Here in Massachusetts
At the beginning of each two year legislative session, our state Representatives and Senators file proposed pieces of legislation (bills). The Legislative Committee is responsible for reviewing all proposed legislation pertaining to veterinarians, veterinary medicine and animals in Massachusetts. There are many factors that are considered when reviewing a proposed piece of legislation.
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Is the bill aligned with positions established by the Animal Welfare or other specialty MVMA committees?
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Is the bill practical?
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Can the bill do what is proposes?
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How will veterinarians be affected?
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What are other states doing regarding this same issue?
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What will be the after-effects of the bill?
After what is often a lengthy discussion, the Legislative Committee determines how the MVMA may or may not proceed. The categorization of bills is aligned with the system used by the AVMA and is as follows:
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Active pursuit of passage
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Support
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Non-support
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Active pursuit of defeat
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No action
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Requires more information
From this point on, the Legislative Committee, in conjunction with the MVMA’s legal team, monitors every step these bill take as they move through the legislative process. Many times, nothing is done other than monitoring. Less often, the MVMA takes an strong position and works diligently to achieve the outcome most desirable to our members.
The ongoing process is a combination of conversations with allied organizations, negotiation with opposing entities and face-to-face meetings and dialogue with our legislators over the life of the bill.
Ultimately, the MVMA strives to cultivate higher visibility on Beacon Hill for the MVMA and the veterinarians we represent, and to establish MVMA as the key source for information about the health and well-being of animals.
Newly Enacted Law in Massachusetts
An Act Relative to Substance Abuse, Treatment, Education and Prevention
This law is only applicable to human medicine. This law does not regulate veterinarians and how they write prescriptions. Veterinarians are exempt from the prescription monitoring program and exempt from all CE requirements cited in this new law.
Current Initiatives
Across the Nation
The AVMA takes the lead on all national initiatives, with the MVMA supporting the AVMA Governmental Relations Division through communications with our Senators and Congressional Representatives.
Here are the bills that we are tracking in conjunction with the AVMA.
UPDATE:
The Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act passed through Congress and was signed into law by President Obama on August 1, 2015.
The MVMA is most appreciative to the amazing Government Relations Team at the AVMA and to all the MVMA members who contacted their legislators regarding this important legislation. You all participated in this success.
- See what the AVMA has to say.
- See the MVMA's letter to Representative Joseph P. Kennedy, III
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