Perhaps CVMA’s most critical role within Colorado is to monitor state and regulatory issues of importance to veterinarians and the practice of veterinary medicine in Colorado. Through active, engaged relationship-building, CVMA works to represent the voice of veterinarians throughout Colorado on key issues. In our Legislative Update column, we provide updates on CVMA’s activities and efforts with key stakeholders throughout the state.
CVMA’s vital advocacy work is made possible thanks to the dues of 2,400 members throughout Colorado. Not a member? Join us in our mission to protect and advance veterinary medicine throughout the state — click here to learn more about membership.
State Board of Veterinary Medicine confirms CE and license renewal deadline as October 31, 2020
Some CVMA members may have attended an August meeting of the State Board of Veterinary Medicine during which the board considered and adopted a proposal to extend the deadline for the CE required for license renewal. The proposal would have extended the deadline to December 31, 2020, pending verification of statute. CVMA followed up with the program director for the veterinary board, who indicated that due to the language of the statute, the board cannot provide a CE extension. The statute does give the board the authority to excuse licensees from CE based on good and sufficient reason 12-315-110 (3)(b) C.R.S. This would be decided on a case-by-case basis by the board. All licensees are given a 60-day grace period to renew their licenses (which includes an attestation about CE completion), and this extends until December 31, 2020. There is a nominal late fee associated when a licensee renews after the October 31 deadline.
CVMA joins AVMA in supporting the Healthy Dog Importation Act, introduced by three veterinarians in the U.S. House of Representatives
The CVMA Board of Directors voted to join AVMA in supporting the Healthy Dog Importation Act , H.R. 6921 introduced by veterinarian Reps. Ralph Abraham (R-LA), Ted Yoho (R-FL) and Kurt Schrader (D-OR) on May 19, 2020 and referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
The legislation promotes a collaborative inspection process where the USDA, CDC and CBP work together to ensure imported dogs are healthy and will not pose a threat to our country.
Both AVMA and CVMA support robust inspection of dogs imported into the U.S. With only a small percentage of dogs being inspected, there is an increased risk of these animals bringing diseases into the country that could impact animal and human health.
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that up to 1.245 million dogs are imported into the U.S. each year.
• As the number of imported dogs increases, so does the risk of importing nonnative parasites and zoonotic diseases.
• In the past five years, dogs have been imported with rabies, canine influenza, Asian canine distemper, leptospirosis, screwworm, and canine melioidosis.
• Current pet import oversight mechanisms established prior to the exponential growth of imports are unable to protect against this public and animal health threat.
