Public Act 0522 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB5411 Enrolled LRB104 19855 BDA 33305 b

Public Act 104-0522

AN ACT concerning animals.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act of 2004 is amended by adding Section 8.2 as follows:

(225 ILCS 115/8.2 new)

Sec. 8.2. Rabies vaccination authority; rabies vaccination certificates.

(a) A certified veterinary technician who has completed the required 2-hour rabies vaccination continuing education course may administer rabies vaccinations only under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian, and only after the supervising veterinarian has performed a physical examination of the animal and determined that the animal is healthy enough to receive the vaccination.

(b) The 2-hour rabies vaccination continuing education course shall apply toward the total number of hours of continuing education required by rule. This course must be repeated each renewal cycle that the certified veterinary technician administers the rabies vaccination.

(c) The rabies administration continuing education program must be taught by a licensed veterinarian in good standing and provided by a continuing education provider approved by the Department.

(d) Nothing in this Section authorizes a certified veterinary technician to diagnose, prognose, prescribe, perform surgery, or engage in any activity prohibited under this Act.

(e) A certified veterinary technician administering rabies vaccinations under this Section remains subject to all disciplinary provisions of this Act.

(f) A rabies vaccination certificate may be signed only by:

(1) a licensed veterinarian who administered the vaccination; or

(2) a certified veterinary technician who has completed the required rabies vaccination continuing education program during the previous renewal period and administered the rabies vaccination.

A rabies vaccination certificate that is signed by a certified veterinary technician shall also be signed by the veterinarian providing direct supervision of the certified veterinary technician. The professional credential of the individual or individuals who sign the certificate must be included with their signature.

(g) A copy of the current rabies vaccination continuing education certificate must be on display at the locations where the certified veterinary technician administers rabies vaccinations.

(h) Any Illinois statute, administrative rule, or local ordinance that restricts rabies vaccination administration or certificate signing exclusively to veterinarians is amended to permit Certified Veterinary Technicians who have completed the required rabies vaccination continuing education course to perform these functions as authorized under this Act.

Any reference to "rabies inoculation by a licensed veterinarian only" shall be interpreted to include certified veterinary technicians who have completed the required rabies vaccination continuing education program acting under direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian.