Regards registered veterinary technician authority

hb664_02_PH

As Passed by the House

136th
General Assembly

Regular
Session
Sub. H. B. No. 664

2025-2026

Representatives Fischer, Deeter

Cosponsors: Representatives Newman,
Miller, J., Cockley, Hiner, Brennan, Craig, Dovilla, Glassburn,
Klopfenstein, Lawson-Rowe, Mathews, A., Russo, Schmidt, Sigrist,
Thomas, C., Tims, Williams, Willis, Young

To
amend section 4741.19 and to enact section 4741.191 of the Revised
Code
to
establish procedures that allow a registered veterinary technician to
establish an assess and treat relationship on behalf of a
veterinarian to dispense and administer vaccines and antiparasitic
medication to a shelter dog or cat.

BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section
1.
That
section 4741.19

be amended and section 4741.191

of the Revised Code be
enacted

to
read as follows:

Sec.
4741.19.
(A)
Unless exempted under this chapter, no person shall practice
veterinary medicine, or any of its branches, without a license or
limited license issued by the state veterinary medical licensing
board pursuant to sections 4741.11 to 4741.13 of the Revised Code, a
temporary permit issued pursuant to section 4741.14 of the Revised
Code, or a registration certificate issued pursuant to division (C)
of this section, or with an inactive, expired, suspended, terminated,
or revoked license, temporary permit, or registration.

(B)
No veterinary student shall:

(1)
Perform or assist surgery unless under direct veterinary supervision
and unless the student has had the minimum education and experience
prescribed by rule of the board;

(2)
Engage in any other work related to the practice of veterinary
medicine unless under veterinary supervision;

(3)
Participate in the operation of a branch office, clinic, or allied
establishment unless a licensed veterinarian is present on the
establishment premises.

(C)
No person shall act as a registered veterinary technician unless the
person is registered with the board on a biennial basis and pays the
biennial registration fee. A registered veterinary technician
registration expires biennially on the first day of March in the
odd-numbered years and may be renewed in accordance with the standard
renewal procedures contained in Chapter 4745. of the Revised Code
upon payment of the biennial registration fee and fulfillment of ten
continuing education hours during the two years immediately preceding
renewal for registration. Each registered veterinary technician shall
notify in writing the executive director of the board of any change
in the registered veterinary technician's office address or
employment within ninety days after the change has taken place.

(1)
A registered veterinary technician operating under veterinary
supervision may perform the following duties:

(a)
Prepare or supervise the preparation of patients, instruments,
equipment, and medications for surgery;

(b)
Collect or supervise the collection of specimens and perform
laboratory procedures as required by the supervising veterinarian;

(c)
Apply wound dressings, casts, or splints as required by the
supervising veterinarian;

(d)
Assist a veterinarian in immunologic, diagnostic, medical, and
surgical procedures;

(e)
Suture skin incisions;

(f)
Administer or supervise the administration of topical, oral, or
parenteral medication under the direction of the supervising
veterinarian;

(g)

Dispense
and administer, in accordance with a care coordination agreement, a
vaccine, including a rabies vaccine, to a covered animal as provided
under section 4741.191 of the Revised Code;

(h)

Other
ancillary veterinary technician functions that are performed pursuant
to the order and control and under the full responsibility of a
licensed veterinarian.

(h)
(i)

Any additional duties as established by the board in rule.

(2)
A registered veterinary technician operating under direct veterinary
supervision may perform all of the following:

(a)
Induce and monitor general anesthesia according to medically
recognized and appropriate methods;

(b)
Dental prophylaxis, periodontal care, and extraction not involving
sectioning of teeth or resection of bone or both of these;

(c)
Equine dental procedures, including the floating of molars,
premolars, and canine teeth; removal of deciduous teeth; and the
extraction of first premolars or wolf teeth.

The
degree of supervision by a licensed veterinarian over the functions
performed by the registered veterinary technician shall be consistent
with the standards of generally accepted veterinary medical
practices.

(3)
The board shall issue a registration to be a veterinary technician in
accordance with Chapter 4796. of the Revised Code to an applicant if
either of the following applies:

(a)
The applicant holds a similar registration or license in another
state.

