Veterinary medicine: veterinary surgery premises: spay and neuter services., the official text

An act to amend Section 4854 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to healing arts.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

Existing law, the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act, establishes the California Veterinary Medical Board to license and regulate the practice of veterinary medicine. The act requires all premises where veterinary medicine, veterinary dentistry, or veterinary surgery is being practiced to be kept clean and sanitary at all times and conform to minimum standards established by the board.
This bill would specify that high-quality, high-volume spay or neuter services, as defined, that are either performed in a registered veterinary premises or performed by a veterinarian employed or contracted with a veterinary premises in a temporary setting are not required to take place in a facility that complies with specified standards, including a requirement for equipment for viewing radiographs.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.
Section 4854 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:
4854.
(a) All premises where veterinary medicine, veterinary dentistry, or veterinary surgery is being practiced, and all instruments, apparatus and apparel used in connection with those practices, shall be kept clean and sanitary at all times, and shall conform to those minimum standards established by the board.
(b) Notwithstanding any other law, high-quality, high-volume spay or neuter services performed either in a registered veterinary premises, or by a veterinarian employed or contracted with a veterinary premises in a temporary setting, shall not be required to take place in a facility that complies with any of the following standards:
(1) A requirement for a separate room that is reserved for aseptic surgical procedures that require aseptic preparation.
(2) A prohibition on open shelving in the area in which the aseptic surgical sterilization procedure is performed.
(3) A requirement for equipment for viewing radiographs.
(c) For purposes of this section, “high-quality, high-volume spay or neuter services” means the aseptic surgical sterilization by a veterinarian, including the supervision by the veterinarian of presurgical preparation and recovery of the animals, of 20 or more dogs, cats, or rabbits, or any combination thereof, within 12 consecutive hours.