HVMA Opposes SB2260

SB2260 requires veterinarians, upon request of the owner of an animal, to make available a copy of any prescription that the veterinarian has previously prescribed the animal free of charge. This bill will have a public hearing on Tuesday February 20, 2018 at 9:00AM at the Hawaii State Capitol conference room 229 by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health. Read the complete bill text (brief) here.

Please send in written testimony opposing this bill via the Hawaii State Legislature website (steps detailed below) by Monday Feb 19th 9am and consider testifying in person at Tuesday’s hearing.

HVMA opposes SB2260 because it places unnecessary legislative burden on veterinarians and is of questionable value to the public. According to Hawaii Revised Statutes 471-10, licensed veterinarians in Hawaii are required to practice by “the recognized principles of medical ethics of the veterinary profession as adopted by the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association”. According to the AVMA Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics Section V.b.iii., “Veterinarians are obligated to provide copies or summaries of medical records when requested by the client.” Prior prescription information is already contained within a patient’s medical record and available upon request by the client (owner of the animal). In regards to current prescriptions, Section VII.f.iii. states: “Veterinarians are entitled to charge fees for their professional services: A veterinarian shall honor a client’s request for a prescription or veterinary feed directive in lieu of dispensing, but may charge a fee for this service.” AVMA’s Policy on Client Requests for Prescriptions states: “Veterinarians shall honor client requests to prescribe rather than dispense a drug (AVMA Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics). The client has the option of filling a prescription at any pharmacy.”

Please make the voice of veterinarians heard and submit your testimony today:
1. Go to the Hawaii State Legislature website.
2. In the upper right hand corner, either “Sign In” to your account or “Register” if you do not have an account.
3. Once signed in, click on “Submit Testimony” (first orange button in the middle of the page).
4. Under “Enter Bill or Measure” enter SB2260 and click “Get Hearing”.
5. Complete your testimony submission (you may upload a document or enter your testimony directly on the webpage) and click “Submit”.
6. Feel good about participating in the legislative process and shaping the practice of veterinary medicine in Hawaii!

The Hawaii State Capitol is located at 415 South Beretania Street in downtown Honolulu. If you have never testified in person before and have questions about the process, please feel free to email us at contact@hawaiivetmed.org.

Other Current Pending Legislation

HB2498 – Establishes and appropriates funds for one full-time equivalent permanent veterinary medical officer position within the Department of Health. HVMA SUPPORTS.

HB1823 – Defines emotional support animals and makes it a misdemeanor to knowingly make a misrepresentation regarding a service dog or emotional support animal.

HB2060 – Removes the word “Examiners” from the names of the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, Board of Dental Examiners, Board of Examiners in Optometry, and Board of Veterinary Examiners. Renames the boards with titles that more accurately reflect their scope and duties. HVMA defers to BVE stance.

HB2072 – Prohibits certain restraints and tethers that endanger or deny sustenance to a dog. Specifies penalties.

HB2081/SB2566 – Appropriates funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources to provide assistance and supplemental funding to the National Wildlife Research Center of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to conduct pilot field studies to evaluate control tools and develop a management plan to reduce the rose-ringed parakeet population on Kauai.

HB2270/SB2501 – Requires the Department of Human Services to establish ohana zones where homeless persons may reside. Appropriates funds.

SB2014 – Requires persons convicted of animal cruelty to register with the attorney general. Requires animal shelters, animal breeders, and pet stores to check whether an individual has been convicted of animal abuse when the individual applies to work or volunteer, or purchases or adopts an animal. Establishes penalties. Prevents persons convicted of animal cruelty from possessing, owning, or working in close proximity to animals. Requires police officers to be trained in identifying and investigating animal abuse.

SB2289 – Establishes the offense of sexual assault of an animal. Provides for impoundment and forfeiture of a sexually assaulted animal.

SB2435 – Requires the Department of Health to contract with a nonprofit animal rescue group to oversee caretakers of feral cats. Exempts registered caretakers of feral cats from state laws and county ordinances relating to the feeding and confinement of cats. Establishes a trap-sterilize-return process.

SB2461 – Establishes the offense of “misrepresentation of a service animal”. Changes the term “service dog” to “service animal” and amends the definition of that term to conform with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

SB2929 – Establishes the Hawaii spay/neuter council to be administratively attached to the department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Establishes the Hawaii spay/neuter special fund. Imposes a fee on pet food to support the Hawaii spay/neuter grant program to spay and neuter dogs and cats. Makes an appropriation.