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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Board of Veterinary Medicine

SUMMARY

Synopsis of HJC Amendment

The House Judiciary Committee amendment to House Bill 430/aHBIC removes the word "graduate" from License by Endorsement provision.

Synopsis of HBIC Amended Bill

House Bill 430, as amended by the House Business and Industry Committee, amends provisions of the Veterinary Practice Act relating to licensing and disciplinary actions. Specifically the bill proposes to:

- Clarify who may obtain a temporary license to practice veterinary medicine.

- Clarify who may be licensed by endorsement.

- Allow the Board of Veterinary Medicine to take disciplinary action against a licensee that has been licensed and disciplined in another state.

- Includes the Criminal Code citation (Section 31-19-1 NMSA 1978) for misdemeanor violations.

Significant Issues

According to Board of Veterinary Medicine staff, the most significant issue addressed by HB430/a is that of unlicenced veterinary practice. The Board understands that under the Uniform Licensing Act, the Board cannot have direct, full jurisdiction over unlicenced practitioners. Requests to local District Attorneys to prosecute such individuals have not been successful. The Board would like to the Veterinary Practice Act wording as strong as possible to (1) deter some of the instances of unlicenced practice and (2) give the Board some additional support on the issue.

The staff also states, more than half of the New Mexico licensed veterinarians are licensed in another state. The proposed language would help the Board to discipline (in some cases suspend from practicing or limit practicing) individuals in the most efficient manner.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The Board staff indicates the two issues listed as significant would allow the Board to do much more with minimal fiscal impact. One exception might be that if the board had more power over unlicenced persons, more actions could be taken including on-the-spot investigations and having staff spend time gathering the information needed in order to take stronger actions.

WJC/prr:lrs:ar