Bill > HB1387

This bill amends the Virginia Code to add a new exception to the regulations governing veterinary medicine practice. Specifically, the bill allows law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical services personnel to provide emergency medical treatment to animals that are injured while these professionals are performing their official duties, without being required to have a veterinary license. This means that if a police officer, firefighter, or emergency medical technician encounters an injured animal during the course of their work, they can legally provide immediate medical care to stabilize or help the animal without risking legal consequences for practicing veterinary medicine without a license. The provision is meant to enable first responders to provide critical assistance to animals in urgent situations where a licensed veterinarian may not be immediately available, focusing on the animal's immediate emergency medical needs. This change is added as a sixth exception to the existing list of circumstances where standard veterinary licensing requirements do not apply.

Health and Social Services, Justice

https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?251+sum+HB1387