§ 7 §3920 — Certified rabies vaccinator

1.
Appointment and certification.
Except as provided in subsection 5, the commissioner, in consultation with the Animal Welfare Advisory Council, as established by Title 5, section 12004‑I, subsection 2‑C and as described in section 3906‑C, shall appoint one or more persons in each county to administer rabies vaccines to animals. Upon initial appointment, a person must complete training in accordance with section 3906‑B, subsection 18 in order to become a certified rabies vaccinator. A certified rabies vaccinator serves in a volunteer capacity unless the person is an employee of the State or an animal shelter licensed under section 3932‑A. A certified rabies vaccinator must be under the direct supervision or indirect supervision of a licensed veterinarian to administer rabies vaccines to animals. A humane agent may serve as a certified rabies vaccinator. A certified rabies vaccinator is authorized to act until termination of appointment by the commissioner or until resignation of the certified rabies vaccinator.
2.
Scope and duration.
A certified rabies vaccinator shall acknowledge in writing that the certified rabies vaccinator understands the scope and duration of service.
3.
Immunity from civil liability.
A certified rabies vaccinator is not civilly liable to any party for actions made in accordance with this chapter.
4.
Rulemaking.
The commissioner shall adopt rules to establish procedures for appointment and certification of certified rabies vaccinators. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.
5.
Animal shelter requests.
An animal shelter licensed under section 3932‑A may submit a request to the commissioner that a member of the animal shelter's staff be appointed as a certified rabies vaccinator in a limited capacity. The request must be submitted in writing by the animal shelter's veterinarian of reference. A certified rabies vaccinator authorized under this subsection may administer vaccines only to animals in the care of the animal shelter or at an antirabies clinic established pursuant to section 3917.

Legislative History

PL 2025, c. 141, §7 (NEW).