(a) There is hereby established the veterinary prescription monitoring program task force which shall study and determine whether to require veterinarians to report to a prescription monitoring program under this act. Such study shall include appropriate methods and procedures of reporting by the veterinarians with the necessary database field information. The task force shall utilize nationally available resources afforded by the American association of veterinary state boards and the American veterinary medical association’s department of state legislative and regulatory affairs in development of the plan in consultation with the advisory committee.

(b) The task force shall consist of three members as follows: One member appointed by the prescription monitoring program advisory committee, one member appointed by the Kansas board of veterinary examiners and one member nominated by the Kansas veterinary medical association and appointed by the Kansas board of veterinary examiners.

(c) Appointments shall be made within 120 days after the effective date of this act. The initial meeting of the task force shall be convened within 180 days after the effective date of this act. The task force shall elect a chairperson and may elect any additional officers from among its members. All task force members shall serve without compensation.

(d) The task force shall report its findings and progress to the prescription monitoring program advisory committee at least annually or when requested by the advisory committee. The task force shall report its progress to the senate committee on public health and welfare and the house committee on health and human services, if requested, and report its conclusions and recommendations to such committees within five years after the effective date of this act. Based on the recommendation by the task force this act shall be amended to include the veterinarians as practitioners.