TITLE 54

PROFESSIONS, VOCATIONS, AND BUSINESSES

CHAPTER 21

VETERINARIANS

54-2105.  Board of veterinary medicine — Composition — Appointment — Vacancy — Qualifications — Compensation — Removal — Meetings — Officers — Revenues — Powers. 

(1) (a)  A board of veterinary medicine, which shall consist of six (6) members to be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the governor, is hereby created in the division of occupational and professional licenses. Five (5) members shall be veterinarians and one (1) shall be a public member. Each of the five (5) veterinary board members shall serve a term of five (5) years, with the fifth year serving also as a liaison officer, or until a successor is appointed. The public member shall serve for a term of three (3) years or until a successor is appointed.

(b)  Whenever the occasion arises for an appointment of a veterinary member under this section, the governor may consider recommendations for appointment to the board from the state veterinary medical association, from any of the regional veterinary medical associations, and from any individual residing in this state. Vacancies due to death, resignation or removal shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as regular appointments. Filling the remainder of a previous member’s term shall not count toward the term limits provided for in this section. No veterinarian shall serve two (2) consecutive terms. The public member may serve two (2) full consecutive terms. Each of the five (5) veterinarians shall be qualified to serve as a member of the board if a graduate of an accredited or approved school of veterinary medicine or, if a graduate of a nonaccredited or nonapproved school, by providing a letter from the educational commission for foreign veterinary graduates (ECFVG) certifying completion of the ECFVG program or a copy of their ECFVG certificate or verification of successful completion of any educational equivalency program established for the purpose of evaluating an individual’s educational knowledge and clinical skills as they relate to the practice of veterinary medicine, as approved and outlined by the rules of the board. In addition to verification of graduation from an accredited or nonaccredited school of veterinary medicine, each of the five (5) veterinary members shall be a resident of this state and have been licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state for the five (5) years immediately preceding the time of appointment. The public member shall be at least twenty-one (21) years of age and a resident of this state for five (5) years immediately preceding appointment. No person may serve on the board who is, or was, during the two (2) years preceding appointment, a member of the faculty or trustees of an accredited school of veterinary medicine.

(2)  Each member of the board and committee on humane euthanasia shall be compensated as provided by section 59-509(n), Idaho Code.

(3)  Any member of the board may be removed by the governor at his discretion.

(4)  The board shall meet at least once each year at the time and place fixed by the rules of the board. Other necessary meetings may be called by the president of the board by giving notice as may be required by state statute or rule. Except as may otherwise be provided, a majority of the board constitutes a quorum. Meetings shall be open and public except as otherwise provided by the open meetings law, chapter 2, title 74, Idaho Code.

(5)  The board member serving the fourth year of appointment shall be the president of the board and shall serve as chairman at the board meetings.

(6)  The veterinary board member serving the fifth year of appointment shall be the liaison officer of the board and shall render advice, review and mediate complaints, and perform other tasks assigned by the board.

(7)  All revenues received under this chapter shall be paid to the occupational licenses fund and shall be subject to and administered in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

(8)  The responsibility for enforcement of the provisions of this chapter is hereby vested in the board. The board shall have all of the duties, powers and authority specifically granted by or necessary for the enforcement of this chapter and the rules made pursuant thereto, as well as such other duties, powers and authority as it may be granted from time to time by applicable law. The powers vested in the board shall include, but are not limited to:

(a)  Establish qualifications and prescribe the application format for issuance or renewal of a license to practice as a veterinarian and certification to practice as a veterinary technician, euthanasia agency or euthanasia technician, to review each application for compliance with the licensure and certification requirements, and to issue, renew or deny licenses and certifications. Upon a showing of good cause by a licensee or certificate holder to the board, the board may grant an extension of time for submission of the required application or renewal documentation, including the required number of continuing education hours, as set forth by this chapter or the rules of the board.

(b)  Examine and determine the qualifications and fitness of applicants for a license to practice veterinary medicine or a certification to practice veterinary technology or as a euthanasia technician or operate as a certified euthanasia agency in the state.

(c)  Issue, renew, reinstate, deny, suspend, sanction, reprimand, restrict, limit, place on probation, require voluntary surrender of, or revoke any licenses, certifications or temporary permits or certifications to practice veterinary medicine, veterinary technology or the euthanizing of animals in the state and may fine and impose other forms of discipline and enter into consent agreements and negotiated settlements with licensed veterinarians, certified veterinary technicians, certified euthanasia technicians and certified euthanasia agencies consistent with the provisions of this chapter and the rules adopted hereunder. Whenever it appears that grounds for discipline exist under this chapter and the board finds that there is an immediate danger to the public health, safety or welfare, the board is authorized to commence emergency proceedings for revocation or other action. Such proceedings shall be promptly instituted and processed under the applicable provisions of chapter 52, title 67, Idaho Code.

