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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study by the State Board of Veterinary Medical |
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Examiners on establishing a veterinarian-client-patient |
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relationship by telephone or electronic means. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) In this Act, "board" means the State Board |
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of Veterinary Medical Examiners. |
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(b) The board shall conduct a study on establishing a |
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veterinarian-client-patient relationship by telephone or |
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electronic means, including by using audiovisual |
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telecommunications technology. In conducting the study, the board |
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must consider: |
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(1) whether synchronous audiovisual |
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telecommunications technology is available and efficient for use by |
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veterinarians; |
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(2) the board's authority to exercise jurisdiction |
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over a veterinarian practicing veterinary medicine in this state by |
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telephone or electronic means, regardless of the veterinarian's |
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physical location; |
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(3) the need for rules regarding the affiliation of a |
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veterinarian practicing veterinary medicine by telephone or |
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electronic means with a veterinary practice located in this state; |
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(4) the need for laws regarding the prescription of |
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controlled substances and the provision of veterinary medical |
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services to animals associated with an agricultural operation; |
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(5) whether to amend Chapter 801, Occupations Code, to |
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authorize and regulate the establishment of a |
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veterinarian-client-patient relationship by telephone or |
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electronic means without a physical examination of an animal; and |
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(6) the extent to which changes to Chapter 801, |
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Occupations Code, are required for the state to comply with the |
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opinion in Hines v. Pardue, 117 F.4th 769 (5th Cir. 2024). |
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(c) Not later than December 1, 2026, the board shall submit |
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to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house |
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of representatives, and each standing committee of the legislature |
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with primary jurisdiction over the practice of veterinary medicine |
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a report on the results of the study conducted under Subsection (b) |
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of this section and any recommendations for legislative or other |
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action. The report may be submitted electronically. |
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SECTION 2. This Act expires December 31, 2026. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |