An Act To Remove Veterinarians from the Controlled Substances Prescription Monitoring Program
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1730
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: HAMPER, BERRY
Amends: 22 MRSA §7246, 32 MRSA §4864, 32 MRSA §4878

Legislative Document
No. 1730
S.P. 629
In Senate, December 22, 2017
An Act To Remove Veterinarians from the Controlled Substances 
Prescription Monitoring Program
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203.
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on December 19, 2017.  Referred to the Committee 
on Health and Human Services pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator HAMPER of Oxford.
Cosponsored by Representative: BERRY of Bowdoinham.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §7246, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2015, c. 488, §2, is further 
amended to read:
5.  Prescriber.  "Prescriber" means a licensed health care professional with authority 
to prescribe controlled substances and a veterinarian licensed under Title 32, chapter 
71-A with authority to prescribe controlled substances.
Sec. 2.  32 MRSA §4864, sub-§12, ¶D, as amended by PL 2015, c. 488, §24, is 
further amended to read:
D.  The continuance of a veterinarian directly or indirectly in the employ of or in 
association with any veterinarian after knowledge that such veterinarian is engaged in 
the violation of the provisions of this chapter; or
Sec. 3.  32 MRSA §4864, sub-§13, as amended by PL 2015, c. 488, §25, is 
further amended to read:
13.  Lack of sanitation. Failure to maintain veterinary premises and equipment in a 
clean and sanitary condition as defined by the board in accordance with the sanitation 
provisions included in Title 7, section 3936; or.
Sec. 4.  32 MRSA §4864, sub-§15, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 488, §26, is 
repealed.
Sec. 5.  32 MRSA §4878, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 488, §27, is repealed.
Sec. 6.  32 MRSA §4878, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 488, §27, is amended 
to read:
3.  Continuing education.  By December 31, 2017, a A veterinarian who prescribes 
opioid medication must successfully complete 3 hours of continuing education every 2 
years on the administration, prescription and management of opioid medication 
controlled substances as a condition of prescribing opioid medication.  The board shall 
adopt rules to implement this subsection.  Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are 
routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
SUMMARY
This bill eliminates the requirement that veterinarians check prescription monitoring 
information under the Controlled Substances Prescription Monitoring Program upon 
prescribing certain medications, including opioids.  It also changes the continuing 
education requirement to require a veterinarian who prescribes opioid medication to 
successfully complete 3 hours of continuing education every 2 years on the 
administration, prescription and management of controlled substances.  Current law 
requires such a veterinarian to successfully complete 3 hours of continuing education 
every 2 years on the prescription of opioid medication.