HB325: Veterinarians; practice of medicine.


VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY -- CHAPTER
An Act to amend and reenact §§ 54.1-3801 and 54.1-3807 of the Code of Virginia and to repeal §§ 54.1-3805.1 and 54.1-3809 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the practice of veterinary medicine.
[H 325]
Approved

 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 54.1-3801 and 54.1-3807 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 54.1-3801. Exceptions.

This chapter shall not apply to:

1. The owner of an animal and the owner's full-time, regular employee caring for and treating the animal belonging to such owner, except where the ownership of the animal was transferred for the purpose of circumventing the requirements of this chapter;

2. Veterinarians licensed in other states called in actual consultation or to attend a case with veterinarians licensed in this the Commonwealth who do not open an office or appoint a place to practice within this the Commonwealth;

3. Veterinarians employed by the United States or by this the Commonwealth while actually engaged in the performance of their official duties;

4. Veterinarians providing free care in underserved areas of Virginia who (i) do not regularly practice veterinary medicine in Virginia, (ii) hold a current valid license or certificate to practice veterinary medicine in another state, territory, district or possession of the United States, (iii) volunteer to provide free care in an underserved area of this the Commonwealth under the auspices of a publicly supported all volunteer, nonprofit organization that sponsors the provision of health care to populations of underserved people, (iv) file copies of their licenses or certificates issued in such other jurisdiction with the Board, (v) notify the Board at least five business days prior to the voluntary provision of services of the dates and location of such service, and (vi) acknowledge, in writing, that such licensure exemption shall only be valid, in compliance with the Board's regulations, during the limited period that such free health care is made available through the volunteer, nonprofit organization on the dates and at the location filed with the Board. The Board may deny the right to practice in Virginia to any veterinarian whose license has been previously suspended or revoked, who has been convicted of a felony or who is otherwise found to be in violation of applicable laws or regulations. However, the Board shall allow a veterinarian who meets the above criteria to provide volunteer services without prior notice for a period of up to three days, provided the nonprofit organization verifies that the practitioner has a valid, unrestricted license in another state; or

5. Persons purchasing, possessing, and administering drugs in a public or private shelter as defined in § 3.2-6500, provided that such purchase, possession, and administration is in compliance with § 54.1-3423.

§ 54.1-3807. Refusal to grant and to renew; revocation and suspension of licenses and registrations.

The Board may refuse to grant or to renew, may suspend or revoke any license to practice veterinary medicine or to practice as a veterinary technician or registration to practice as an equine dental technician if such applicant or holder:

1. Is convicted of any felony or of any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude;

2. Employs or permits any person who does not hold a license to practice veterinary medicine or to practice as a licensed veterinary technician or registration to practice as an equine dental technician to perform work which can lawfully be performed only by a person holding the appropriate license or registration;

3. Willfully violates any provision of this chapter or any regulation of the Board;

4. Has violated any federal or state law relating to controlled substances as defined in Chapter 34 (§ 54.1-3400 et seq.) of this title;

5. Is guilty of unprofessional conduct as defined by regulations of the Board;

6. Uses alcohol or drugs to the extent such use renders him unsafe to practice or suffers from any mental or physical condition rendering him unsafe to practice; or

7. Has had his license to practice veterinary medicine or as a veterinary technician or his registration to practice as an equine dental technician in any other state revoked or suspended for any reason other than nonrenewal.

2. That §§ 54.1-3805.1 and 54.1-3809 of the Code of Virginia are repealed.

HOUSE BILL NO. 325

Offered January 13, 2016
Prefiled January 5, 2016
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 54.1-3801 and 54.1-3807 of the Code of Virginia and to repeal §§ 54.1-3805.1 and 54.1-3809 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the practice of veterinary medicine.
Patron-- Orrock

Committee Referral Pending

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 54.1-3801 and 54.1-3807 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 54.1-3801. Exceptions.

This chapter shall not apply to:

1. The owner of an animal and the owner's full-time, regular employee caring for and treating the animal belonging to such owner, except where the ownership of the animal was transferred for the purpose of circumventing the requirements of this chapter;

2. Veterinarians licensed in other states called in actual consultation or to attend a case with veterinarians licensed in this the Commonwealth who do not open an office or appoint a place to practice within this the Commonwealth;

3. Veterinarians employed by the United States or by this the Commonwealth while actually engaged in the performance of their official duties;

4. Veterinarians providing free care in underserved areas of Virginia who (i) do not regularly practice veterinary medicine in Virginia, (ii) hold a current valid license or certificate to practice veterinary medicine in another state, territory, district or possession of the United States, (iii) volunteer to provide free care in an underserved area of this the Commonwealth under the auspices of a publicly supported all volunteer, nonprofit organization that sponsors the provision of health care to populations of underserved people, (iv) file copies of their licenses or certificates issued in such other jurisdiction with the Board, (v) notify the Board at least five business days prior to the voluntary provision of services of the dates and location of such service, and (vi) acknowledge, in writing, that such licensure exemption shall only be valid, in compliance with the Board's regulations, during the limited period that such free health care is made available through the volunteer, nonprofit organization on the dates and at the location filed with the Board. The Board may deny the right to practice in Virginia to any veterinarian whose license has been previously suspended or revoked, who has been convicted of a felony or who is otherwise found to be in violation of applicable laws or regulations. However, the Board shall allow a veterinarian who meets the above criteria to provide volunteer services without prior notice for a period of up to three days, provided the nonprofit organization verifies that the practitioner has a valid, unrestricted license in another state; or

5. Persons purchasing, possessing, and administering drugs in a public or private shelter as defined in § 3.2-6500, provided that such purchase, possession, and administration is in compliance with § 54.1-3423.

§ 54.1-3807. Refusal to grant and to renew; revocation and suspension of licenses and registrations.

The Board may refuse to grant or to renew, may suspend or revoke any license to practice veterinary medicine or to practice as a veterinary technician or registration to practice as an equine dental technician if such applicant or holder:

1. Is convicted of any felony or of any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude;

2. Employs or permits any person who does not hold a license to practice veterinary medicine or to practice as a licensed veterinary technician or registration to practice as an equine dental technician to perform work which can lawfully be performed only by a person holding the appropriate license or registration;

3. Willfully violates any provision of this chapter or any regulation of the Board;

4. Has violated any federal or state law relating to controlled substances as defined in Chapter 34 (§ 54.1-3400 et seq.) of this title;

5. Is guilty of unprofessional conduct as defined by regulations of the Board;

6. Uses alcohol or drugs to the extent such use renders him unsafe to practice or suffers from any mental or physical condition rendering him unsafe to practice; or

7. Has had his license to practice veterinary medicine or as a veterinary technician or his registration to practice as an equine dental technician in any other state revoked or suspended for any reason other than nonrenewal.

2. That §§ 54.1-3805.1 and 54.1-3809 of the Code of Virginia are repealed.