Authorizes, upon certain conditions and without examination, temporary licensure of veterinarians who are licensed in good standing in another state that has licensing standards equivalent to or higher than Hawaii's.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that there are not enough homes to accommodate the seventy thousand puppies and kittens born every day across the nation. In six years, one fertile female and male dog and their offspring could produce sixty-seven thousand puppies. In seven years, a pair of male and female cats and their offspring could produce four hundred twenty thousand kittens.

In Hawaii, the problem of unwanted animals is widespread. Some animals are abandoned and appear in shopping centers, hotels, small businesses, subdivisions, and residents' backyards. Many of these abandoned animals are unable to survive and die from starvation, disease, abuse, or when struck by cars. Each year in Hawaii, thousands of healthy, unwanted animals are euthanized because there are not enough homes for them.

Studies show that spaying and neutering are the most effective and efficient means to control animal overpopulation, as well as to prevent abandonment and animal cruelty. However, there is a lack of qualified veterinarians to perform these services. The problem is especially acute in the county of Hawaii. The surgery facility at Keaau and Kona Humane Society has been without a veterinarian for over two years. As a result, adoption periods are delayed because private veterinarians are overwhelmed with sterilizations. In efforts to help control animal overpopulation, local veterinarians have contributed nearly one thousand low-cost spay and neuter services each year. Although helpful, it is not enough to cover the additional five thousand spay and neuter surgeries needed annually for the Hawaii Humane Society. More veterinarians are needed to help control animal overpopulation.

Veterinarians from other states who are vacationing in Hawaii have demonstrated an interest in assisting the State by volunteering to spay and neuter animals. However, Hawaii law only authorizes veterinarians licensed in the State of Hawaii to perform these services.

The purpose of this Act is to allow out-of-state veterinarians who are licensed in good standing by another state, to obtain a temporary veterinary license to perform veterinary services in Hawaii.

SECTION 2. Chapter 471, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§471- Temporary licensure without examination; out-of-state veterinarians. (a) The board may grant a temporary license to practice veterinary medicine that shall not exceed ninety days to an applicant who has not fulfilled the requirements of section 471-8 but meets the requirements of this section and is found by the board to be fit for licensure.

(b) The applicant shall:

SECTION 3. Section 471-8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) [No] Except as provided under section 471- , no person shall be licensed to practice veterinary medicine unless the person has passed an examination of the qualifications and fitness to engage in the practice of veterinary medicine given by the board of veterinary examiners. Before any applicant shall be eligible for examination under this chapter the applicant, at least sixty days before the date set for examination, shall file an application in the form as shall be prescribed by the board, pay to the department of commerce and consumer affairs application and examination fees, and furnish proof satisfactory to the board that the applicant:

SECTION 4. Section 471-9, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

"(b) [All] Except as provided in section 471- , all licenses issued by the board shall expire on June 30 of each even-numbered year next following the date of issuance."

SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that the board of veterinary examiners shall begin to accept applications for licensure under section 2 no later than September 1, 2006.