(a) Registered veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants are approved to perform those animal health care services prescribed by law under the supervision of a veterinarian licensed or authorized to practice in this state.
(b) (1) Registered veterinary technicians may perform animal health care services on those animals impounded by a state, county, city, or city and county agency pursuant to the direct order, written order, or telephonic order of a veterinarian licensed or authorized to practice in this state.
(2) An order established by a veterinarian pursuant to paragraph (1) may include any of the following information:
(A) Time periods by which an impounded animal is required to be assessed at intake and monitored while in the custody of an agency.
(B) Protocols to address the treatment of common medical conditions encountered in impounded animals.
(C) Protocols for controlling infectious and zoonotic diseases and for preventing environmental contamination.
(D) Protocols for controlling the acute pain of an impounded animal.
(E) Communication requirements between the registered veterinary technician and the supervising veterinarian.
(F) Euthanasia criteria for medically related cases.
(c) Registered veterinary technicians may apply for registration from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration that authorizes the direct purchase of sodium pentobarbital for the performance of euthanasia as provided for in paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 4827 without the supervision or authorization of a licensed veterinarian.
(d) Registered veterinary technicians may act as an agent of the supervising veterinarian in establishing the veterinarian-client-patient relationship for the purposes of administering preventive or prophylactic vaccines or medications for the control or eradication of apparent or anticipated internal or external parasites in accordance with subdivision (b) of Section 4826.7.
(Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 192, Sec. 1. (SB 1478) Effective January 1, 2025.)