#Law Reform
Target:
State of California
Region:
United States of America
Website:
www.leginfo.ca.gov

In the state of California, providers of complementary therapies such as massage, physical rehabilitation, and chiropractic do not claim to provide veterinary care. Yet for equine athletes, aging and infirm horses and even companion animals, these services are often essential to performance or wellness.

California Bill AB1980 would provide that any person who practices complementary therapies for the benefit of an animal would be committing a crime.

Veterinarians and technicians do not have the training, time or inclination to perform therapies. The oversight required to enforce this law is not provided for in the bill.

Owners will be left without access to vital care, and an entire industry will be put out of business.

THIS BILL GOES BEFORE THE CA LEGISLATURE ON 8/12/10:

FROM PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA LEGISLATION

Sec 10 paragraph (f) of the bill amends Section 4826 (f) of the CA Business and Professions Code.

“SEC. 10. Section 4826 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:4826. A person practices veterinary medicine, surgery, and dentistry, and the various branches thereof, when he or she does any one of the following:……..(f) Performs physical rehabilitation or musculoskeletal manipulation upon an animal, unless otherwise authorized by regulation of the board.”

From the SUMMARY of proposed California Bill AB1980: 

"(3) Existing law prohibits the practice of veterinary medicine without a license and specifies that a person practices veterinary medicine when he or she...administers a treatment of whatever nature for the cure or relief of a bodily injury or disease of an animal. 

This bill would provide that a person also practices veterinary medicine when he or she performs physical rehabilitation or musculoskeletal manipulation upon an animal, unless otherwise authorized by regulation of the board. By thereby expanding the scope of a crime, the bill would impose a state -mandated local program." 

COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES ARE NOT VETERINARY MEDICINE! 

Nor should they be a crime. 

Protect your right to treat minor medical problems at home and to avail yourself of the services of massage therapists, chiropractors, rehabilitation therapists, and more. Protect your right to practice these therapies as a professional. 

VIEW THE ENTIRE BILL HERE: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_1951-2000/ab_1980_bill_20100629_amended_sen_v96.pdf

MANY THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO IS LENDING A HELPING HAND TO KEEP COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES LEGAL.

The Protect the Legality of Complementary Veterinary Therapies petition to State of California was written by Complementary Veterinary Practitioners and is in the category Law Reform at GoPetition.