GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1999

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 595

Short Title:  Rabies Vaccine/Dog Owner Admin.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Representative Owens.

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Referred to:  Public Health.

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March 25, 1999

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE CERTAIN DOG OWNERS TO ADMINISTER THE RABIES VACCINE TO THEIR OWN DOGS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  G.S. 130A-185 reads as rewritten:
"§ 130A-185. Vaccination of all dogs and cats.
(a)	The owner of every dog and cat over four months of age shall have the animal vaccinated against rabies. The time or times of vaccination shall be established by the Commission. Except as otherwise provided in this section, rabies vaccine shall be administered only by a licensed veterinarian or by a certified rabies vaccinator.
(b)	Only animal rabies vaccine licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture and approved by the Commission shall be used on animals in this State.
(c)	A person who is not a veterinarian or certified rabies vaccinator may administer the rabies vaccine to his or her own dogs only under the following conditions:
(1)	The person owns four or more dogs;
(2)	The State Public Health Veterinarian has certified in writing that the person has demonstrated a knowledge and procedure acceptable for the administration of rabies vaccine to animals;
(3)	The rabies vaccine is administered within 15 days of purchase of the vaccine; and
(4)	For each dog vaccinated, a rabies certificate and rabies tag are obtained from the local health director within 15 days of administration of the rabies vaccine.
(d)	In order to obtain the rabies certificate and rabies vaccination tag required under this Part, an applicant for vaccination authority must provide the following to the local health director:
(1)	Affidavit or other written verification signed by the applicant, under penalty of perjury, stating that:
a.	The applicant is the owner of the dogs vaccinated,
b.	The applicant has administered the rabies vaccine to each of the dogs for which a certificate and tag are requested, and
c.	The date the vaccine was administered to each dog;
(2)	Proof of purchase of the rabies vaccine indicating the date of purchase; and
(3)	A copy of the certification required under subdivision (c)(2) of this section.
Upon verification of compliance with subsections (c)	and (d) of this section, the local health director shall issue to the applicant the rabies certificate and rabies tag for each dog vaccinated.  The fee charged to applicants for the tag, links, and rivets obtained from the Department shall not exceed one dollar per dog."
Section 2.  G.S. 130A-186 reads as rewritten:
"§ 130A-186. Appointment and certification of certified rabies vaccinator; certification of others authorized to administer rabies; fee authorized.
In those counties where licensed veterinarians are not available to participate in all scheduled county rabies control clinics, the local health director shall appoint one or more persons for the purpose of administering rabies vaccine to animals in that county. Whether or not licensed veterinarians are available, the local health director may appoint one or more persons for the purpose of administering rabies vaccine to animals in their county and these persons will make themselves available to participate in the county rabies control program. The State Public Health Veterinarian shall provide at least four hours of training to those persons appointed by the local health director to administer rabies vaccine and to applicants for authorization to administer the rabies vaccine to their own dogs pursuant to G.S. 130A-185(c). The Department may charge a fee not to exceed ten dollars ($10.00) to each applicant under G.S. 130A-185(c) for training and certification provided to the applicant.  Upon satisfactory completion of the training, and payment of the fee, if any, the State Public Health Veterinarian shall certify in writing that the appointee or applicant under G.S. 130A-185(c) has demonstrated a knowledge and procedure acceptable for the administration of rabies vaccine to animals.  A certified rabies vaccinator shall be authorized to administer rabies vaccine to animals in the county until the appointment by the local health director has been terminated."
Section 3.  G.S. 130A-189 reads as rewritten:
"§ 130A-189.  Rabies vaccination certificates.
A licensed veterinarian or a certified rabies vaccinator who administers rabies vaccine to a dog or cat, or a local health director who has authorized rabies vaccination under G.S. 130A-185(c), shall complete a three-copy rabies vaccination certificate.  The original rabies vaccination certificate shall be given to the owner of each dog or cat that receives rabies vaccine.  One copy of the rabies vaccination certificate shall be retained by the licensed veterinarian, certified rabies vaccinator, or local health director.  The other copy shall be given to the county agency responsible for animal control, provided the information given to the county agency shall not be used for commercial purposes."
Section 4.  G.S. 130A-190 reads as rewritten:
"§ 130A-190.  Rabies vaccination tags.
A licensed veterinarian or a certified rabies vaccinator who administers rabies vaccine to a dog or cat, or a local health director who has authorized rabies vaccination under G.S. 130A-185(c), shall issue a rabies vaccination tag to the owner of the animal. The rabies vaccination tag shall show the year issued, a vaccination number, the words "North Carolina"or the initials "N.C."and the words "rabies vaccine."Dogs and cats shall wear rabies vaccination tags at all times. However, cats may be exempted from wearing the tags by local ordinance. Rabies vaccination tags, links and rivets may be obtained from the Department. The Secretary is authorized to establish by rule a fee for the rabies tags, links and rivets. Except as otherwise authorized in this section, the fee shall not exceed the actual cost of the rabies tags, links and rivets, plus transportation costs. The Secretary may increase the fee beyond the actual cost plus transportation, by an amount not to exceed five cents (5¢) per tag, to fund rabies education and prevention programs."
Section 5.  G.S. 130A-191 reads as rewritten:
"§ 130A-191.  Possession and distribution of rabies vaccine.
It shall be unlawful for persons other than licensed veterinarians, certified rabies vaccinators, persons engaged in the distribution of rabies vaccine, and persons authorized to administer rabies vaccine under G.S. 130A-185(c)	to possess rabies vaccine.  Persons engaged in the distribution of vaccines may distribute, sell and offer to sell rabies vaccine only to licensed veterinarians, certified rabies vaccinators, and persons authorized to administer rabies vaccine under G.S. 130A-185(c)."
Section 6.  This act becomes effective October 1, 1999.