STATE BOARD OF VETERINARY MEDICINE [49 PA. CODE CH. 31] Continuing Education Provider Approval [33 Pa.B. 1358] The State Board of Veterinary Medicine (Board) proposes to amend §§ 31.16 and 31.40 (relating to continuing education provider approval) to read as set forth in Annex A. The proposed rulemaking adds providers approved by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) and included on the Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) to the list of continuing education providers who are preapproved to offer courses for credit toward the biennial continuing education requirements for veterinarians and animal health technicians.
Effective Date
The proposed rulemaking will be effective upon final-form publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Statutory Authority
Section 18 of the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act (act) (63 P. S. § 485.18) authorizes the Board to approve all continuing education programs and to promulgate standards to ensure that the programs meet the educational and professional requirements of the profession and are designed to keep the members of the profession abreast of current learning and scholarship.
Section 5(2) of the act (63 P. S. § 485.5(2)) authorizes the Board to promulgate regulations to effectuate the act. Section 11 of the act (63 P. S. § 485.11) authorizes the Board to promulgate regulations related to the practice of veterinary technicians.
Background and Need for Proposed Rulemaking
The AAVSB asked the Board to consider adding providers who are approved by the AAVSB and listed on the RACE to the list of providers who are preapproved by the Board to provide continuing education required for biennial license renewal to this Commonwealth's licensed veterinarians and certified animal health technicians. After reviewing the information provided by the AAVSB, the Board found that courses are approved by the AAVSB for inclusion on the RACE in accordance with standards equivalent to the standards employed by the Board in approving continuing education courses. The Board concluded that RACE-listed courses are of consistently high educational quality and should have preapproved status.
Description of Proposed Rulemaking
The Board proposes to amend § 31.16(a), which lists those continuing education providers who are preapproved by the Board to offer courses to licensed veterinarians, by adding paragraph (8), which includes providers listed on the RACE. The Board proposes to amend § 31.40(a), which lists those continuing education providers who are preapproved by the Board to offer courses to certified animal health technicians, by adding paragraph (8), which includes providers listed on the RACE.
Fiscal Impact and Paperwork Requirements
The proposed rulemaking will relieve providers who are listed on the RACE from having to apply to the Board for approval of a continuing education course to be offered by the provider. This will save the providers $35 per course, the fee assessed for approval of a continuing education program in § 31.41. The proposed rulemaking will also relieve the Board of the work involved in reviewing and approving the continuing education courses.
Sunset Date
The Board continuously monitors its regulations. Therefore, no sunset date has been assigned.
Regulatory Review
Under section 5(a) of the Regulatory Review Act (71 P. S. § 745.5(a)), on March 5, 2003, the Board submitted a copy of this proposed rulemaking to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) and the Chairpersons of the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee and the House Professional Licensure Committee. In addition to submitting the proposed rulemaking, the Board has provided IRRC and the Committees with a copy of a detailed Regulatory Analysis Form prepared by the Board. A copy of this material is available to the public upon request.
Under section 5(g) of the Regulatory Review Act, if IRRC has objections to any portion of the proposed rulemaking, it will notify the Board within 30 days of the close of the public comment period. The notification shall specify the regulatory review criteria that have not been met by the portion of the proposed rulemaking to which an objection is made. The Regulatory Review Act specifies detailed procedures for review, prior to final publication of the rulemaking, by the Board, the General Assembly and the Governor of objections raised.
Public Comment
Interested persons are invited to submit written comments, suggestions or objections regarding the proposed rulemaking to Robert Kline, State Board of Veterinary Medicine, P. O. Box 2649, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2649, www.dos.state.pa.us, within 30 days following publication of this proposed rulemaking in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
BRIAN V. HARPSTER, V.M.D.,
ChairpersonFiscal Note: 16A-5714. No fiscal impact; (8) recommends adoption.
Annex A TITLE 49. PROFESSIONAL AND VOCATIONAL STANDARDS PART I. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Subpart A. PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL AFFAIRS CHAPTER 31. STATE BOARD OF VETERINARY MEDICINE LICENSURE § 31.16. Continuing education provider approval.
(a) Subject to § 31.15 (relating to continuing education), the Board will approve without application to the Board and the fee required under § 31.41 (relating to schedule of fees), continuing education courses offered by the following providers:
* * * * * (8) Providers listed on the Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) of the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB).
* * * * * ANIMAL HEALTH TECHNICIANS AND NONCERTIFIED [EMPLOYES] EMPLOYEES § 31.40. Continuing education provider approval.
(a) The Board will approve without application to the Board and the fee required under § 31.41 (relating to schedule of fees), continuing education courses offered by the following providers as long as the programs are specifically designed to increase the skills, knowledge and competency of certified animal health technicians:
* * * * * (8) Providers listed on the Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) of the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) to offer courses for certified animal health technicians.
* * * * * [Pa.B. Doc. No. 03-450. Filed for public inspection March 14, 2003, 9:00 a.m.]
