TN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH BILL PROPOSES RABIES VACCINATION TAX
We Need Your Help!
The TN Department of Health has proposed a bill which will place a tax on the rabies vaccine to help fill a hole in their budget. It is HB3834 by Rep. Janis Sontany (D-Nashville) and SB3850 by Senator Doug Jackson (D-Dickson). The proposed amendment will become the bill, http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/106/Amend/SA1067.pdf. The TVMA testified against the legislation before the House Health Committee on Tuesday, April 6. The bill has been delayed twice since then and is on the calendar for Tuesday, April 27. In the Senate, the bill passed the General Welfare Committee and will be heard in the Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee on Tuesday, April 27.
The language in the amendment is very vague and the Department of Health plans to outline the details in the rulemaking hearing process. It is contemplated that the tax on the rabies certificate would be around $1, but the bill does not state an exact amount. Currently TVMA is in discussions with the TN Department of Health.
We need your help now. If your Representative is a member of the House Health & Human Resources Committee (or you know a member), please contact them no later than Monday, April 26 by phone or by sending an email. If your Senator is on the Senate Finance Ways & Means Committee (or you know a member), please contact them as well by lunch on Tuesday, April 27.
Members of the Committees and their contact information is listed below. For other information, go to www.capitol.tn.gov.
TVMA's Position
We take a strong position that the proposed Rabies Tax will continue to discourage rabies vaccinations by pet owners across the state thus adding to the Rabies Public Health Risk for the people and pets of Tennessee.
The TVMA supports Rabies Control in the State along with Tennessee veterinarians volunteering their time and expertise to the Health Departments.
We are convinced since there is not a reliable way to truly know the number of pet's vaccinated state wide; we anticipate that the tax on Rabies Vaccine will be much more than the suggested $ 1.00 per rabies vaccine (e.g. Davidson County only reports approx. 85,000 and Hamilton County only reports approx. 67,600 rabies vaccine administered yearly).
To our knowledge, there is not a precedent where the State of Tennessee has ever singled out and taxed an individual medical procedure or service from a medical profession to fund a state run program.
Background information -- the following was provided to the Health & Human Resources Committee on April 6:
I. Public Health Concern
Increased cost of Rabies Vaccine will discourage pet owners from vaccinating their pets for rabies
A number of counties and municipalities already require a separate & additional pet license fee after the rabies vaccine is administered ranging from a few dollars to as much as $50.00 per year
Increased cost will only negatively affect the responsible pet owners trying to do the right thing with their pets
This Rabies Tax will also put an undue hardship on the programs where veterinarians vaccinate the homeless citizen's animals as well as certain stray animal populations at no charge
As the number of animals vaccinated for Rabies decreases, the protective barrier between rabid animals and humans becomes less likely to prevent the exposure of rabies to the human population of Tennessee
Due to the rabies problem in Tennessee we currently have in place an aerial and ground rabies baiting programs for the wild animals in parts of the State to help protect our human and animal population
II. Veterinarian Support of State Rabies Control
Veterinarians across the state volunteer their time & expertise to serve on their county's Health Department Rabies Control Boards
Veterinarians give discounted Rabies Vaccines for community Rabies Clinics on designated weekends in cooperation with county Health Departments to help reach a population of pets that would not get vaccinated
Veterinarians support the Health Departments and Animal Control Agencies with animal bite investigations along with needed quarantine facilities and when required sample preparation for rabies testing
III. Medical Procedure of Rabies Vaccine Administration
State Law allows dogs and cats from as young as 3 months of age and requires dogs and cats over 6 months of age to be vaccinated for Rabies by a licensed veterinarian or under the supervision of a veterinarian
Rabies vaccine is purchased and administered solely by an individual veterinarian as a medical procedure to the pet owner's animal
Public health concerns and local ordinances dictate how pets are vaccinated for rabies. However, it is in the pet owner's and pet's best interest that these medical decisions be made within a veterinary-client-patient relationship.
Depending on: 1) the species or medical condition of the animal: 2) city or county ordinances: 3) and the age of the animal will all be determining factors of the TYPE of rabies vaccines administered along with the possible FREQUENCY (1yr. verses 3yr.) of the vaccine
Members of the Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee
Sen. Randy McNally, Chair - 615-741-6806, sen.randy.mcnally@capitol.tn.gov
Sen. Douglas Henry, Vice-Chair - 615-741-3291, sen.douglas.henry@capitol.tn.gov
Sen. Tim Burchett, Secretary - 615-741-1766, sen.tim.burchett@capitol.tn.gov
Sen. Diane Black - 615-741-1999, sen.diane.black@capitol.tn.gov
Sen. Joe Haynes - 615-6679, sen.joe.haynes@capitol.tn.gov
Sen. Roy Herron - 615-741-4576, sen.roy.herron@capitol.tn.gov
Sen. Jim Kyle - 615-741-4167, sen.jim.kyle@capitol.tn.gov
Sen. Mark Norris - 615-741-1967, sen.mark.norris@capitol.tn.gov
Sen. Doug Overbey - 615-741-0981, sen.doug.overbey@capitol.tn.gov
Sen. Bo Watson - 615-741-3227, sen.bo.watson@capitol.tn.gov
Sen. Jamie Woodson - 615-741-1648, sen.jamie.woodson@capitol.tn.gov
Members of the House Health & Human Resources Committee
Rep. Joe Armstrong, Chair - 615-741-0768, rep.joe.armstrong@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Joey Hensley, Vice-Chair - 615-741-7476, rep.joey.hensley@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Joanne Favors, Secretary - 615-741-2702, rep.joanne.favors@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Charles Curtiss - 615-741-1963, rep.charles.curtiss@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Vince Dean - 615-741-1934, rep.vince.dean@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. John DeBerry - 615-741-2239, rep.john.deberry@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Lois DeBerry - 615-741-3830, rep.lois.deberry@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Vance Dennis - 615-741-2190, rep.vance.dennis@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Joshua Evans - 615-741-2860, rep.joshua.evans@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Dennis Ferguson - 615-741-7658, rep.dennis.ferguson@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Henry Fincher - 615-741-1875, rep.henry.fincher@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Dale Ford - 615-741-1717, rep.dale.ford@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Curtis Halford - 615-741-7478, rep.curtis.halford@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Mike Harrision - 615-741-7480, rep.mike.harrison@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Sherry Jones - 615-741-2035, rep.sherry.jones@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Debra Maggart - 615-741-3893, rep.debra.maggart@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Jason Mumpower - 615-741-2050, rep.jason.mumpower@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Gary Odom - 615-741-4410, rep.gary.odom@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Mary Pruitt - 615-741-3853, rep.mary.pruitt@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Bob Ramsey - 615-741-3560, rep.bob.ramsey@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Barrett Rich - 615-741-6890, rep.barrett.rich@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Jeanne Richardson - 615-741-2010, rep.jeanne.richardson@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. David Shepard - 615-741-3513, rep.david.shepard@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Tony Shipley - 615-741-2886, rep.tony.shipley@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Mike Turner - 615-741-3229, rep.mike.turner@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Mark White - 615-741-4415, rep.mark.white@capitol.tn.gov
Thank you for your support!
Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association
PO Box 803
Fayetteville, TN 37334
www.tvmanet.org
Phone: 931-438-0070
Fax: 931-433-6289
green.delo@gmail.com
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