SPONSOR:

Rep. Gray

Reps. Briggs King, Jaques, D. Short; Sens. Hocker, Pettyjohn

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

149th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 390

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS FOR DOGS, CATS, AND FERRETS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Add a new Section to Title 16 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strikethrough and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 3091. Vaccination risk assessment

(a) Prior to administering a vaccine to a dog, cat, or ferret, a licensed veterinarian shall review the risks associated from the vaccine with the owner by using a Vaccine Risk Assessment Form. The Vaccine Risk Assessment Form will be designed, developed and provided to licensed veterinarians by the Department. The form will include the following items:

(1) an area on the form that lists each commonly administered dog, cat, and ferret vaccines and provide space for the veterinarian to indicate the potential risk to the animal from receiving the vaccine based on factors such as health, size, age, and overall physical condition of the animal;

(2) an area on the form to indicate the risk of the animal being exposed to the disease based on the environment where the animal will inhabit;

(3) an area on the form to indicate that the veterinarian and owner have discussed using a titer test to avoid unnecessary vaccination(s);

(4) an area on the form to document that the veterinarian and owner discussed a strategy to administer needed vaccines over a period of time to avoid medical problems, and;

(5) an area on the form for both the licensed veterinarian and the owner to sign establishing that the Vaccine Risk Assessment Form has been completed.

(b) The original Vaccine Risk Assessment Form will be maintained for inspection by the licensed veterinarian for a period of 3 years and a copy will be provided to the owner.

(c) The Department shall develop an abbreviated risk assessment form that will be used in vaccination programs conducted outside of a traditional veterinarian practice facility, such as free clinics. A copy of this abbreviated risk assessment form shall be given to the person bringing the animal that is receiving the vaccination but a record of the completed form is not required to be maintained.

(d) Whoever violates this subchapter shall be subject to the fines provided for in § 107(a) of this title and such fines are payable to the Department.

Section 2. This Act will be known as the Maggie’s Pet Vaccine Protection Act.

Section 3. This Act shall become effective 180 days after enactment.

SYNOPSIS

This bill requires the Department of Health and Social Services to create a vaccination risk assessment form to be used by veterinarians for dog, cat, and ferret vaccinations. An abbreviated form would be allowed for mass vaccination of pets events.