s_agr_2017a_2017-02-16t13:30:01z0 Hearing Summary

Date: 02/16/2017

Location: SCR 357

SB 17-135



Senator Sonnenberg announced that Senate Marble was running late and that remote testimony on Senate Bill 17-135 concerning the medical release requirement for animal chiropractors would proceed.



The following persons testified remotely on the bill:



01:31 PM -- Petra Sullwold, Animal Chiropractic, spoke in support of the bill.



01:36 PM -- Cindy Plummer, representing herself, discussed the benefits of animal chiropractic and spoke in support of the bill.



01:40 PM -- Dr. Michael Adney, Sport Horse, discussed the challenge of obtaining permission from a veterinarian prior to performing animal chiropractic and spoke in support of the bill.



01:44 PM -- Eliza Wester, representing herself, discussed the benefits of animal chiropractic and spoke in support of the bill.



01:47 PM -- Dr. Clinton Sullwold, representing himself, discussed the benefits of animal chiropractic and spoke in support of the bill.



01:51 PM -- Shelbi Phelps, representing herself, discussed the benefits of animal chiropractic and spoke in support of the bill.



01:55 PM -- Dr. Sharon Anable, read a letter from Dr Johnny Wyatt that discussed the benefits of animal chiropractic and his support for the bill.



01:59 PM -- Dr. Shalona McFarland, representing herself, discussed the benefits of animal chiropractic and spoke in support of the bill.



02:04 PM



Senator Marble, Prime Sponsor, described the provisions of Senate Bill 17-135 concerning the medical release requirement for animal chiropractors. She also discussed the benefits of animal chiropractic on a horse she owned and identified chiropractic associations that support the bill. The bill removes the requirement that a registered animal chiropractor receive medical clearance by a licensed veterinarian to perform animal chiropractic treatment. If the animal patient is also under the care of a licensed veterinarian, the animal chiropractor is encouraged to collaborate with the veterinarian. 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 situation, the chiropractor is required to maintain professional collaboration with the veterinarian who provided the medical clearance.



The following persons testified, in person, on the bill:



02:23 PM -- Dr. Keith Roehr, Colorado Department of Agriculture, spoke in opposition to a provision of the bill related to the reporting of animal diseases. He also responded to questions from the committee about his concerns with the bill.



02:31 PM -- Dr. Will French, Colorado Veterinary Medical Association, spoke in opposition to the bill and responded to questions from the committee about the bill and the practice of animal chiropractic.



02:38 PM -- Kevin Haussler, Colorado State University, spoke in opposition to the bill.



02:43 PM -- Dr. William Fredregill, Colorado Veterinary Medical Association, spoke in opposition to the bill and responded to questions from the committee about fees charged to write a prescription for animal chiropractic services.



02:49 PM -- Dr. Sam Romano, Colorado Veterinary Medical Association, spoke in opposition to the bill and distributed a handout on his testimony (Attachment A).



170216 AttachA.pdf



02:54 PM -- Gail Meisner, Rocky Mountain Quarter Horse Association, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, spoke in support of the bill.



03:00 PM -- Dr. Mattie Leto, Chiropractic, spoke in support of the bill.



03:03 PM -- Dr. Jay Komarek, Chiropractic, spoke in support of the bill.



03:08 PM -- Bruce Zech, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill.



03:11 PM -- Rachel Wendt, Colorado Chiropractic Association, spoke in support of the bill.



03:14 PM -- Dr. Paige Mott, Chiropractic for Animals, spoke in support of the bill.



03:17 PM -- Donna Walter, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.



03:21 PM -- Dr. Aaron Peterson, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill.



03:23 PM



The chair closed testimony on the bill and Senator Marble closed her remarks.