House File 456 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 456 BY PETTENGILL A BILL FOR An Act providing that the use of animal massage or applied 1 animal behavior science performed when treating a horse is 2 not the practice of veterinary medicine or regulated by the 3 Iowa board of veterinary medicine. 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 5 TLSB 1568YH (2) 86 da/nh

H.F. 456 Section 1. Section 169.3, subsection 10, Code 2015, is 1 amended to read as follows: 2 10. a. “Practice of veterinary medicine” means any of the 3 following: 4 a. (1) To diagnose, treat, correct, change, relieve or 5 prevent, for a fee, any animal disease, deformity, defect, 6 injury or other physical or mental conditions or cosmetic 7 surgery; including the prescription or administration of any 8 drug, medicine, biologic, apparatus, application, anesthetic, 9 or other therapeutic or diagnostic substance or technique, for 10 a fee; or to evaluate or correct sterility or infertility, for 11 a fee; or to render, advise or recommend with regard to any of 12 the above for a fee. 13 b. (2) To represent, directly or indirectly, publicly or 14 privately, an ability or willingness to do an act described in 15 paragraph “a” subparagraph (1) . 16 c. b. To “ Practice of veterinary medicine” includes the use 17 of any title, words, abbreviation, or letters in a manner or 18 under circumstances which induce the belief that the person 19 using them is qualified to do any act described in paragraph 20 “a” . 21 c. “Practice of veterinary medicine” does not include the use 22 of animal massage or applied animal behavior science performed 23 solely for purposes of treating a horse as provided in section 24 169.4A. 25 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION . 169.4B Exclusions —— animal massage or 26 applied animal behavior science. 27 1. The use of animal massage or applied animal behavior 28 science performed solely for purposes of treating a horse shall 29 not be regulated by the board. A person who performs such 30 animal massage or applied animal behavior science shall not be 31 subject to the provisions of this chapter. 32 2. a. The use of animal massage shall be limited to doing 33 any of the following: 34 (1) Manipulating the muscle or connective tissue of the 35 -1- LSB 1568YH (2) 86 da/nh 1/ 3

H.F. 456 body, excluding osseous tissue. 1 (2) Treating the muscle tonus system for the purpose of 2 enhancing health or muscle relaxation. 3 (3) Increasing range of motion, reducing stress, relieving 4 pain, or improving circulation. 5 b. The use of animal massage includes but is not limited 6 to myotherapy; massotherapy; therapeutic massage including 7 hydrotherapy, and superficial hot or and cold applications; 8 vibration or topical applications; or the use of a device that 9 mimics the actions of the human hand when performing a function 10 described in paragraph “a” . 11 3. The use of applied animal behavior science must utilize a 12 technique that evaluates or modifies animal behavior, assesses 13 behavioral pathology, or provides socialization training. 14 4. The use of animal massage or applied animal behavior 15 science does not include any of the following: 16 a. An accepted livestock management practice. 17 b. The diagnosis or treatment of a physical or mental 18 disease, deformity, defect, wound, laceration, bone dislocation 19 or fracture, or an injury to a cell, organ, or blood vessel. 20 c. An adjustment or manipulation of any articulation of the 21 animal’s spine. 22 d. Acupuncture involving the use of needles. 23 e. The administration or prescription of drugs. 24 EXPLANATION 25 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 26 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 27 This bill provides that the use of animal massage and 28 applied animal behavior science performed solely for purposes 29 of treating a horse is not considered as part of the practice 30 of veterinary medicine. Its use is not regulated by the Iowa 31 board of veterinary medicine, and a person who performs animal 32 massage or applied animal behavior science is not subject to 33 the “Iowa Veterinary Practice Act” (Code chapter 169). The 34 bill provides that animal massage must involve manipulating 35 -2- LSB 1568YH (2) 86 da/nh 2/ 3

H.F. 456 muscles or connective tissue; treating the muscle tonus system 1 to enhance health or muscle relaxation; or increasing range 2 of motion, reducing stress, relieving pain, or improving 3 circulation. The bill provides that the use of applied animal 4 behavior science must utilize a technique that evaluates or 5 modifies animal behavior, assesses behavioral pathology, or 6 provides socialization training. 7 -3- LSB 1568YH (2) 86 da/nh 3/ 3