(a) Notwithstanding any other law, a registered veterinary technician or a veterinary assistant may administer a drug, including, but not limited to, a drug that is a controlled substance, under the direct or indirect supervision of a licensed veterinarian when done pursuant to the order, control, and full professional responsibility of a licensed veterinarian. However, no person, other than a licensed veterinarian, may induce anesthesia unless authorized by regulation of the board.
(b) A veterinary assistant may obtain or administer a controlled substance pursuant to the order, control, and full professional responsibility of a licensed veterinarian, only if he or she meets both of the following conditions:
(1) Is designated by a licensed veterinarian to obtain or administer controlled substances.
(2) Holds a valid veterinary assistant controlled substance permit issued pursuant to Section 4836.2.
(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), if the Veterinary Medical Board, in consultation with the Board of Pharmacy, identifies a dangerous drug, as defined in Section 4022, as a drug that has an established pattern of being diverted, the Veterinary Medical Board may restrict access to that drug by veterinary assistants.
(d) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) “Controlled substance” has the same meaning as that term is defined in Section 11007 of the Health and Safety Code.
(2) “Direct supervision” has the same meaning as that term is defined in subdivision (e) of Section 2034 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations.
(3) “Drug” has the same meaning as that term is defined in Section 11014 of the Health and Safety Code.
(4) “Indirect supervision” has the same meaning as that term is defined in subdivision (f) of Section 2034 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations.
(e) This section shall become operative on the date Section 4836.2 becomes operative.
(Repealed (in Sec. 24) and added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 515, Sec. 25. (SB 304) Effective January 1, 2014. Pursuant to subd. (e), this section became operative on July 1, 2015, the operative date of Section 4836.2. Note: Section 4836.2 first became operative on July 1, 2015, in its form as amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 395.)