HB2542eng 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB2542 Engrossed LRB103 27137 CPF 53506 b

AN ACT concerning health.

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

Section 5. The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act is amended by adding Section 3.260 as follows:

(210 ILCS 50/3.260 new)

Sec. 3.260. Preveterinary emergency care.

(a) In this Section:

"Cat" means a small domesticated feline animal that is kept as a pet. "Cat" does not include a nondomesticated wild animal.

"Dog" means any canine animal owned for domestic, companionship, service, therapeutic, or assistance purposes.

"Preveterinary emergency care" means the immediate medical stabilization of a dog or cat by EMS personnel, in an emergency to which the EMS personnel is responding, through means including oxygen, bandaging, or basic first aid, with the intent of enabling the dog or cat to be treated by a veterinarian. "Preveterinary emergency care" does not include care provided in response to an emergency call made solely for the purpose of tending to an injured dog or cat, unless a person's life could be in danger by attempting to save the life of a dog or cat.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, EMS personnel may provide preveterinary emergency care to a dog or cat to the extent the EMS personnel have received commensurate training and are authorized by their employer to provide care. Requirements governing the circumstances under which EMS personnel may provide preveterinary emergency care to dogs and cats may be specified in the employer's policies governing the provision of care.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, nothing in this Act imposes upon EMS personnel any obligation to provide care to a dog or cat, or to provide care to a dog or cat before a person.

Section 10. The Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act of 2004 is amended by changing Section 4 as follows:

(225 ILCS 115/4) (from Ch. 111, par. 7004)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2024)

Sec. 4. Exemptions. Nothing in this Act shall apply to any of the following:

(1) Veterinarians employed by the federal or State government while engaged in their official duties.

(2) Licensed veterinarians from other states who are invited to Illinois for consultation by a veterinarian licensed in Illinois.

(3) Veterinarians employed by colleges or universities while engaged in the performance of their official duties, or faculty engaged in animal husbandry or animal management programs of colleges or universities.

(3.5) A veterinarian or veterinary technician from another state or country who (A) is not licensed under this Act; (B) is currently licensed as a veterinarian or veterinary technician in another state or country, or otherwise exempt from licensure in the other state; (C) is an invited guest of a professional veterinary association, veterinary training program, or continuing education provider approved by the Department; and (D) engages in professional education through lectures, clinics, or demonstrations.

(4) A veterinarian employed by an accredited college of veterinary medicine providing assistance requested by a veterinarian licensed in Illinois, acting with informed consent from the client and acting under the direct or indirect supervision and control of the licensed veterinarian. Providing assistance involves hands-on active participation in the treatment and care of the patient. The licensed veterinarian shall maintain responsibility for the veterinarian-client-patient relationship.

(5) Veterinary students in an accredited college of veterinary medicine, university, department of a university, or other institution of veterinary medicine and surgery engaged in duties assigned by their instructors or working under the immediate or direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian.

(5.5) Students of an accredited program in veterinary technology performing veterinary technology duties or actions assigned by instructors or working under the immediate or direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian.

(6) Any person engaged in bona fide scientific research which requires the use of animals.

(7) An owner of livestock and any of the owner's employees or the owner and employees of a service and care provider of livestock caring for and treating livestock belonging to the owner or under a provider's care, including but not limited to, the performance of husbandry and livestock management practices such as dehorning, castration, emasculation, or docking of cattle, horses, sheep, goats, and swine, artificial insemination, and drawing of semen. Nor shall this Act be construed to prohibit any person from administering in a humane manner medicinal or surgical treatment to any livestock in the care of such person. However, any such services shall comply with the Humane Care for Animals Act.

(8) An owner of an animal, or an agent of the owner acting with the owner's approval, in caring for, training, or treating an animal belonging to the owner, so long as that individual or agent does not represent himself or herself as a veterinarian or use any title associated with the practice of veterinary medicine or surgery or diagnose, prescribe drugs, or perform surgery. The agent shall provide the owner with a written statement summarizing the nature of the services provided and obtain a signed acknowledgment from the owner that they accept the services provided. The services shall comply with the Humane Care for Animals Act. The provisions of this item (8) do not apply to a person who is exempt under item (7).

(9) A member in good standing of another licensed or regulated profession within any state or a member of an organization or group approved by the Department by rule providing assistance that is requested in writing by a veterinarian licensed in this State acting within a veterinarian-client-patient relationship and with informed consent from the client and the member is acting under the immediate, direct, or indirect supervision and control of the licensed veterinarian. Providing assistance involves hands-on active participation in the treatment and care of the patient, as defined by rule. The licensed veterinarian shall maintain responsibility for the veterinarian-client-patient relationship, but shall be immune from liability, except for willful and wanton conduct, in any civil or criminal action if a member providing assistance does not meet the requirements of this item (9).

(10) A graduate of a non-accredited college of veterinary medicine who is in the process of obtaining a certificate of educational equivalence and is performing duties or actions assigned by instructors in an approved college of veterinary medicine.

(10.5) A veterinarian who is enrolled in a postgraduate instructional program in an accredited college of veterinary medicine performing duties or actions assigned by instructors or working under the immediate or direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian or a faculty member of the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois.

(11) A certified euthanasia technician who is authorized to perform euthanasia in the course and scope of his or her employment only as permitted by the Humane Euthanasia in Animal Shelters Act.

(12) A person who, without expectation of compensation, provides emergency veterinary care in an emergency or disaster situation so long as he or she does not represent himself or herself as a veterinarian or use a title or degree pertaining to the practice of veterinary medicine and surgery.

(13) Any certified veterinary technician or other employee of a licensed veterinarian performing permitted duties other than diagnosis, prognosis, prescription, or surgery under the appropriate direction and supervision of the veterinarian, who shall be responsible for the performance of the employee.

(13.5) Any pharmacist licensed in the State, merchant, or manufacturer selling at his or her regular place of business medicines, feed, appliances, or other products used in the prevention or treatment of animal diseases as permitted by law and provided that the services he or she provides do not include diagnosing, prognosing, writing prescriptions, or surgery.

(14) An approved humane investigator regulated under the Humane Care for Animals Act or employee of a shelter licensed under the Animal Welfare Act, working under the indirect supervision of a licensed veterinarian.

(15) An individual providing equine dentistry services requested by a veterinarian licensed to practice in this State, an owner, or an owner's agent. For the purposes of this item (15), "equine dentistry services" means floating teeth without the use of drugs or extraction.

(15.5) In the event of an emergency or disaster, a veterinarian or veterinary technician not licensed in this State who (A) is responding to a request for assistance from the Illinois Department of Agriculture, the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, or other State agency as determined by the Department; (B) is licensed and in good standing in another state; and (C) has been granted a temporary waiver from licensure by the Department.

(16) Private treaty sale of animals unless otherwise provided by law.

(17) EMS personnel who provide preveterinary emergency care to a dog or cat under Section 3.260 of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act.

(Source: P.A. 98-339, eff. 12-31-13.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.