(b)
The applicant has satisfactory work experience, a government
certification, or a private certification as described in that
chapter as a veterinary technician in a state that does not issue
that registration or license.

(D)
(D)(1)

A veterinarian licensed to practice in this state shall not present
the person's self as or state a claim that the person is a specialist
unless the veterinarian has previously met the requirements for
certification by a specialty organization recognized by the American
board of veterinary specialties for a specialty or such other
requirements set by rule of the board and has paid the fee required
by division (A)(10) of section 4741.17 of the Revised Code.

The
board shall issue a certification as a veterinary specialist in
accordance with Chapter 4796. of the Revised Code to an applicant if
the applicant holds a certification as a specialist in another state
or has satisfactory work experience, a government certification, or a
private certification as described in that chapter as a veterinary
specialist in a state that does not issue that certification.

(2)
No person shall use the title "registered veterinary technician"
or the title "veterinary technician," the abbreviation
"R.V.T.," or any other words, letters, or symbols, with the
intent to represent that the person is authorized to act as a
registered veterinary technician, unless that person is registered
with the board as required by this section and such registration is
not suspended or revoked.

(E)
Notwithstanding division (A) of this section, any animal owner or the
owner's designee may engage in the practice of embryo transfer on the
owner's animal if a licensed veterinarian directly supervises the
owner or the owner's designee and the means used to perform the
embryo transfer are nonsurgical.

(F)
Allied medical support may assist a licensed veterinarian to the
extent to which the law that governs the individual providing the
support permits, if all of the following apply:

(1)
A valid
veterinary-client-patient-relationship

veterinary-client-patient
relationship
exists.

(2)
The individual acts under direct veterinary supervision.

(3)
The allied medical support individual receives informed, written,
client consent.

(4)
The veterinarian maintains responsibility for the patient and keeps
the patient's medical records.

The
board may inspect the facilities of an allied medical support
individual in connection with an investigation based on a complaint
received in accordance with section 4741.26 of the Revised Code
involving that individual.

Sec.
4741.191.
(A)
As used in this section:

(1)
"Covered animal" means a shelter dog or a shelter cat.

(2)
"Dog" means any member of the species Canis familiaris.

(3)
"Cat" means any member of the species Felis catus.

(4)
"Antiparasitic medication" means medication dispensed and
administered, in accordance with a care coordination agreement, to a
covered animal for the purpose of controlling apparent or anticipated
internal or external parasites.

(B)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a
licensed veterinarian may, consistent with any federal law
requirements or restrictions and subject to the conditions described
in this section, authorize a registered veterinary technician to
establish an assess and treat relationship in accordance with a care
coordination agreement on behalf of the veterinarian for either or
both of the following purposes:

(1)
To allow the registered veterinary technician to dispense and
administer, in accordance with a care coordination agreement,
vaccines, including the rabies vaccine, to a covered animal;

(2)
To allow the registered veterinary technician to dispense and
administer, in accordance with a care coordination agreement,
antiparasitic medication to a covered animal.

(C)
A registered veterinary technician dispensing and administering, in
accordance with a care coordination agreement, such vaccines or
antiparasitic medications under division (B) of this section is
subject to veterinary supervision, and the requirement for such
supervision may be met by a veterinarian who is readily available to
communicate with the registered veterinary technician via telephonic
means at all times during the dispensation and administration.

(D)
Prior to authorizing a registered veterinary technician to establish
an assess and treat relationship on behalf of a veterinarian as
authorized under this section, the veterinarian shall establish a
care coordination agreement describing the duties the registered
veterinary technician must perform prior to and during the
dispensation and administration of any vaccine or antiparasitic
medication. The agreement shall include provisions regarding each of
the following:

(1)
Obtaining from the covered animal's owner or caretaker the animal's
available medical history;

(2)
Requirements for examination of the covered animal prior to
dispensation and administration of a vaccine or antiparasitic
medication;

(3)
Criteria, including any information in the covered animal's history
or physical examination, that would disqualify the covered animal
from receiving a vaccine or antiparasitic medication;

(4)
Vaccination protocols for each covered animal species for which
vaccines are dispensed and administered that include, at a minimum,
handling, dispensing, and administering of vaccines, when not to
dispense or administer such vaccines, and what to do in the event of
an adverse reaction or other emergency. Such protocols shall not
authorize the registered veterinary technician to prescribe the
vaccines, but only to dispense and administer such vaccines.

