Senate approves bill letting qualified vet technicians respond to field emergency calls under indirect supervision

The Arkansas Senate passed Senate Bill 68, which permits veterinary technicians, technologists and technician specialists to go to a location other than the supervising veterinarian’s facility to provide services on emergency calls under indirect supervision.

Sponsor Senator Hill said the bill responds to a shortage of large-animal veterinarians and would allow qualified staff employed by a veterinarian to provide urgently needed on-site assistance when the veterinarian cannot be physically present. He described examples from the field, including a cow in labor and a horse trapped on a cattle guard, where a trained staff member could perform assessments and report to the veterinarian.

Opponents and questioners, including Senator Stubblefield and members of the livestock community, urged caution. They stressed that supervision is the foundation of veterinary practice and asked about training requirements and limits on what nonlicensed staff could do. Hill said the bill would not permit technicians to perform surgeries or independent prescribing; the veterinarian retains authority and liability and the staff are employees of the veterinarian.

Senator Hammer likened the arrangement to a physician delegating to a physician assistant or nurse practitioner who acts under the physician’s authority. Sponsor Hill said the bill targets large-animal needs and would expand the veterinarian’s ability to respond when resources are limited.

The Senate approved the bill on a recorded vote, 34 yeas and 1 nay, and it will be transmitted to the House.