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OK Governor signs bill changing horse teeth floating lawOKLAHOMA CITY (AP)--Governor of Oklahoma Brad Henry signed a bill May 21 that changes a contentious 2008 law that threatened to turn people who grind down the teeth of horses into felons. So-called horse teeth floaters could be charged with a felony and face four years in jail and fines of up to $10,000 for violating the Veterinary Practice Act under a law that took effect last November. The bill Henry signed returns the penalty for possession of prescription drugs, often used by horse teeth floaters, to a misdemeanor. Last year's law was enacted at the urging of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, sponsors said. It drew protests from horsemen across the state. Horsemen, horse teeth floaters and veterinarians have pledged to work together during the interim on new regulations. Henry signed the bill without comment. Horsemen have argued they need the services of horse teeth floaters because they cannot find veterinarians who grind the teeth of horses. Lynn Norman, executive director of the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association, said many veterinarians provide that service, but some do not. The Veterinary Practice Act was returned to its form before the 2008 law change when horsemen, veterinarians and others could not reach an agreement on regulating horse teeth floaters. The board that oversees the OVMA was officially neutral on the latest legislation. It issued a statement saying it was "deeply concerned that the practice of veterinarian medicine without a license should be a felony" when it involved controlled and certain prescription drugs "due to the potential harm to the citizens of Oklahoma, their livestock and pets. "We look forward to voicing these and other concerns to amending the Veterinary Practice Act in an interim study," the board said. Meanwhile, the Institute for Justice, a libertarian law firm that has represented horse teeth floaters in Texas and other states, praised Henry for signing the bill. Lee McGrath, spokesman for the Arlington, Va.-based nonprofit, public interest organization, said some veterinarians are trying to force horse teeth floaters out of business.
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