Senate Bill No. 510–Committee on Commerce and Labor

 

March 26, 2001

____________

 

Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

 

SUMMARY—Authorizes certain chiropractors to engage in practice of animal chiropractic. (BDR 54‑1209)

 

FISCAL NOTE:            Effect on Local Government: No.

                                    Effect on the State: No.

 

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

AN ACT relating to the practice of chiropractic; authorizing certain chiropractors who are certified in animal chiropractic to engage in the practice of animal chiropractic without the order, referral, direction or supervision of a licensed veterinarian; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

1-1    Section 1. Chapter 634 of NRS is hereby amended by adding thereto a

1-2  new section to read as follows:

1-3    1.  A person who:

1-4    (a) Holds a license to practice chiropractic issued by the board;

1-5    (b) Is not licensed as a veterinarian pursuant to chapter 638 of NRS;

1-6  and

1-7    (c) Is certified in animal chiropractic by the American Veterinary

1-8  Chiropractic Association or its successor,

1-9  may engage in the practice of animal chiropractic without the order,

1-10  referral, direction or supervision of a person who is licensed as a

1-11  veterinarian pursuant to chapter 638 of NRS.

1-12    2.  Before examining or performing a chiropractic adjustment on an

1-13  animal, a person who engages in the practice of animal chiropractic

1-14  pursuant to subsection 1 shall disclose that he is not a licensed

1-15  veterinarian to the owner of the animal or the person delivering the

1-16  animal for treatment.

1-17    3.  The board shall adopt regulations setting forth standards for the

1-18  practice of animal chiropractic. The regulations adopted by the board

1-19  pursuant to this subsection must be consistent with the policies and

1-20  guidelines established for the practice of animal chiropractic by the

1-21  American Veterinary Chiropractic Association or its successor.

2-1    4.  As used in this section:

2-2    (a) “Animal” includes a wild or domestic mammal, amphibian, fowl,

2-3  bird, fish or reptile. The term excludes a human being.

2-4    (b) “Animal chiropractic” means the science, art and practice of

2-5  examining animals and performing manipulations and chiropractic

2-6  adjustments of the vertebral joints, extremity joints and cranial sutures of

2-7  animals.

2-8    Sec. 2.  NRS 638.008 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-9    638.008  1.  “Practice of veterinary medicine” means:

2-10    [1.] (a) To diagnose, treat, correct, change, relieve or prevent animal

2-11  disease, deformity, defect, injury or other physical or mental conditions,

2-12  including, but not limited to:

2-13    [(a)] (1) The prescription or the administration of any drug, medicine,

2-14  biologic, apparatus, application, anesthetic or other therapeutic or

2-15  diagnostic substance or technique;

2-16    [(b)] (2) The collection of embryos;

2-17    [(c)] (3) Testing for pregnancy or for correcting sterility or infertility;

2-18    [(d)] (4) Acupuncture;

2-19    [(e)] (5) Dentistry;

2-20    [(f) Chiropractic procedures;

2-21    (g)] (6) Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, chiropractic

2-22  procedures;

2-23      (7) Surgery, including cosmetic surgery; or

2-24    [(h)] (8) Rendering advice or recommendation with regard to any of

2-25  these.

2-26    [2.] (b) To represent, directly or indirectly, publicly or privately, an

2-27  ability and willingness to do any act described in [subsection 1.

2-28    3.] paragraph (a).

2-29    (c) To use any title, words, abbreviation or letters in a manner or under

2-30  circumstances which induce the belief that the person using them is

2-31  qualified to do any act described in [subsection 1,] paragraph (a), except if

2-32  the person is a veterinarian.

2-33    2.  The term does not include the practice of animal chiropractic

2-34  pursuant to section 1 of this act.

2-35    Sec. 3.  NRS 638.070 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-36    638.070  1.  The board shall adopt regulations providing an

2-37  administrative fine in an amount not to exceed $500 if an applicant for a

2-38  license or the renewal of a license:

2-39    (a) Intentionally or knowingly makes a false or misleading statement on

2-40  his application;

2-41    (b) Knowingly fails to submit a notarized application; or

2-42    (c) Fails to inform the board of any change of information which was

2-43  contained in his application.

2-44    2.  The board may adopt regulations:

2-45    (a) Necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter;

2-46    (b) Concerning the rights and responsibilities of veterinary interns and

2-47  externs and graduates of schools of veterinary medicine located outside the

2-48  United States or Canada;

3-1    (c) Concerning the rights and responsibilities of a veterinarian’s

3-2  employees who are not licensed nor working towards obtaining a license

3-3  pursuant to this chapter and whose duties require them to spend a

3-4  substantial portion of their time in direct contact with animals;

3-5    (d) Concerning requirements for continuing education;

3-6    (e) Establishing procedures to approve schools which confer the degree

3-7  of veterinary technician or its equivalent;

3-8    (f) Concerning the disposition of animals which are abandoned or left

3-9  unclaimed at the office of a veterinarian;

3-10    (g) Establishing sanitary requirements for facilities in which veterinary

3-11  medicine is practiced, including, but not limited to, precautions to be taken

3-12  to prevent the creation or spread of any infectious or contagious disease;

3-13  and

3-14    (h) Concerning alternative veterinary medicine, including, but not

3-15  limited to, acupuncture, chiropractic procedures, dentistry, cosmetic

3-16  surgery, holistic medicine, and the provision of such services by a licensed

3-17  provider of health care under the direction of a licensed veterinarian.

3-18  Regulations adopted by the board pursuant to this paragraph must not

3-19  apply to a person who engages in the practice of animal chiropractic

3-20  pursuant to section 1 of this act.

3-21    3.  The board may:

3-22    (a) Employ attorneys, investigators, hearing officers for disciplinary

3-23  hearings, and other professional consultants and clerical personnel

3-24  necessary to the discharge of its duties;

3-25    (b) Conduct investigations and take and record evidence as to any

3-26  matter cognizable by it;

3-27    (c) Maintain offices in as many localities in the state as it considers

3-28  necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter; and

3-29    (d) Purchase or rent any office space, equipment and supplies that it

3-30  considers necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

3-31    Sec. 4.  This act becomes effective upon passage and approval.

 

3-32  H