§ 63-12-121 — Renewal of license - Disposition of fines and fees - Expenses - Retirement

(a) All persons who are now or may hereafter be licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state shall renew such license as follows: (1) Each year, the secretary-treasurer of the board shall mail an application for renewal of license to every person holding a valid current license; (2) The applicant shall fill in the application and return it to the secretary-treasurer of the board; (3) The applicant shall furnish the board such evidence as it may require of having complied with provisions pursuant to this chapter relating to the annual educational program; (4) The annual renewal fee shall be set by the board and shall be paid at the time the application for renewal of license is filed; (5) If any holder of a license fails to renew the license within sixty (60) days after registration becomes due, as provided in this section, the license or certificate of such person shall be automatically revoked at the expiration of the sixty (60) days after the registration was required, without further notice or hearing unless requested; (6) However, during any war or national emergency, the holder of a license on active duty with the armed services shall not be required to renew the license until January 1 of the year following the date of the holder's release from such active duty; and (7) The acceptance of any fee by the board shall not in any way affect the board's powers or duties with respect to the revocation, suspension or refusal to grant any license. (b) All fines for offenses for the violation of this chapter shall be paid over to the board and shall become a part of the receipts of the board. All money received by the board shall be paid into the state treasury and become a part of the general fund of the state. The budget director shall make such allotments out of the general fund as the budget director may deem proper for the necessary expenses of the board, and no expenditure shall be made by the board unless and until such allotment has been made by the budget director. Such allotments shall be disbursed under the general budgetary laws of this state. (c) Any person licensed to practice veterinary medicine who has retired or may hereafter retire from such practice in this state shall not be made to register as required by this chapter if such person shall file with this board an affidavit on a form to be furnished by the board, which affidavit shall state the date on which such person retired from such practice and such other facts as tend to verify such retirement as the board shall deem necessary. If such person thereafter reengages in the practice of veterinary medicine in this state, such person shall apply for registration with the board as provided by this chapter and shall meet continuing education requirements as set by the board. (d) (1) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, the division, with the approval of the commissioner, shall establish a system of license renewals at alternative intervals that will allow for the distribution of the license workload as uniformly as is practicable throughout the calendar year. Licenses issued under the alternative method are valid for twenty-four (24) months and shall expire on the last day of the last month of the license period. However, during a transition period, or at any time thereafter when the board shall determine that the volume of work for any given interval is unduly burdensome or costly, either the licenses or renewals, or both of them, may be issued for terms of not less than six (6) months nor more than eighteen (18) months. The fee imposed for any license under the alternative interval method for a period of other than twenty-four (24) months shall be proportionate to the annual fee and modified in no other manner, except that the proportional fee shall be rounded off to the nearest quarter of a dollar (25¢). (2) No renewal application will be accepted after the last day of the month following the license expiration date under the alternative method authorized in this subsection (d).

Legislative History

Acts 1967, ch. 80, § 21; impl. am. Acts 1978, ch. 934, §§ 22, 36; T.C.A., § 63-1221; Acts 1983, ch. 57, § 12; 1988, ch. 752, § 3; 1989, ch. 360, §§ 39-42; 1989, ch. 523, § 212.