§ 37:1518 — Powers of board

A. The board shall have the power to:
(1) Examine and determine the qualifications and fitness of applicants for a license to practice veterinary medicine in the state.
(2) Issue, renew, deny, suspend, or revoke licenses and temporary permits to practice veterinary medicine in the state or otherwise discipline licensed veterinarians consistent with the provisions of this Chapter and the rules and regulations adopted hereunder.
(3) Establish and publish annually a schedule of fees which shall be charged for examinations, for registration licenses, and for renewal of registration licenses for veterinarians, which fees shall be based on the anticipated financial requirements of the board for annual operating expenses and which shall not exceed the following amounts:
(a) Examination fee
$ 300.00
(b) Original registration license fee
$ 250.00
(c) Annual renewal of license fee
$ 250.00
(d) Late fee for delinquent license renewals
$ 150.00
(e) Faculty license fee
$ 250.00
(f) Application fee
$ 100.00
(4) Conduct investigations for the purpose of discovering violations of this Chapter or grounds for disciplining licensed veterinarians and issue subpoenas to require attendance, testimony, and production of documents in the process of enforcing the laws relative to the practice of veterinary medicine, and to secure evidence of violation thereof during the investigative stage.
(5) Hold hearings on all matters properly brought before the board. Any such hearing shall be called and conducted in compliance with the provision of the Administrative Procedure Act, R.S. 49:950 et seq. The board may designate any three of its members to serve as hearing officers.
(6) Employ full-time or part-time professional, clerical, or special personnel necessary to effectuate the provisions of this Chapter, and purchase or rent necessary office space, equipment, and supplies.
(a) The board shall appoint an executive director who shall receive a salary fixed by the board along with reimbursement for such actual and reasonable expenses approved by the board in connection with the performance of official duties.
(b) The executive director shall be in charge of the daily operations of the board, shall be responsible for the supervision and direction of all other full-time, part-time, professional, clerical, or special personnel hired by the board, and shall make, keep, and be in charge of all records, correspondence, and other functions of the board as directed by the president of the board.
(7) Appoint from its own membership one or more members to act as representatives of the board at any meeting within or without the state where such representation is deemed desirable.
(8) Institute proceedings in the courts for the enforcement of this Chapter or any regulations made pursuant thereto.
(9) Adopt, amend, or repeal all rules necessary for its government and all regulations necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this Chapter, including the establishment and publication of standards of professional conduct for the practice of veterinary medicine. Any such rules and regulations shall be adopted, amended, or repealed only in compliance with the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, R.S. 49:950 et seq.
(10) Adopt rules requiring an applicant for licensure to complete an intern program designed to exhibit the applicant's skills and knowledge in the field of veterinary medicine. The board may appoint the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association as the board's agent to certify compliance with the veterinary intern program. If the board appoints that association for that purpose, the association may charge a reasonable fee to nonmembers for the administration of the program. The fee shall not exceed the amount of the annual fee for membership in the association.
(11) Adopt rules requiring veterinarians who are licensed in this state to participate in a continuing education program, established and regulated by the board, as a condition of retaining their licenses. The board may appoint the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association as the board's agent to certify participation in the continuing education program. Veterinarians may comply with the continuing education program criteria for retaining their licenses by certifying their participation in programs conducted outside the state of Louisiana. If the board appoints that association for that purpose, the association may charge a reasonable fee to nonmembers for the administration of the program. The fee shall not exceed the amount of the annual fee for membership in the association.
(12)(a) Adopt rules to establish a program for inquiries into and determinations concerning whether or not the professional ability of a veterinarian licensed to practice in this state has become impaired. When the board has reasonable cause to believe that the professional ability of a veterinarian licensed to practice in this state has become impaired by mental or physical illness, including but not limited to deterioration caused by age or by excessive use or abuse of drugs, including alcohol, the board shall appoint a committee of one veterinarian and two physicians to examine the physical and mental capacities of the veterinarian and to submit advisory reports and recommendations to the board. The board may appoint the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association, or a committee established by that association, as the board's agent to administer this program.
(b) The program for inquiries into and determinations concerning whether or not the professional ability of a veterinarian licensed to practice in this state has become impaired shall be subject to the provisions herein.
(c) All information and all documents which relate to an inquiry under the program are confidential and shall be exempt from the Public Records Law, R.S. 44:1 et seq., except in the following instances:
(i) Information and documents may be introduced into evidence at an adjudicatory hearing held by the board. If information or documents are introduced into evidence at an adjudicatory hearing, they shall become public records.
(ii) Information and documents may be made available to any person who is participating in the program on behalf of the board.
(iii) Information and documents may be released upon the execution of a written waiver of confidentiality by the person who is the subject of the inquiry.
(iv) Information and documents may be made available for bona fide research or educational purposes provided that any information which would identify the person who is the subject of the inquiry is not released.
(v) Information and documents may be made available to appropriate persons to the extent necessary to meet a health care emergency.
B. There shall be no liability on the part of and no action for damages against:
(1) Any member of the board, or its agents or employees, or any member of any committee of veterinarians or physicians appointed or designated by the board, for any action undertaken or performed by such person within the scope of the duties, powers, and functions of the board or such committee as provided for in this Chapter when such person is acting without malice and in the reasonable belief that the action taken by him is warranted.
(2) Any person providing information to the board, its agents or employees, or to any committee of veterinarians or physicians appointed or designated by the board, without malice and in the reasonable belief that such information is accurate.
C. The powers enumerated in this Section 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.

Legislative History

Acts 1966, No. 35, §1, eff. July 1, 1967. Amended by Acts 1978, No. 68, §1; Acts 1985, No. 175, §1, eff. July 6, 1985; Acts 1987, No. 922, §1; Acts 1995, No. 73, §1; Acts 1999, No. 1369, §1.