Senate Bill No. 655

(By Senator Snyder)

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[Introduced February 20, 2012; referred to the Committee on Agriculture; and then to the Committee on Government Organization.]

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A BILL to amend and reenact §30-10-8 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to licensure of veterinarians; and allowing the licensure of certain veterinarians by endorsement.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That §30-10-8 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:

ARTICLE 10. VETERINARIANS.

§30-10-8. Requirements for veterinary license.

    (a) To be eligible for a license to practice veterinary medicine under the provisions of this article, the applicant must:

    (1) Be of good moral character;

    (2) (A) Be a graduate of an accredited school approved by the board; or

    (B) Be a graduate of a foreign veterinary school and hold a certificate of competence issued by a foreign veterinary graduate educational organization as approved by the board;

    (3) Have passed the examinations required by the board;

    (4) Be at least eighteen years of age;

    (5) Be a citizen of the United States or be eligible for employment in the United States;

    (6) Not have been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude;

    (7) Not have been convicted of a felony under the laws of any jurisdiction within five years preceding the date of application for licensure which conviction remains unreversed; and

    (8) Not have been convicted of a misdemeanor or a felony under the laws of any jurisdiction at any time if the offense for which the applicant was convicted related to the practice of veterinary medicine or animal abuse or neglect.

    (b) A person seeking a license under the provisions of this article shall submit an application on a form prescribed by the board and pay all applicable fees.

    (c) An applicant from another jurisdiction shall comply with all the requirements of this article.

    (d) A license to practice veterinary medicine issued by the board prior to July 1, 2010, shall for all purposes be considered a license issued under this article and may be renewed under this article.

    (e) An application for a license to practice veterinary medicine submitted to the board prior to July 1, 2010, shall be considered in conformity with the licensing provisions of this article and the rules promulgated thereunder in effect at the time of the submission of the application.

    (f) The board, in its discretion, may issue a license by endorsement to a qualified applicant who:

    (1) Has submitted a complete application;

    (2) Holds a license issued by another state and is in good standing;

    (3) Has successfully passed an examination covering the laws and rules pertaining to the practice of veterinary medicine in the state; and

    (4) Has actively practiced clinical veterinary medicine for three thousand hours during the five years preceding application.

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    (NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to allow the licensure of certain veterinarians by endorsement.

    Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.)