Veterinary medicine: animal physical rehabilitation.

Existing law, the Physical Therapy Practice Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of physical therapists by the Physical Therapy Board of California, which is within the Department of Consumer Affairs. That act defines physical therapy as the art and science of physical or corrective rehabilitation or of physical or corrective treatment of any bodily or mental condition of any person by the use of the physical, chemical, and other properties of heat, light, water, electricity, sound, massage, and active, passive, and resistive exercise. Existing law, the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of veterinarians and the practice of veterinary medicine by the Veterinary Medical Board, which is within the Department of Consumer Affairs. That act makes it unlawful for any person to practice veterinary medicine in this state without a license and provides that the practice of veterinary medicine includes, among other things, the treatment of whatever nature for the prevention, cure, or relief of a wound, fracture, bodily injury, or disease of an animal. This bill would authorize a licensed physical therapist to be registered with the Veterinary Medical Board as a registered animal physical therapist and to provide animal physical rehabilitation, as defined, to an animal if specified requirements are met, including that the registered animal physical therapist performs all delegated animal rehabilitation tasks under the supervision of a veterinarian who has an established veterinarian-client-patient-relationship with the animal. The bill would authorize an animal physical rehabilitation assistant, as defined, to assist with delegated animal rehabilitation tasks subject to specified conditions, including that the tasks are performed under the direct supervision of a registered animal physical therapist. The bill would require the owner or operator of an animal physical rehabilitation facility, as defined, to submit a registration application to the Veterinary Medical Board and pay a registration fee, as prescribed. This bill would require the Veterinary Medical Board to determine qualifications necessary for a physical therapist to register with the board to provide animal physical rehabilitation and would require the Veterinary Medical Board to create the registration form and determine the registration process. The bill would authorize the Veterinary Medical Board to discipline a registered animal physical therapist, as specified, and would require the Veterinary Medical Board to report disciplinary actions against a registered physical therapist to the Physical Therapy Board of California. This bill would make a violation of the provisions by a licensee of the Physical Therapy Practice Act unprofessional conduct. The bill would establish fees for the issuance and renewal of a registration in animal physical rehabilitation and initial and annual renewal fees for registration of an animal physical rehabilitation facility, which would be deposited in the Veterinary Medical Board Contingent Fund.