S.F. 2303 Section 1. Section 169.3, Code 2011, is amended by adding 1 the following new subsections: 2 NEW SUBSECTION . 4A. “Certified veterinary assistant” means 3 a person who meets all of the following requirements: 4 a. Has successfully completed a veterinary assistant 5 program approved by the board or has received a minimum of two 6 years of on-the-job training under the direction of a licensed 7 veterinarian as prescribed by the board. 8 b. Has successfully passed one or more examinations as 9 prescribed by the board. 10 c. Performs duties associated with the practice of 11 veterinary medicine as provided in section 169.20 and 12 prescribed by rule by the board. 13 NEW SUBSECTION . 4B. “Certified veterinary technician” means 14 a person who meets all of the following requirements: 15 a. Is a graduate of an accredited program of veterinary 16 technology approved by the board or is currently registered in 17 this state as a veterinary technician. 18 b. Has successfully passed one or more examinations as 19 prescribed by the board. 20 c. Performs duties associated with the practice of 21 veterinary medicine as provided in section 169.20 and 22 prescribed by rule by the board. 23 NEW SUBSECTION . 7A. “Noncredentialed veterinary assistant” 24 means a person employed by a licensed veterinarian who is not 25 a certified veterinary technician or certified veterinary 26 assistant, and who performs duties associated with the practice 27 of veterinary medicine as provided in section 169.20 and 28 prescribed by rule by the board. 29 Sec. 2. Section 169.3, subsection 12, Code 2011, is amended 30 by striking the subsection. 31 Sec. 3. Section 169.4, subsection 9, Code 2011, is amended 32 by striking the subsection and inserting in lieu thereof the 33 following: 34 9. Any certified veterinary technician, certified 35 -1- LSB 5316SV (2) 84 da/nh 1/ 4

S.F. 2303 veterinary assistant, or noncredentialed veterinary assistant 1 employed by a licensed veterinarian from performing duties as 2 provided in section 169.20 and prescribed by rule by the board. 3 Sec. 4. Section 169.5, subsection 7, paragraph i, Code 2011, 4 is amended by striking the paragraph and inserting in lieu 5 thereof the following: 6 i. Adopt, amend, or repeal rules relating to certified 7 veterinary technicians, certified veterinary assistants, and 8 noncredentialed veterinary assistants, as provided in section 9 169.20. However, a veterinary technician certificate or 10 veterinary assistant certificate shall not be suspended or 11 revoked by less than a three-fifths vote of the entire board in 12 a proceeding conducted in compliance with section 17A.12. 13 Sec. 5. Section 169.20, Code 2011, is amended by striking 14 the section and inserting in lieu thereof the following: 15 169.20 Certified veterinary technicians, certified veterinary 16 assistants, and noncredentialed veterinary assistants. 17 1. A licensed veterinarian may employ one or more certified 18 veterinary technicians, certified veterinary assistants, 19 or noncredentialed veterinary assistants to perform duties 20 associated with the practice of veterinary medicine as provided 21 in this section and prescribed by rules adopted by the board. 22 A veterinarian may employ a certified veterinary assistant, 23 certified veterinary technician, or noncredentialed veterinary 24 assistant for any purpose provided by rules adopted by the 25 board, other than for diagnosis, prescription, or surgery. The 26 rules adopted by the board under this subsection shall provide, 27 at a minimum, for all of the following: 28 a. The qualifications and standards of conduct of a 29 certified veterinary technician, certified veterinary 30 assistant, or noncredentialed veterinary assistant. 31 b. The type or scope of duties that may be performed 32 by a certified veterinary technician, certified veterinary 33 assistant, or noncredentialed veterinary assistant. 34 c. The level of supervision required to be performed 35 -2- LSB 5316SV (2) 84 da/nh 2/ 4

S.F. 2303 by a licensed veterinarian when employing a certified 1 veterinary technician, certified veterinary assistant, or a 2 noncredentialed veterinary assistant. 3 2. The board shall provide for the issuance of a certificate 4 to a certified veterinary technician or certified veterinary 5 assistant based on education, experience, training, or other 6 criteria established by rules adopted by the board. 7 3. The board shall regulate certified veterinary 8 technicians, certified veterinary assistants, and 9 noncredentialed veterinary assistants as provided by rules 10 adopted by the board, including but not limited to any of the 11 following: 12 a. Investigations. 13 b. Disciplinary action, including the suspension or 14 revocation of a certificate issued by the board. Any 15 disciplinary action shall be taken in the same manner as 16 provided in section 169.14. The board shall suspend or 17 revoke a certificate issued by the board under this section in 18 compliance with section 17A.12. 19 EXPLANATION 20 BACKGROUND —— VETERINARY ASSISTANTS. This bill amends 21 provisions relating to the employment of a veterinary assistant 22 by a licensed veterinarian (Code section 169.20). Currently, 23 a veterinary assistant certified by the board may perform 24 services associated with the practice of veterinary medicine 25 other than diagnosis, prescription, or surgery, if acting under 26 the direct supervision of such veterinarian and in compliance 27 with rules adopted by the board of veterinary medicine (board). 28 BILL —— AUTHORIZED PERSONS DESIGNATED. The bill renames 29 the term “veterinary assistant” as “certified veterinary 30 assistant” and establishes two other classes of persons who may 31 be employed by a licensed veterinarian: a certified veterinary 32 technician and a noncredentialed veterinary assistant. Under 33 the bill, a certified veterinary technician must have graduated 34 from an accredited program of technology as approved by the 35 -3- LSB 5316SV (2) 84 da/nh 3/ 4

S.F. 2303 board and have passed one or more examinations prescribed 1 by the board. A certified veterinary assistant must have 2 completed a program approved by the board or have on-the-job 3 experience and pass an examination prescribed by the board. 4 The bill also provides for a noncredentialed veterinary 5 assistant who is someone other than a certified veterinary 6 assistant or certified veterinary technician. The bill 7 authorizes each class of person to perform duties associated 8 with the practice of veterinary medicine, but allows the board 9 to distinguish further their respective scopes of authority. 10 The bill provides that a certified veterinary assistant, 11 certified veterinary technician, or noncredentialed veterinary 12 assistant cannot provide diagnosis, prescription, or surgery. 13 The board may provide for certification fees in the same manner 14 as is currently provided for veterinary assistants (Code 15 section 169.5(9)). 16 BILL —— AUTHORIZED PERSONS REGULATED. The bill authorizes 17 the board to regulate certified veterinary assistants, 18 certified veterinary technicians, and noncredentialed 19 veterinary assistants, including by conducting investigations 20 and instituting disciplinary action, including the suspension 21 or revocation of a certificate in the same manner as currently 22 applies to veterinary assistants (Code section 169.5(7)(i)). 23 -4- LSB 5316SV (2) 84 da/nh 4/ 4