Extends provisions authorizing a one-time 3 year waiver of citizenship or permanent resident alien status for veterinarians and veterinary technicians

Title of bill

An act to amend chapter 80 of the laws of 2000 amending the education law relating to the abolition of citizenship requirements for licensure as a veterinarian, in relation to making certain provisions of the education law permanent

Purpose

This bill will allow the Board of Regents to certify the existence of a shortage and allow the employment of an otherwise qualified applicant regardless of such person's citizenship.

Summary of provisions

This legislation amends section 3 of chapter 80 of the laws of 2000 amending the education law relating to the abolition of citizenship requirements for licensure as a veterinarian, as amended by chapter 201 of the laws of 2007.

Justification

In 2000, 2003 and, on a more limited basis in 2006, the Legislature and Governor acted to address the chronic shortage of qualified veterinarians and licensed veterinary technicians in the state, especially in the northern and western regions of the state where a number of otherwise eligible Canadian applicants for licensure were available for employment Chapter 558 of the Laws of 2003 extended this effective law for an additional three years Chapter 476 of the Laws of 2006 extended the ability of the State Education Department to so act although on a much more limited basis.

The Adirondack region of the state has an especially egregious shortage of veterinarians and, due to its proximity to the Canadian border, it is likely that the public interest in having quality veterinary care available for both companion and production animals will be served from the enactment of this legislation.

The situation is similar in other regions of the state. For example in the Buffalo-Niagara Falls area, there are presently a significant number of professional vacancies. At the same time, only two students at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University are from this area, with the result that there is little prospect of meeting the demand for quality and affordable veterinary care in this region. Similar shortages are now the norm in the Rochester area, the Capital District, and are becoming more prevalent in the Hudson Valley, the New York City Metropolitan Area and on Long Island. This bill will allow the Board of Regents to certify the existence of a shortage and allow the employment of an otherwise qualified applicant regardless of such person's citizenship.

There is no rational basis for the differing citizenship requirements. This bill will work a compromise by leaving intact citizenship requirements while allowing the State Education Department a tool to utilize in its discretion to help fill the shortage of veterinarians in all areas of the state without the repeal of this requirement. Enactment of this legislation will work to meet the goals of the Trade Agreement between the United States and Canada that was enacted to eliminate barriers to professional practice among qualified practitioners from both nations who meet the standards for licensure that the countries have established.

Legislative history

New Bill for 2007; substantively similar to Chapter 80 of the Laws of 2000 and Chapter 558 of the Laws of 2003 and a revision of Chapter 476 of the Laws of 2006. A.7233-B/S.4083-B of 2008.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

Immediately.