(5)
Protocols for parasite treatment and control for each covered animal
species for which antiparasitic medications are being dispensed and
administered, which shall include, at a minimum, handling,
dispensing, and administering of medications, when not to dispense
and administer such medications, and what to do in the event of an
adverse reaction or other emergency. Such protocols shall not
authorize the registered veterinary technician to prescribe the
antiparasitic medications, but only to dispense and administer such
antiparasitic medications.

(6)
Requirements that a veterinarian be available to physically respond
in the event of an adverse reaction or other emergency and protocols
for contacting that veterinarian to obtain such assistance in those
events;

(7)
Documentation of any additional education and training provided by
the veterinarian to the registered veterinary technician in order for
the registered veterinary technician to perform all of the agreed
upon duties within the care coordination agreement;

(8)
Documentation of all the following information:

(a)
The name or initials of the registered veterinary technician who
establishes an assess and treat relationship on behalf of the
veterinarian;

(b)
The name, address, and telephone number of the client;

(c)
The name or identity of the covered animal;

(d)
The age, sex, breed, species, and color of the covered animal;

(e)
The medical history information as it pertains to each covered
animal;

(f)
Any physical examination findings;

(g)
Any assessment completed before dispensing or administering a vaccine
or other medication;

(h)
Client consent for recommended vaccines or antiparasitic medications;

(i)
All medications and treatments, including strength, dosage, and route
of administration;

(j)
Record of relevant client communication, including whether an
evaluation by a veterinarian or follow-up care was recommended.

(9)
Any other information, protocols, and restrictions that the
veterinarian determines are necessary and appropriate for the care
coordination agreement.

(E)
If a veterinarian authorizes a registered veterinary technician to
establish an assess and treat relationship on behalf of the
veterinarian, the veterinarian and the registered veterinary
technician shall sign and date both of the following within the care
coordination agreement:

(1)
A statement containing the authorization for the registered
veterinary technician to act on behalf of the veterinarian and to
establish the assess and treat relationship for the limited purposes
of dispensing and administering, in accordance with the care
coordination agreement, vaccines and antiparasitic medication when
acting in compliance with the protocols, conditions, and procedures
specified in this section and within the care coordination agreement.
The authorization remains in effect until the date the veterinarian
terminates the authorization for the registered veterinary technician
to act on behalf of the veterinarian.

(2)
A statement containing an assumption of risk by the veterinarian for
all acts of the registered veterinary technician related to examining
the covered animal and dispensing and administering, in accordance
with the care coordination agreement, vaccines or antiparasitic
medication, except that the assumption of risk by the veterinarian
does not apply to willful acts of animal cruelty, gross negligence,
or gross unprofessional conduct on behalf of the registered
veterinary technician.

(F)
Before a registered veterinary technician examines or dispenses or
administers, in accordance with a care coordination agreement, any
vaccines or antiparasitic medication to a covered animal in
accordance with this section, the client shall be informed orally or
in writing that the registered veterinary technician is acting on
behalf of a licensed veterinarian. The client also shall be provided
with the veterinarian's name and license number. The registered
veterinary technician or a person authorized by the supervising
veterinarian shall obtain permission from the client for the
registered veterinary technician to proceed with examining the
covered animal and dispensing or administering, in accordance with a
care coordination agreement, any vaccine or medication after such
disclosure. The registered veterinary technician or a person
authorized by the supervising veterinarian shall document in the
covered animal's medical record the oral or written authorization of
the client to proceed with the registered veterinary technician's
examination of the animal and dispensation or administration, in
accordance with the care coordination agreement, of the specified
vaccine or medication.

(G)
Documentation relating to the satisfaction of the conditions listed
in divisions (E) and (F) of this section shall be retained by the
veterinarian for a minimum of three years.

Section
2.
That
existing section 4741.19 of the Revised Code is hereby repealed.