[Editor's note: This section is effective January 1, 2026.]

1. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, a person practicing veterinary medicine as a veterinary professional associate may perform duties and actions authorized pursuant to section 12-315-105 (1)(u) that are within the scope of the veterinary professional associate's education and experience if the person practices veterinary medicine under the appropriate level of supervision by a licensed veterinarian.
2. (2) A veterinary professional associate shall perform only those duties or actions delegated by the licensed supervising veterinarian, with whom the veterinary professional associate has a signed agreement in accordance with section 12-315-203.7 (6), for which the veterinary professional associate has the necessary training, experience, and competency, as determined by the supervising veterinarian, to meet generally accepted standards of veterinary care.

3. (3) If a veterinary professional associate is delegated duties beyond the veterinary professional associate's training, experience, and competency, the licensed veterinarian:

   1. (a) Is in violation of section 12-315-112 (1)(ee);
   2. (b) May be liable for damages resulting from any negligence of the veterinary professional associate in providing care to an animal; and
   3. (c) May be subject to professional discipline in accordance with section 12-315-112.

4. (4) If a veterinary professional associate performs duties beyond the veterinary professional associate's training, experience, and competency or does not conform with the requirement to perform all duties and actions pursuant to section 12-315-105 (1)(u) under the appropriate level of supervision by a licensed supervising veterinarian as specified in subsection (1) of this section, the veterinary professional associate may be subject to:

   1. (a) A cease-and-desist order pursuant to section 12-20-405;
   2. (b) Damages resulting from any negligence of the veterinary professional associate in providing care to an animal; and
   3. (c) Discipline pursuant to Sections 12-20-404 for a violation of section 12-315-207 (1)(n).

5. (5)

   1. (a) Before a veterinary professional associate engages in the practice of veterinary medicine on a patient, the veterinary professional associate shall clearly identify themself to the client, both visually and verbally, as a veterinary professional associate. A person that employs a veterinary professional associate shall identify to a client that a veterinary professional associate providing care to the client's animal is a veterinary professional associate.
   2. (b) The board may adopt rules regarding how a veterinary professional associate and a person that employs a veterinary professional associate must identify the veterinary professional associate to clients in accordance with subsection (5)(a) of this section.

Source: Initiated 2024: Entire section added, Proposition 129, effective January 1, 2026. See L. 2025, p. 3624. L. 2025: (1), (2), IP(3), and IP(4) amended and (5) added, (HB 25-1285), ch. 305, p. 1602, § 13, effective January 1, 2026.

Editor's note: This section was added by Proposition 129, effective January 1, 2026. The measure was approved on November 5, 2024, and was proclaimed by the Governor on December 17, 2024, see L. 2025, p. 3624. The vote count for the measure was as follows:

FOR: 1,572,545

AGAINST: 1,407,814

Cross references: For the legislative declaration in HB 25-1285, see section 1 of chapter 305, Session Laws of Colorado 2025.