Brief ⁽¹⁾

SB 162 would amend three sections of the Kansas Veterinary Practice Act. The first amendment would modify the definition of "veterinary prescription drug" to change the referenced section of the U.S. Code and to indicate that the version in effect is the one in effect on July 1, 2001. The second amendment would amend a section of the act dealing with the application fee for a license to practice veterinary medicine in Kansas by increasing the upper limit of the fee from $250 to $500. The third amendment would increase the number of days in advance which a person must make an application to take the state veterinary examination from 45 days to 60 days.

Background

This bill was introduced at the request of the Board of Veterinary Examiners. The Executive Director indicated that the first amendment was necessary since the reference to "veterinary prescription drugs" was moved in the U.S. Code. The second amendment was offered because the two examinations given previously are now combined into one examination and thus there will be no real increase in the examination fee. The third amendment was offered because there is a need to coordinate dates for the examinations offered at computerized testing centers throughout the United States and Canada. A spokesperson from the Kansas Veterinary Medical Association appeared in support of the bill. There were no opponents to the bill.

The fiscal note indicates that the Kansas Board of Veterinary Examiners states that passage of SB 162 would have a negligible fiscal effect on revenues to or expenditures from the agency's fee fund. The agency further states that the bill could be implemented within current staffing and expenditure levels.

1. *Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.ink.org/public/legislative/fulltext.cgi