(d)  Establish a schedule of fees for licensing, certifying and registering veterinarians, veterinary technicians, euthanasia agencies and euthanasia technicians, as well as for the review, approval and administration of national licensing and certification examinations.

(e)  In addition to the fees specifically provided for herein, the board may assess additional reasonable fees for services rendered to carry out its duties and responsibilities as required or authorized by this chapter or rules adopted hereunder. Such services rendered shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(i)   Issuance of duplicate licenses or certificates;

(ii)  Mailing lists or reports of data maintained by the board;

(iii) Copies of any documents;

(iv)  Verification of license or certification status;

(v)   Examination review, approval and administration; and

(vi)  Examination materials.

(f)  Upon its own motion or upon any complaint, initiate and conduct investigations on all matters relating to the practice of veterinary medicine or veterinary technology or the euthanizing of animals.

(g)  Initiate and conduct disciplinary hearings or proceedings on its own or through its designated hearing officer, provided such hearings and proceedings shall be held in conformance with the provisions of chapter 52, title 67, Idaho Code, and in connection thereto, to administer oaths, receive evidence, make the necessary determinations, and enter orders consistent with the findings. The board may require the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of papers, records, or other documentary evidence and may commission depositions. The board may designate one (1) or more of its members or appoint a person to serve as its hearing officer.

(h)  Appoint from its own membership one (1) or more members to act as representatives of the board at any meeting within or outside the state where such representation is deemed desirable.

(i)  Bring proceedings in the courts for the enforcement of this chapter or any rules of the board.

(j)  For purposes of enforcement of the provisions of this chapter and any rules duly promulgated hereunder, including the levying of civil penalties, assessment and collection of fines, and recovery of costs and paralegal, hearing officer and attorney’s fees incurred by the board in investigation and prosecution of complaints, the board shall maintain jurisdiction over individuals, irrespective of their license or certification status (i.e., active, inactive, expired, lapsed, surrendered or disciplined) relative to acts, omissions, complaints and investigations that occurred during the licensure or certification period. Jurisdiction of the board shall also extend to all individuals engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine, veterinary technology or practicing as a certified euthanasia agency or certified euthanasia technician in this state as defined in section 54-2103, Idaho Code. It is the intent of this subsection that the board’s jurisdiction should extend to all licensed or unlicensed or certified or uncertified individuals and that licensees and certification holders cannot divest the board of jurisdiction by changing, surrendering or relinquishing licensure or certification status.

(k)  Establish a committee on humane euthanasia for the purposes of training, examining, licensing and certifying euthanasia agencies and euthanasia technicians and assess application, training workshop and certification fees. The fees so assessed are continuously appropriated to the board to support the activities of the committee.

(l)  Adopt, amend or repeal all sections of this chapter and rules necessary for its government and all rules necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this chapter pursuant to the Idaho administrative procedure act, chapter 52, title 67, Idaho Code, including the establishment and publication of standards of professional conduct for the practice of veterinary medicine.

(m)  Conduct probationary or other practice and facility inspections necessary for enforcement of this chapter or the rules duly promulgated hereunder or any order, negotiated settlement or probationary agreement of the board and issue administrative citations to alleged violators.

History:

[54-2105, added 1971, ch. 173, sec. 5, p. 812; am. 1974, ch. 13, sec. 152, p. 138; am. 1976, ch. 166, sec. 17, p. 610; am. 1980, ch. 247, sec. 68, p. 635; am. 1983, ch. 139, sec. 5, p. 339; am. 1990, ch. 111, sec. 4, p. 226; am. 1991, ch. 138, sec. 2, p. 328; am. 1992, ch. 280, sec. 1, p. 857; am. 1995, ch. 62, sec. 3, p. 150; am. 1996, ch. 237, sec. 3, p. 767; am. 2000, ch. 122, sec. 3, p. 278; am. 2001, ch. 149, sec. 3, p. 534; am. 2007, ch. 54, sec. 2, p. 131; am. 2008, ch. 135, sec. 2, p. 381; am. 2008, ch. 204, sec. 1, p. 655; am. 2010, ch. 130, sec. 1, p. 276; am. 2011, ch. 78, sec. 1, p. 163; am. 2016, ch. 119, sec. 2, p. 348; am. 2016, ch. 340, sec. 26, p. 945; am. 2021, ch. 40, sec. 3, p. 100; am. 2021, ch. 221, sec. 10, p. 614; am. 2021, ch. 222, sec. 19, p. 632; am. 2021, ch. 224, sec. 54, p. 678; am. 2022, ch. 111, sec. 29, p. 388.]