No. HB 921
Filed under Healthcare.
Animal Cruelty ; Provides that failure to report suspected animal cruelty is grounds for certain disciplinary actions; clarifies that authorization to furnish medical records related to veterinary medical services to certain parties includes, but is not limited to, instances where veterinarian suspects animal cruelty; defines; requires certain individuals to report incidents of animal cruelty to certain officials; requires that veterinarian, veterinary technician, or other animal treatment provider employee who makes good faith report of animal cruelty to certain officials be held harmless from certain liability, disciplinary action, & retaliation; provides penalties for certain veterinarians, veterinary technicians, or animal treatment provider employees or volunteers who knowingly alter or destroy medical record for purpose of concealing animal cruelty.
Plain English Summary
AI-GENERATEDVeterinarians with a treating relationship, and any employee of an animal hospital, clinic, shelter, or similar provider, must report suspected animal cruelty -- past or ongoing -- to law enforcement, animal control, or a certified humane agent.
Anyone who makes a good-faith report of suspected animal cruelty under this law is protected from criminal liability, civil liability, professional discipline, and workplace retaliation for having reported it.
Knowingly altering or destroying a medical record to hide animal cruelty is now a first-degree misdemeanor for technicians, employees, and volunteers -- though not for veterinarians licensed under chapter 474, whose failure to report is instead grounds for licensing discipline.
AIA veterinarian with a treating relationship to the animal, and any veterinary technician or other employee of an animal treatment provider treating that animal, must report suspected animal cruelty -- whether past or ongoing -- to law enforcement, certified animal control, or an appointed agent.
AIA veterinarian, technician, or other animal treatment provider employee who makes a good-faith report of animal cruelty cannot be held criminally or civilly liable, professionally disciplined, or retaliated against by their employer for making it.
AIA veterinary technician, animal treatment provider employee or volunteer, or a veterinarian not licensed under chapter 474, who knowingly alters or destroys a medical record to conceal animal cruelty commits a first-degree misdemeanor; chapter 474-licensed veterinarians are excluded from this specific charge.
AIA licensed veterinarian's failure to report suspected animal cruelty to the proper authorities becomes an additional ground on which the veterinary board may take disciplinary action against their license.