§ 33-30-204 — Board of veterinary medicine

(a) A Wyoming board of veterinary medicine shall be
appointed by the governor, by and with the consent of the
senate, and shall consist of five (5) members who shall hold
office for a term of six (6) years. Four (4) members shall be
licensed veterinarians, one (1) member shall be a consumer of
veterinary services. Members of the state board of veterinary
examiners previously appointed under this act shall continue as
members of the board until the expiration of the term for which
they were appointed. Initial appointments to the board may be
for less than six (6) years so that the terms of not more than
two (2) members shall expire in any one (1) biennium. Whenever
the occasion arises for an appointment of a licensed
veterinarian under this section the Wyoming Veterinary Medical
Association shall nominate three (3) or more qualified persons
and forward the nominations to the governor at least thirty (30)
days prior to the convening date of the senate. Vacancies due to
death, resignation or removal shall be filled by appointment by
the governor in accordance with W.S. 28-12-101 upon nominations
being made as otherwise provided in this section for
appointment. No person shall serve two (2) consecutive six (6)
year terms, but a person appointed for a term of fewer than six
(6) years, or to fill a vacancy, may succeed himself. Effective
July 1, 1979, appointments and terms shall be made in accordance
with W.S. 28-12-101 through 28-12-103.
(b) Any member of the board who is required to be a
licensed veterinarian shall be qualified to serve as a member of
the board if he is a graduate of a college of veterinary
medicine, a resident of this state, and has been licensed to
practice veterinary medicine in this state for the five (5)
years immediately preceding the time of his appointment. No
person may serve on the board who is, or was during the two (2)
years immediately preceding his appointment, a member of the
faculty, trustees or advisory board of a college of veterinary
medicine.
(c) The governor may remove any board member from office
as provided in W.S. 9-1-202.
(d) Immediately and before entering upon the duties of
said office, the members of the board shall take the
constitutional oath of office and shall file the same in the
office of the secretary of state; and there shall thereupon be
issued to said members certificates of their appointments.
(e) Each member of the board shall receive compensation
from the veterinary medicine account for each day actually spent
in the performance of his official board duties at the salary
rate provided in W.S. 28-5-101(d) and per diem and mileage as
provided in W.S. 33-1-302(a)(vii).
(f) The board shall meet at least once each year at the
time and place fixed by rule of the board. Other necessary
meetings may be called by the president of the board by giving
notice as may be required by rule. Except as otherwise provided,
a majority of the board, including one (1) officer, constitutes
a quorum. Meetings shall be open and public except that the
board may meet in closed session to prepare, approve, administer
or grade examinations, or to deliberate the qualification of an
applicant for license, or the disposition of a proceeding to
discipline a licensed veterinarian. The board shall adopt a seal
which shall be affixed to all licenses issued by the board and
to other papers requiring the same.
(g) At the annual meeting the board shall organize by
electing from its membership a president and vice-president and
such other officers as may be prescribed by rules. Officers of
the board shall serve for terms of one (1) year and until
successors are elected, without limitation on the number of
terms an officer may serve. The president shall serve as
chairman at the board meetings, except that in his absence the
vice-president shall serve as chairman. The state veterinarian
shall be ex officio member of the board and shall receive no
compensation, except that he is entitled to the normal travel
expenses allowed to state employees.
(h) The board shall keep permanent accounts and records of
all receipts and disbursements by the board and minutes of all
board proceedings, including the disposition of all applications
for licenses, and keep a register of all persons currently
licensed by the board. The board shall, as required by W.S.
9-2-1014, report to the governor and the Wyoming Veterinary
Medical Association as to the transactions of the board. In all
court actions or proceedings pertaining to this act, a
transcript of any record or any part thereof, which is certified
to be a true copy by the board, shall be entitled to admission
in evidence.
(j) All board records shall be open to public inspection
during regular office hours of the board; except, information
received by the board through inspection and investigations
involving the question of licensure shall be confidential and
shall not be disclosed except as may be judicially required.
(k) All money shall be received and collected as provided
by law. The state treasurer shall credit the money to a
separate account. All expenses of the board and all expenses
incurred in connection with the administration of this act shall
be paid from the account by requisition signed by a person
designated by the board in a manner provided by law for payment
of other state expenses. The account shall be a continuing
account and shall not be subject to reversion to the state's
general fund.
(m) The board is empowered to:
(i) Examine and determine the qualifications and
fitness of applicants for a license to practice veterinary
medicine in the state;
(ii) 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 the act and the rules and regulations
adopted thereunder, provided that any denial, suspension or
revocation of a license shall be preceded by notice and an
opportunity for a hearing;
(iii) Regulate artificial insemination of animals by
establishing standards of practice by consultation with approved
schools of artificial insemination and issue permits to persons
found qualified by the board;
(iv) Establish and publish annually a schedule of
fees for licensing and registration of veterinarians and the
issuance of permits;
(v) Conduct investigations for the purpose of
discovering violations of this act;
(vi) Hold hearings on all matters properly brought
before the board;
(vii) Employ full-time or part-time professional,
clerical or special personnel necessary to effectuate the
provisions of this act and purchase or rent necessary office
space, equipment and supplies;
(viii) Employ personnel and incur expenses as may be
necessary for the promotion of education and standards of
veterinary medicine through institutes, conferences, educational
programs or any other means as may result in improved services;
(ix) Accept any federal, state, county, city or
private funds, grants or appropriations which shall be used to
award scholarships, fellowships or assistantships to qualified
persons to study veterinary medicine in an approved school. The
funds shall be deposited in the state treasury and credited to a
separate account. The funds shall be paid out upon request of
the board as provided by law. The above mentioned awards shall
be granted under rules adopted by the board;
(x) Appoint from its own membership one (1) or more
members to act as representatives of the board at any meeting
within or without the state where such representation is deemed
desirable;
(xi) Bring proceedings in the courts for the
enforcement of this act or any regulations made pursuant
thereto;
(xii) Adopt, amend, or repeal all rules necessary for
its governance and all regulations necessary to carry into
effect the provision of this act including the establishment and
publication of standards of professional conduct for the
practice of veterinary medicine;
(xiii) Regulate the transplanting of embryos in
animals by establishing standards of practice and issue permits
to persons found qualified by the board;
(xiv) Repealed By Laws 2013, Ch. 127, § 3.
(n) The powers enumerated are granted for the purpose of
enabling the board to supervise effectively the practice of
veterinary medicine and are to be construed liberally to
accomplish this objective. In the exercise of its powers, the
board shall be governed by the provisions of the Wyoming
Administrative Procedure Act.