Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

S.B. 209 (2022GS)

Sponsor

Sen. McKell, M.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/21/2022

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• clarifies that a licensed veterinarian is not prohibited from discussing the effect of cannabis on an animal with the animal's owner; and
• makes technical and conforming changes.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

VETERINARIAN REGULATIONS AMENDMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Michael K. McKell
House Sponsor: 
 Joel Ferry
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill clarifies that a licensed veterinarian is not prohibited from discussing the effect
of cannabis on an animal with the animal's owner.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ clarifies that a licensed veterinarian is not prohibited from discussing the effect of
cannabis on an animal with the animal's owner; and
▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
58-28-502
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapter 435
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
58-28-502
 is amended to read:
58-28-502.
Unprofessional conduct.
(1) "Unprofessional conduct" includes, in addition to the definitions in Section
58-1-501
:
(a) applying unsanitary methods or procedures in the treatment of any animal, contrary
to rules adopted by the board and approved by the division;
(b) procuring any fee or recompense on the assurance that a manifestly incurable
diseased condition of the body of an animal can be permanently cured;
(c) selling any biologics containing living or dead organisms or products or such
organisms, except in a manner which will prevent indiscriminate use of such biologics;
(d) swearing falsely in any testimony or affidavit, relating to, or in the course of, the
practice of veterinary medicine, surgery, or dentistry;
(e) willful failure to report any dangerous, infectious, or contagious disease, as required
by law;
(f) willful failure to report the results of any medical tests, as required by law, or rule
adopted pursuant to law;
(g) violating Chapter 37, Utah Controlled Substances Act;
(h) delegating tasks to unlicensed assistive personnel in violation of standards of the
profession and in violation of Subsection (2); and
(i) making any unsubstantiated claim of superiority in training or skill as a veterinarian
in the performance of professional services.
(2) (a) "Unprofessional conduct" does not include the following:
(i) delegating to a veterinary technologist, while under the indirect supervision of a
veterinarian licensed under this chapter, patient care and treatment that requires a technical
understanding of veterinary medicine if written or oral instructions are provided to the
technologist by the veterinarian;
(ii) delegating to a state certified veterinary technician, while under the direct or
indirect supervision of a veterinarian licensed under this chapter, patient care and treatment that
requires a technical understanding of veterinary medicine if the veterinarian provides written or
oral instructions to the state certified veterinary technician;
(iii) delegating to a veterinary technician, while under the direct supervision of a
veterinarian licensed under this chapter, patient care and treatment that requires a technical
understanding of veterinary medicine if written or oral instructions are provided to the
technician by the veterinarian;
(iv) delegating to a veterinary assistant, under the immediate supervision of a licensed
veterinarian, tasks that are consistent with the standards and ethics of the profession; [
and
]
(v) delegating to an individual described in Subsection 
58-28-307
(16), under the direct
supervision of a licensed veterinarian, the administration of a sedative drug for teeth floating[
.
]
;
or
(vi) discussing the effects of the following on an animal with the owner of an animal:
(A) a cannabinoid or industrial hemp product, as those terms are defined in Section
4-41-102
; or
(B) THC or medical cannabis, as those terms are defined in Section 
26-61a-102
.
(b) The delegation of tasks permitted under [
Subsection (2)(a)
] 
Subsections (2)(a)(i)
through (v)
 does not include:
(i) diagnosing;
(ii) prognosing;
(iii) surgery; or
(iv) prescribing drugs, medicines, or appliances.
(3) Notwithstanding any provision of this section, a veterinarian licensed under this
chapter is not prohibited from engaging in a discussion described in Subsection (2)(a)(vi).