Veterinary medicine: California Veterinary Medical Board.

Assembly Member Berman's comprehensive veterinary medicine legislation extends the California Veterinary Medical Board's authority through 2030 while expanding its composition to include an additional registered veterinary technician and requiring at least one veterinarian member to specialize in equine or livestock care. The nine-member board will now comprise four licensed veterinarians, two registered veterinary technicians, and three public members.

The bill establishes new continuing education requirements for veterinary professionals, mandating 36 hours biennially for veterinarians and 20 hours for veterinary technicians. These requirements encompass various educational activities, including traditional coursework, self-study options, and credits for teaching or participating in examination preparation workshops. Providers must maintain detailed records of course materials, attendance, and evaluations for four years.

Registration requirements for veterinary technicians now include expanded qualification pathways, such as graduation from board-recognized veterinary colleges or equivalent international education programs. The legislation also strengthens oversight of controlled substance permits, requiring veterinary assistants to disclose all jurisdictions where they hold or have held veterinary-related licenses. Veterinary practices must maintain more extensive patient and payment records, with specific provisions for providing copies to clients during critical care situations or facility transfers. The board may now issue citations with fines ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 for practicing without proper licensing, while implementing a tiered fee structure for veterinary premises based on the number of full-time equivalent veterinarians providing services.