Introduced Version
House Bill 2880 History
| Email
Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
H. B. 2880
(By Delegate Poling)
[Introduced March 4, 2005; referred to the
Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources then Government
Organization.]
A BILL to amend and reenact §30-10-4 of the Code of West Virginia,
1931, as amended, relating to veterinarians generally; setting
forth responsibilities of the Board of Veterinary Medicine to
support low-cost animal spay and neuter programs; and
providing for waivers of rules for veterinarians providing
low-cost animal spay and neuterservices in mobile vans.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §30-10-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended,
be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 10. VETERINARIANS.
§30-10-4. Powers and responsibilities of Board.
The Board shall have the power to:
(a) Examine and determine the qualifications and fitness of
any applicant for a license to practice veterinary medicine in this
state;
(b) Issue, renew, deny, suspend or revoke licenses and
temporary permits to practice veterinary medicine in this state or
otherwise discipline licensed veterinarians consistent with the
provisions of this article and reasonable rules and regulations
promulgated by the Board as specified in subdivision (i) of this
section;
(c) Establish and publish annually a schedule of reasonable
fees for the licensing and registration of veterinarians, such fee
schedule to be based on the Board's anticipated financial
requirements for the year;
(d) Conduct investigations for the purpose of discovering
violations of this article or grounds for disciplining licensed
veterinarians;
(e) Hold hearings as specified in section twelve of this
article;
(f) Employ such full-time or part-time professional, clerical
or special personnel as may be necessary to effectuate the
provisions of this article, and purchase or rent necessary office
space, equipment and supplies;
(g) Appoint from its own membership one or more members to act
as an official representative or representatives of the Board at
any meeting within or without this state where such representation
is deemed desirable;
(h) Institute appropriate court proceedings for the enforcement of the provisions of this article or any reasonable
rules and regulations of the Board promulgated as specified in
subdivision (i) of this section;
(i) Promulgate, amend or repeal reasonable rules, and
regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter
twenty-nine-a of this code, to implement the provisions of this
article, including rules and regulations establishing standards of
professional conduct for the practice of veterinary medicine; and
(j) The Board shall also have the power to suspend or revoke
for cause any certificate of authorization issued by it. It shall
have the power to reinstate any certificate of authorization
suspended or revoked by it.
The powers enumerated above are granted for the purpose of
enabling the Board to effectively supervise the practice of
veterinary medicine, and are to be construed liberally to
accomplish this objective.
In addition to the powers enumerated in this section, the
Board shall encourage, support and foster the provision of low-cost
veterinarian services to reduce animal overpopulation. In
undertaking this responsibility, the Board shall waive strict
enforcement of requirements otherwise applicable to the provision
of veterinary services for spaying and neutering animals at fixed
locations for spaying and neutering programs provided by
veterinarians working out of mobile vans and providing services at reduced rates. The Legislature finds that the provision of
low-cost veterinary services provided by mobile vans are effective
and in the best interests of the citizens of the state. It is for
this reason that the Board and the veterinarians licensed by the
Board are encouraged to support low-cost animal neuter and spay
activities.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide that the Board of
Veterinary Medicine support programs that provide low-cost animal
spay and neuter services to include the waiver of certain rules for
spay and neuter services provided by veterinarians in mobile vans.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would
be added.