiropractic care jurisprudence.
33 A person licensed under this chapter who is certified by
34 the board to perform animal chiropractic care shall at all times maintain malpractice
35 insurance specific to animal chiropractic care.
36 is enacted to read:
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38 chiropractor licensed under chapter 9 performing animal chiropractic care in accordance
39 with the requirements of section 456. Page 2 - 132LR2375(01)
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2 This bill authorizes a chiropractor licensed in this State to provide chiropractic care to
3 dogs and equids as long as the licensed chiropractor is certified to perform animal
4 chiropractic care and meets other conditions specified in the bill.
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