What's happening
This bill allows trained, unlicensed individuals at animal shelters to provide certain veterinary services under supervision for four years.
Why it matters
Expands access to care in shelters. By allowing trained, unlicensed individuals to perform certain veterinary tasks (like diagnostic tests, collecting samples, and administering prescribed injections/treatments), shelters may be able to care for more animals more efficiently, especially where veterinary staff is limited.
Includes safeguards for animal welfare. The bill requires that unlicensed individuals be high school graduates, receive specific training, demonstrate competency to a licensed veterinarian, and pass a background check for animal cruelty offenses—helping to ensure that only qualified, trustworthy people perform these services.
Maintains veterinary oversight. All actions by unlicensed individuals must occur under the general supervision of a licensed veterinarian and according to written protocols, preserving professional accountability and oversight for animal health.
Temporary trial period. The law includes a four-year “sunset” clause, meaning its effects will be studied before making permanent changes—allowing lawmakers to assess both benefits and risks before deciding on long-term policy.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Shelter Workers Help Vets
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1150
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 10, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the provision of certain supportive services to veterinarians by unlicensed persons working at animal shelters; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 6713 of the education law, as added by chapter 580 of the laws of 1987 and as designated by chapter 542 of the laws of 1995, is amended to read as follows:
1. a. An unlicensed person may provide supportive services to a veterinarian, including but not limited to administering oral or topical medications, incidental to and/or concurrent with such veterinarian personally performing a service or procedure, provided such supportive services do not require a knowledge of veterinary science.
b. An unlicensed person may provide supportive services, including performing diagnostic tests, collecting samples for testing and administering injections and treatments prescribed or provided in a written protocol by a licensed veterinarian, where (i) such services are provided under the general supervision of a licensed veterinarian for animals in the custody of a municipal or not-for-profit pound, shelter, duly incorporated society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, humane society or dog or cat protective association; (ii) such person is a high school graduate who has received training from such pound, shelter, society or association; (iii) such person has demonstrated competency as determined by a licensed veterinarian to provide the supportive services; and (iv) after making reasonable efforts to locate this information, such pound, shelter, society or association has not determined that such person has been convicted of violating any statute, state or local regulation, or local ordinance, the primary purpose of which is
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04946-01-7
A. 1150 2
the prevention or punishment of animal neglect, animal cruelty, or animal fighting, or that there are charges of any such violation pending against such person in a court of law. Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect any requirements related to euthanasia as set forth in article twenty-six of the agriculture and markets law.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire after forty-eight months when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed repealed.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.