S.F. _____ H.F. _____ 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 program 5 approved by the board or has received on-the-job training under 6 the direction of a licensed veterinarian as prescribed by the 7 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 5316DP (9) 84 da/nh 1/ 4

S.F. _____ H.F. _____ 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 two-thirds vote of the entire board in a 12 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 21 provided in this section and prescribed by rules adopted by the 22 board. The rules shall provide, at a minimum, for all of the 23 following: 24 a. The qualifications and standards of conduct of a 25 certified veterinary technician, certified veterinary 26 assistant, or noncredentialed veterinary assistant. 27 b. The type or scope of duties that may be performed 28 by a certified veterinary technician, certified veterinary 29 assistant, or noncredentialed veterinary assistant. 30 c. The level of supervision required to be performed 31 by a licensed veterinarian when employing a certified 32 veterinary technician, certified veterinary assistant, or a 33 noncredentialed veterinary assistant. 34 2. The board shall provide for the issuance of a certificate 35 -2- LSB 5316DP (9) 84 da/nh 2/ 4

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

S.F. _____ H.F. _____ for a noncredentialed veterinary assistant who is someone other 1 than a certified veterinary assistant or certified veterinary 2 technician. The bill authorizes each class of person to 3 perform duties associated with the practice of veterinary 4 medicine, but allows the board to distinguish further their 5 respective scopes of authority. The board may provide for 6 certification fees in the same manner as is currently provided 7 for veterinary assistants (Code section 169.5(9)). 8 BILL —— AUTHORIZED PERSONS REGULATED. The bill authorizes 9 the board to regulate certified veterinary assistants, 10 certified veterinary technicians, and noncredentialed 11 veterinary assistants, including by conducting investigations 12 and instituting disciplinary action, including the suspension 13 or revocation of a certificate in the same manner as currently 14 applies to veterinary assistants (Code section 169.5(7)(i)). 15 -4- LSB 5316DP (9) 84 da/nh 4/ 4