Florida HB 1245: Veterinary Professional Associates

Bill Text

CS/HB 1245 2024

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1245-01-c1
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to veterinary professional associates; 2
providing a short title; creating s. 474.2126, F.S.; 3
providing legislative findings; defining terms; 4
authorizing certain individuals to use the title 5
"veterinary professional associate"; authorizing such 6
associates to perform certain duties and actions; 7
prohibiting such associates from prescribing certain 8
drugs or controlled substances or performing surgical 9
procedures; providing exceptions; providing that 10
veterinarians are liable for the acts or omissions of 11
veterinary professional associates under their 12
supervision and control; providing an effective date. 13
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 15
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Section 1. This act may be cited as the "Veterinary 17
Workforce Innovation Act." 18
Section 2. Section 474.2126, Florida Statutes, is created 19
to read: 20
474.2126 Veterinary professional associate.— 21
(1) The Legislature finds that the practice in this state 22
of veterinary professional associates, with their education, 23
training, and experience in the field of veterinary medicine, 24
will provide increased efficiency of and access to high-quality 25

CS/HB 1245 2024

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1245-01-c1
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

veterinary medical services at a reasonable cost to consumers. 26
(2) As used in this section, the term: 27
(a) "Approved program" means a master's program in 28
veterinary clinical care, or the equivalent, in the United 29
States or in its territories or possessions from an accredited 30
school of veterinary medicine. 31
(b) "Supervision" means responsible supervision and 32
control, and, except in cases of emergency, requires the easy 33
availability or physical presence of a licensed veterinarian for 34
consultation and direction of the actions of a veterinary 35
professional associate. For the purposes of this paragraph, the 36
term "easy availability" includes the ability to communicate by 37
way of telecommunication. 38
(c) "Veterinary professional associate" means a person who 39
has earned a master's degree from an approved program or who 40
meets standards approved by the board and is authorized to 41
perform veterinary medical services delegated by a supervising 42
veterinarian. 43
(3) The title "veterinary professional associate" may be 44
used only by an individual who has successfully completed an 45
approved program. 46
(4) Unless otherwise prohibited by federal or state law, a 47
veterinary professional associate may perform duties or actions, 48
including those identified in s. 474.202(9) and (13), in which 49
he or she is competent and has the necessary training, current 50

CS/HB 1245 2024

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1245-01-c1
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

knowledge, and experience to perform, as assigned by a 51
veterinarian licensed in this state while working under the 52
supervision of that veterinarian. A veterinary professional 53
associate may not do either of the following: 54
(a) Prescribe medicinal drugs or drugs as defined in s. 55
465.003(15) or a controlled substance listed in s. 893.03. 56
(b) Except for veterinary sterilizations or veterinary 57
dental surgeries, perform a surgical procedure. 58
(5) Each veterinarian that is supervising a veterinary 59
professional associate is liable for any acts or omissions of 60
the veterinary professional associate acting under the 61
veterinarian's supervision and control. 62
Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 63