April 9, 1999

The Honorable Manny M. Aragon and

Members of the Senate

Executive-Legislative Building

Santa Fe, New Mexico 87503

Honorable President and Members of the Senate:

I have this day VETOED and am returning SENATE BILL 285, as amended, with certificate of correction, enacted by the Forty-Fourth Legislature, First Session, 1999.

Senate Bill 285 would, among other provisions, expand the prescriptive authority of Doctors of Oriental Medicine. While in the past I supported an expansion of the scope of practice for Doctors of Oriental Medicine, I have vetoed this bill. Decisions of prescriptive authority are serious and need to be approached cautiously. Factors revolving around specific "dangerous drugs" and the appropriate level of education and training necessary to properly administer and react to complications resulting from these drugs are to be taken into serious consideration when weighing this decision. I am not confident that Doctor’s of Oriental Medicine have the educational and experiential background necessary in order to properly and safely utilize this expanded authority.

Sincerely,

Gary E. Johnson

Governor