Kansas regulators earn right to discipline lay practitioners

TOPEKA, KAN. — The Kansas Board of Veterinary Examiners (KBVE) now boasts the power to take action against unlicensed practitioners of veterinary medicine.

The passage of HB 2834 amends the practice act, putting Kansas in line with just four other states that grant regulators the authority to issue fines, cease and desist letters and bring injunctions against illegal providers of veterinary medicine. Subpoenas could be issued to require attendance and testimony in lay practitioner cases, legislative documents show.

The ability to discipline people representing themselves as veterinary acupuncturists, massage therapists and other fields is a big step, says Gary Reser, executive director of the Kansas Veterinary Medical Association.

Apart from the authority change, the passage of another bill raises animal cruelty in Kansas to felony status on second offense.

Those convicted must submit DNA samples after their first offense.

"The idea behind DNA submission is that although not every animal abuser turns their anger toward humans, all of those who have murdered or beaten humans started with animals," Reser says.