Committee hears bill to let wildlife rehab centers access euthanasia medication

Senator Brunner told the Ohio House Natural Resources Committee during a first hearing that Senate Bill 152 would allow licensed wild animal rehabilitation facilities to obtain euthanasia medications for severely injured or diseased native wildlife.

Brunner said current law, after an update to opioid-related language about a decade ago, unintentionally excluded those rehabilitation organizations from access to the drugs they need to humanely euthanize animals that cannot be rehabilitated. “Current code does not permit wild animal rehabilitation facilities to have access to, medications necessary for the humane euthanasia of severely injured or diseased wildlife,” she said. She added that the bill would add those facilities to the list of entities permitted access and require facilities to maintain personnel who have completed a euthanasia technician certification course.

Brunner described operational strain on centers. “The Ohio Wildlife Center … receive[s] over 8,000 animals per year,” she said. “Unfortunately, a large chunk of them do need to be euthanized,” and facilities now must “reach out to veterinarians and other third party entities,” which increases costs. In her testimony she told the committee the legislation “passed the senate, committee and floor unanimously.”

Representative Heiner asked what happens to animals now: “What do they do with them?” Brunner replied, “the animals are euthanized, but they’ve gotta reach out to veterinarians and other third party entities to be able to do this, which … increases cost.”

The bill would require compliance with the same safety standards other entities must follow when handling and storing euthanasia medications. Brunner said the change is intended to correct an oversight and reduce logistical and financial burdens on rehabilitation centers across the state.

The committee held the bill’s first hearing and did not take a vote. No formal amendments or motions were recorded.