INDEPENDENT REGULATORY REVIEW COMMISSION Actions Taken by the Commission [30 Pa.B. 1929] The Independent Regulatory Review Commission met publicly at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, March 23, 2000, and took the following actions:
Regulations Approved:
State Board of Veterinary Medicine # 16A-576: Professional Conduct; Advertising (amends 49 Pa. Code § 31.21).
Commissioners Voting: Alvin C. Bush, Vice Chairperson; Arthur Coccodrilli; Robert J. Harbison, III; John F. Mizner
Public Meeting held
March 23, 2000State Board of Veterinary Medicine--Professional Conduct; Advertising; Regulation No. 16A-576
Order On June 17, 1998, the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (Commission) received this proposed regulation from the State Board of Veterinary Medicine. This rulemaking amends 49 Pa. Code § 31.21. The authority for this regulation is section 5(a) and (b) of the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act (63 P. S. § 485.5(1) and (2)). The proposed regulation was published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin with a 30-day public comment period. The final-form regulation was submitted to the Commission on March 1, 2000.
This rulemaking adds a new standard for advertising emergency veterinary services to the existing Rules of Professional Conduct for Veterinarians. It will require veterinarians to disclose in all advertisements the specific hours when the emergency services will be available, whether the veterinarian is on the premises or on call, and whether the emergency services available are limited to particular types of animals.
These changes will enable animal and pet owners to make more informed decisions at the time they have to seek emergency veterinary care. Some veterinarians may incur additional expenses to change their current advertisements if they do not conform to these new requirements.
This regulation meets the criteria of the Regulatory Review Act.
Therefore, It Is Ordered That:
1. Regulation No. 16A-576 from the State Board of Veterinary Medicine, as submitted to the Commission on March 1, 2000, is approved; and
2. The Commission will transmit a copy of this Order to the Legislative Reference Bureau.
JOHN R. MCGINLEY, Jr.,
Chairperson[Pa.B. Doc. No. 00-620. Filed for public inspection April 7, 2000, 9:00 a.m.]
