HOUSE BILL 56

55th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2022

INTRODUCED BY

Javier Martínez and Daniel A. Ivey-Soto and Kelly K. Fajardo and Phelps Anderson

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO VETERINARY MEDICINE; REQUIRING ISSUANCE OF SIX-MONTH, TEMPORARY PERMITS TO PRACTICE VETERINARY MEDICINE TO CERTAIN NONRESIDENT VETERINARIANS EMPLOYED BY OR CONTRACTED WITH THE STATE, A MUNICIPALITY OR A COUNTY TO PROVIDE VETERINARY SERVICES AT NATIONALLY ACCREDITED ZOOS OR AQUARIUMS LOCATED IN NEW MEXICO.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. Section 61-14-10 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1967, Chapter 62, Section 7, as amended) is amended to read:

     "61-14-10. LICENSE BY ENDORSEMENT.--

          A. Pursuant to its regulations, the board may issue a license without written examination, except an examination on state laws and other state and federal regulations related to the practice of veterinary medicine, to [any] a qualified applicant who furnishes satisfactory evidence that [he] the applicant is a veterinarian and has, for the five years next prior to filing [his] the application, been a practicing veterinarian and licensed in a state, territory or district of the United States having license requirements at the time the applicant was first licensed that were substantially equivalent to the requirements of the Veterinary Practice Act.

          B. Pursuant to its regulations, the board may issue, with examination, a limited practice license in veterinary medicine, which limited practice license shall describe adequately that area of veterinary medicine that the licensee is entitled to practice.

          C. At its discretion, the board may examine, orally or practically, any person qualifying for a license under this section.

          D. The board may issue without examination a temporary permit to practice veterinary medicine to:

                (1) a qualified applicant for a license pending examination, provided the applicant is a graduate veterinarian and employed by and working under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian; provided that:

                     (a) the temporary permit shall expire the day after the notice of results of the first examination given after the permit is issued;

                     (b) a qualified applicant for a license pending examination may, at the board's discretion, be exempted from the requirement of working under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian, provided the applicant submits a written request for such exemption; and

                     (c) no additional temporary permit shall be issued to an applicant who has failed the required components of the New Mexico examination in this or any other state or any other territory, district or commonwealth of the United States; or

                (2) a nonresident veterinarian validly licensed and in good standing with the licensing authority in another state, territory, district or commonwealth of the United States; provided that:

                     (a) except as otherwise provided in Subparagraph (b) of this paragraph, the temporary permit shall be issued for a period lasting no more than sixty days [and that], not more than one permit shall be issued to [such a person] the nonresident veterinarian during [each] a calendar year and no more than two sixty-day, temporary permits shall be issued to the nonresident veterinarian; and

                     (b) if a nonresident veterinarian is employed by or has a contract with the state, a municipality or a county to provide veterinary services at a nationally accredited zoo or aquarium located in New Mexico, the temporary permit shall be issued for a period lasting no more than six months and no more than two consecutive six-month, temporary permits shall be issued to any one individual.

          E. A temporary permit to practice veterinary medicine may be summarily revoked by a majority vote of the board without a hearing."

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