h_agr_2017a_2017-03-13t13:31:36z0 Hearing Summary

Date: 03/13/2017

Location: RM 271

01:32 PM -- SB 17-135



Representative Lewis, sponsor, presented Senate Bill 17-135, concerning the removal of the requirement that licensed chiropractors who are registered to perform animal chiropractic obtain a veterinary medial clearance by a licensed veterinarian before performing an act that falls within an animal chiropractor's scope of practice on an animal patient. The bill also allows a chiropractor who is not registered as an animal chiropractor to perform animal chiropractic treatment if a licensed veterinarian provides medical clearance. In this case, the chiropractor is required to maintain professional collaboration with the veterinarian who provided the medical clearance. Representative Lewis responded to questions from the committee and committee discussion ensued.



The following persons testified remotely on the bill:



01:47 PM -- Melinda LaVelle, representing veterinarians, spoke in support of the bill and read into the record testimony in support of the bill from three veterinarians from southwestern Colorado.



01:50 PM -- Dr. Michael Aldney, a chiropractor and animal owner, spoke in support of the bill.



01:54 PM -- Michelle Busbee, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.



01:56 PM -- Gayle Olsen read into the record testimony in support of the bill from Dr. Erin Peterson.



01:59 PM -- Debra Bishop, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill and responded to questions from the committee.



02:05 PM -- Brenda Rice, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.



02:11 PM -- Sandra Simons, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.



02:16 PM -- Petra Sullwold, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.



02:17 PM -- Dr. Arno Burnier, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill.



02:20 PM -- Claudia Whitman, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.



02:21 PM -- Dr. Clayton Sullwood, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill.



02:24 PM -- Bethany Niccum, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.



02:26 PM -- Jan Bradberry, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.



02:29 PM -- Judith Grimes, spoke in support of the bill on behalf of Chad Jack.



02:32 PM -- Shelbi Phelps, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.



The following persons testified on the bill at the committee hearing :



02:36 PM -- Leo Boyle, Colorado Veterinarian Medical Association (CVMA), spoke in opposition to the bill and described the agreement made between chiropractors and veterinarians made in 2009. Mr. Boyle responded to questions from the committee regarding an agreement reached by chiropractors and veterinarians and policies of other states regarding animal chiropractic.



02:47 PM -- Dr. Kevin Haussler, Colorado State University, spoke in opposition to the bill and responded to questions from the committee regarding the registration of animal chiropractors and the availability of large animal veterinarians who are also licensed to practice animal chiropractic



03:00 PM -- Dr. Mark Stetter, Colorado State University, was not at the hearing, but his letter of opposition was read into the record by Dr. Kevin Haussler.



03:02 PM -- Dr. Nick Striegel, Deputy State Veterinarian, Colorado Department of Agriculture, spoke in opposition to the bill and expressed concern about the reporting of diseases in animals. Dr. Striegel responded to questions from the committee regarding the reporting of diseases by chiropractors and the enforcement of current statute. Dr. Striegel discussed different symptoms of transmissible diseases and how those symptoms could be mistaken for soreness or weakness by an animal chiropractor.



03:20 PM -- Dr. Will French, CVMA, spoke in opposition to the bill and expressed concern about chiropractic treatment on horses. Dr. French responded to questions from the committee regarding diseases that may be misdiagnosed by chiropractors and the education requirements for animal chiropractors. Dr. French expressed concern with a provision in the bill allowing a chiropractor who is not registered as an animal chiropractor to practice on animals.



03:33 PM -- Former Representative Ann McGihon, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill. Representative McGihon gave a brief background of the current statute and the agreement between chiropractors and veterinarians reached through Senate Bill 09-167.



03:39 PM -- Dr. William Fredregill, CVMA, spoke in opposition to the bill.



03:42 PM -- Diane Matt, CVMA, read into the record a letter of opposition from Dr. Crawford.



03:46 PM -- Dr. Melanie Marsden, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill. She expressed concern regarding the provision in the bill allowing a chiropractor who is not registered as an animal chiropractor to practice on animals.



03:49 PM -- Dr. Narda Robinson, representing himself, spoke in opposition to the bill.



03:54 PM -- Lori Greenstone, Colorado Voters for Animals, spoke in opposition to the bill.



03:55 PM -- Ralph Johnson, CVMA, spoke in opposition to the bill and responded to questions from the committee.



04:01 PM -- Karen Mahnke read into the record a letter of support from Dr. John Komarek.



04:06 PM -- Bruce Zech, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.



04:09 PM -- Dr. Rachel Wendt, Colorado Chiropractic Association, testified in support of the bill and responded to questions from the committee.



04:20 PM -- Rafael Munez read a letter of support into the record from Dr. Rebecca Goodwin.



04:23 PM -- Dr. Amy Hayek, Animal Chiropractic Educator, spoke in support of the bill and responded to questions from the committee.



04:38 PM -- Jamie Morris, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.



04:43 PM -- Dr. Richard Hobighorst, an animal chiropractic practitioner, spoke in support of the bill.



04:47 PM -- Gail Miesner, Rocky Mountain Quarter Horse Association and Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, spoke in support of the bill.



04:53 PM -- Bill Midcap, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, spoke in support of the bill.



04:54 PM -- Jen Granland, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.



04:56 PM -- Roxanne Jaramillo, representing Dr. Tina Husman, spoke in support of the bill.



05:00 PM -- Dr. Donna Walter, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.



05:03 PM -- Dr. Mattie Leto, chiropractic practitioner, spoke in support of the bill and responded to questions from the committee.



05:13 PM -- Dr. Paige Mott, animal chiropractic, spoke in support of the bill and responded to questions from the committee.



05:19 PM



Representative Lewis concluded her comments on the bill and distributed letters of support for the bill (Attachment A) to the committee. Committee discussion ensued.



170313 AttachA.pdf