HomeMy Public PortalAboutResolution No. 044-94 10-25-1994 RESOLUTION NO. 4 4 - 9 4
A RESOLUTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS, URGING THE TEXAS
MUNICIPAL LEAGUE TO SEEK INTRODUCTION AND
PASSAGE OF A LEGISLATION WHICH WILL PROVIDE
FOR THE DISCLOSURE OF VETERINARIAN RECORDS,
WHICH PERTAIN TO RABIES CONTROL AND OTHER
ZOONOSIS CONTROL, TO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH AND LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES.
WHEREAS, rabies in animals continues to be a significant health threat in the State of Texas,
as evidenced by the state health emergency declared by Governor Richards in July, 1994, due
to an increase in rabies in South and West Central Texas; and
WHEREAS, in 1993, the Texas Legislature enacted an amendment to the Veterinary Licensing
Act, VCS Article 8890, which states that a veterinarian may not violate the confidential
relationship between the veterinarian and a client and may not be required to disclose any
information concerning the veterinarian's care for an animal except on written authorization or
another form of waiver executed by the client or on receipt by the veterinarian of an appropriate
court order or subpoena; and
•
WHEREAS, municipalities rely upon rabies vaccination records maintained by veterinarians in
order to combat rabies, which includes controlling animal populations and licensing dogs and cats
within their jurisdictions; and
WHEREAS, the above cited amendment to the Veterinary Licensing Act may preclude municipal
health departments, county health departments, and the Texas Department of Health from
obtaining from veterinarian's rabies vaccine records, rabies vaccination records, records of the
treatment and quarantine of animals involved in bites or those suspected of being rabid, and other
records vital to zoonosis control; and
WHEREAS, revenues generated by dog and cat licensing programs contribute significantly to
the budgets of municipal animal control programs, which might face severe cutbacks if licensing
revenues fall due to the inability of the municipal health departments to obtain rabies vaccination
records from veterinarians; and
WHEREAS, it is recognized that the confidential relationship between a veterinarian and his/her
clients should not be interfered with unnecessarily, and that provisions should be made to protect
RESOLUTION NO. 4 4- 9 4 PAGE NO. 1
• veterinarian records which come into the possession of state and local health departments;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS:
THAT, the Texas Municipal League is urged to seek introduction and passage of legislation
which will provide for the disclosure by veterinarians to the Texas Department of Health and
local health authorities of information and records relating to: zoonosis control, rabies vaccine,
rabies vaccinations, and the treatment and quarantine of animals which have inflicted bites or
scratches on humans or which are suspected of being rabid; and which will further provide that
such records, when in the possession of the state and local health departments, are protected from
public disclosure except in limited circumstances.
ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, MEETING IN REGULAR SESSION THIS 25TH
DAY OF OCTOBER, 1994, BY A VOTE OF 5 AYES, 0 NAYS AND
~ ABSTENTIONS.
C.F. KELLEY, MAYOR
ATTEST:
WI LIS, CITY SECRETARY
RESOLUTION NO. 4 4 - 9 4 PAGE N0.2