May 21 , 2009

Volume VI, No. 30

Legislative Update - Nearing the End of a Long Legislative Session

With only days left prior to the scheduled adjournment of the Illinois General Assembly, lawmakers are still struggling to come up with a plan to eliminate a $12 billion budget deficit and adopt a comprehensive $26 billion capital construction plan. There will be a flurry of votes in the next several days, including consideration of various revenue enhancements (tax and fee increases) necessary to close the current budget gap.

In the midst of all their difficult work this year, legislators have supported some important initiatives brought forward by the ISVMA, including:

• House Bill 364 - Veterinary Student Loan Repayment Program Act

 

This bill establishes the Veterinary Student Loan Repayment Program to be administered through the University of Illinois. It requires a loan recipient under the Program to enter into a program agreement under which he or she agrees to practice in (i) veterinary practice that is at least 51% devoted to large animal medicine that enhances agricultural animal health and productivity or (ii) regulatory veterinary medicine that supports public health and safety, livestock biosecurity, or food animal disease diagnosis for at least one year for each year in which he or she received a loan.

 

House Bill 364 was passed unanimously in both the House of Representatives and the Senate and is awaiting final approval by the Governor.

 

• Senate Bill 1443 - Veterinary Teaching Hospital

 

This bill clarifies and aligns a series of exemptions related to licensure for the faculty and facilities at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. It also passed unanimously in both legislative chambers and is awaiting final approval by the Governor.

 

• Senate Bill 1830/House Bill 2331 - Practice Pending Permits

 

These identical bills would allow an applicant who has fulfilled the veterinary license qualification requirements of the Veterinary Surgery and Practice Act may practice pending his or her licensure under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian until: (1) the applicant has been notified of his or her failure to pass the examination authorized by the Department; (2) the applicant has withdrawn his or her application; (3) the applicant has received a license from the Department after successfully passing the examination authorized by the Department; or (4) the applicant has been notified by the Department to cease and desist from practicing.

 

This bill was suggested by ISVMA to deal with the delay between graduation and the receipt of licensure so that practices hiring new graduates could put them to work immediately upon graduation.

 

These bills are both in the final stages of approval in the state legislature. If both bills were to pass, the Governor would only have to sign one of them for it to become law.

 

• Senate Bill 38 - Euthanasia

 

This bill was not an ISVMA initiative but was amended to address ISVMA concerns and to include a provision from a bill that ISVMA had introduced separately to address certified euthanasia technicians who administer in home euthanasia. The ISVMA amendment would restrict the administration of euthanasia by a certified euthanasia technician to the physical premises of a licensed euthanasia agency (i.e. animal control or shelter).

 

This bill is also nearing final approval in the state legislature.

For an update on the status of all of the bills that ISVMA has been working on this legislative session, please visit http://capwiz.com/isvma/issues/bills/. Members can link to each bill on this list and read a short description, read the entire bill text, and use the "Take Action Now" link to contact your legislators to communicate your thoughts and position on the bill.

AVMA Updates and Information on the "Red Flags" Rule

The "Red Flags" Rule, 16 C.F.R. § 681.2, requires "creditors" and "financial institutions" to develop written plans to prevent and detect identity theft. The rule is a section of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act ("FACT Act") of 2003, a federal law which requires the establishment of guidelines for financial institutions and creditors regarding identity theft. This rule may affect your veterinary practice.

The FTC has delayed enforcement of the "Red Flags" Rule until August 1, 2009. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) will continue to develop resources for veterinarians and will update these resources as additional information is received. Please check their website at http://www.avma.org/issues/FTC_red_flags_rule.asp for updated information and for a schedule of their informational webinars.

Important Survey - CVT Demand, Usage and Need

If you have not yet filled out the CVT survey, please take a few minutes and let us know your thoughts on some important issues related to CVT demand, usage and need.

The ISVMA is preparing for the next renewal/revision of the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act (Practice Act) and we are looking for your input on any/many issues to be considered.

There are a number of issues that will be considered which affect your ability to practice in Illinois. We will be requesting your opinion and input on some of the most important issues. Our first survey concerns the use of Certified Veterinary Technicians in Illinois.

Please take a few minutes to answer this survey so we can introduce a Practice Act that will keep our profession strong and address the many issues that have emerged since the Act's last renewal.

All ISVMA members are encouraged to answer this survey. We very much appreciate and desire your input!

ISVMA Membership Renewal

ISVMA membership renewal forms are on the way! Membership is critical to the continued success of your association and we thank you very much for your continued support.

If you have an veterinarian associate or partner who is not an ISVMA member, we hope that you will encourage them to join this year. Additionally, if you have hired a new veterinarian in the last year or have CVT employees that are not members, we hope that you will sign them up too! All member prospects can fill out the simple membership application form at http://isvmaimpak.networkats.com/members_online/members/newmember.asp or contact the ISVMA offices at (217) 546-8381.

If you are not sure whether a veterinarian in your practice is a member, you can check by using the Find A Veterinarian search form on the ISVMA website.

About the Photo

The Blackburnian Warbler (Dendroica fusca) breeds in the north spruce woods of Canada and the northeastern United States. Closely tied to tall coniferous forests, the species does make its way down the Appalachian range into Georgia, breeding at the higher elevations.

Blackburnians rarely descend from their lofty domain during the breeding season. Males perch at the very tip of the tallest spruces to sing their high-pitched, sibilant songs. Both males and females can be found hovering to pluck caterpillars and other insects from among the spruce needles. Nests are placed high in those same trees, up to 85 feet above ground, hidden in dense foliage

The best time to see Blackburnian warblers may be during migration or on wintering grounds when they forage at more "reasonable" heights. In fact, despite the difficulty in spotting singing males, Blackburnians are relatively tame and tolerant of close viewing.

Blackburnians winter farther south than most Neotropical migrants, with the center of their winter range occurring mostly in the Andean highlands from Venezuela to Peru. Here they forage at many heights, even on the ground, eating insects and some berries. They also will often join mixed flocks of warblers, tanagers, and other tropical species. In the highlands of Costa Rica and Panama, Blackburnians are fairly common among the migrants in shade coffee plantations.

According to the Breeding Bird Survey, the continental Blackburnian Warbler population has remained relatively stable over the last 32 years. Large-scale plantings of jack pine (Pinus banksiana) in boreal forest areas may provide substantial habitat for the species.

However, populations in northern New England have declined by as much as 9% per year since 1980. Unfortunately, we should anticipate future problems for this species because it appears to depend upon forests throughout its breeding and wintering ranges.

Recent rapid deforestation of the Andean regions of South America can only have a negative impact on this long-distance boreal migrant. Yet, until we learn more about the ecology of this species throughout its range, conservation biologists will be ill-equipped to respond if the species begins to exhibit a downward trend.

I photographed this male Blackburnian Warbler in the yard of the ISVMA headquarters building in May 2009.

Contact Us

Please feel free to forward this issue of the E-SOURCE to veterinarians that are not receiving ISVMA’s electronic newsletter. Any ISVMA member may subscribe to the E-SOURCE for free:

If you wish to add your name to the recipient list, send an e-mail to info@isvma.org and ask to receive the E-SOURCE newsletter.

ISVMA values your membership and does not want to send you any unwanted email. If you would like to be removed from this member service, please email info@isvma.org.