Authorizes the provision of free spaying and neutering services in lieu of self-instructional course work for continuing education requirements for veterinarians with services provided in the office of a licensed veterinarian.

---

S6886A-2011 Actions

• Jun 12, 2012: PRINT NUMBER 6886A
• Jun 12, 2012: AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO HIGHER EDUCATION
• Apr 4, 2012: REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION

S6886A-2011 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S6886A

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the education law, in relation to providing free spaying and
neutering services in lieu of self-instructional course work for
continuing education requirements for veterinarians

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The purpose of this legislation is to allow veterinarians to satisfy a
portion of their triennial registration requirement by performing
free spay and neuter services in conjunction with a municipality,
SPCA, humane society or animal protection association.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Amends subdivision 2 of section 6704-a of the education law, and
applies to services and facilities pursuant to section 6606 of such law

JUSTIFICATION:
Existing law requires veterinarians to register triennially with the
State Education Department, and complete a minimum of forty-five
hours of-acceptable formal continuing education, a maximum of
twenty-two and one-half hours of which may be self-instructional
coursework acceptable to the department. This training offers obvious
value, but could be improved by encouraging continuing education that
also benefits the communities they serve. Allowing veterinarians to
use the triennial registration period to perform community service
would reduce the animal shelter overcrowding that leads to euthanasia
as well as the economic burden for municipalities experiencing
growing budget shortfalls.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
None.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
By encouraging veterinarians to perform volunteer spay and neuter
services, the effect of this legislation would be to lower shelter
costs for municipalities including New York City.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect in 90 days.

S6886A-2011 Text

                      S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
  ________________________________________________________________________

                                   6886--A

                              I N  SENATE

                                April 4, 2012
                                 ___________

  Introduced by Sens. GOLDEN, OPPENHEIMER -- read twice and ordered print-
    ed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Educa-
    tion  --  committee  discharged,  bill  amended,  ordered reprinted as
    amended and recommitted to said committee

  AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to providing free spaying
    and neutering services in lieu of self-instructional course  work  for
    continuing education requirements for veterinarians

    THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
  BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


    Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 6704-a of the  education  law,  as
  added by chapter 328 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:

    2.  (A)  During  each  triennial  registration period an applicant for
  registration shall complete a minimum of forty-five hours of  acceptable
  formal  continuing education, a maximum of twenty-two and one-half hours
  of which may be self-instructional coursework acceptable to the  depart-
  ment.
    (I) SELF-INSTRUCTIONAL COURSEWORK MAY INCLUDE FREE SPAYING AND NEUTER-
  ING  SERVICES IN CONJUNCTION WITH A MUNICIPALITY, DULY INCORPORATED NOT-
  FOR-PROFIT SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS, DULY INCOR-
  PORATED  HUMANE  SOCIETY,  OR  DULY   INCORPORATED   ANIMAL   PROTECTION
  ASSOCIATION  PROVIDED  THAT  SUCH SERVICES BE ADMINISTERED AT PRACTICES,
  FACILITIES AND PROPERTIES AUTHORIZED  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION  SIXTY-SEVEN
  HUNDRED SIX OF THIS ARTICLE.
    (II)  THE  DEPARTMENT  MAY  OFFSET  UP TO THREE HOURS OF THE REQUISITE
  NUMBER OF HOURS OF CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THIS  PARA-
  GRAPH  BY  THE NUMBER OF FREE SPAYING AND NEUTERING SERVICES RENDERED BY
  AN APPLICANT, AT A RATE OF ONE-HALF OF ONE HOUR OF CONTINUING  EDUCATION
  FOR  EACH  HOUR  OF FREE SPAYING AND NEUTERING SERVICES, PROVIDED THAT A
  VETERINARIAN SHALL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE CORE REQUIREMENTS  ESTAB-
  LISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
    (III) THE DEPARTMENT MAY REDUCE, IN PART, AN APPLICATION BY A LICENSEE
  TO  OFFSET CREDITS OF CONTINUING EDUCATION PURSUANT TO THIS PARAGRAPH IF
  THE DEPARTMENT FINDS, IN ITS DISCRETION,  THAT  THE  APPLICANT  REQUIRES
  FORMAL CONTINUING EDUCATION IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN OR RESTORE PROFESSIONAL

   EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                        [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                             LBD04668-13-2

 S. 6886--A                          2

  COMPETENCE,  OR  MAY  DENY ALL APPLICATIONS IF THE DEPARTMENT FINDS THAT
  FORMAL CONTINUING EDUCATION IS  NECESSARY  BECAUSE  OF  DEVELOPMENTS  IN
  SCIENCE OR TECHNOLOGY.
    (B)  Any  veterinarian  whose  first  registration  date following the
  effective date of this section occurs less than three  years  from  such
  effective  date,  but  on  or  after January first, two thousand twelve,
  shall complete continuing education hours on a  prorated  basis  at  the
  rate  of  one  and  one-quarter hours per month for the period beginning
  January first, two thousand twelve up to  the  first  registration  date
  thereafter.  A  licensee  who has not satisfied the mandatory continuing
  education requirements shall not  be  issued  a  triennial  registration
  certificate  by the department and shall not practice unless and until a
  conditional registration certificate is issued as provided  in  subdivi-
  sion  three  of  this  section, or until he or she has otherwise met the
  requirements of this section. The individual  licensee  shall  determine
  the  selection  of  courses or programs of study pursuant to subdivision
  four of this section.
    S 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day  after  it  shall
  have become a law.