2012 -- S 2613

=======

LC01921

=======

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

____________

A N A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS - VETERINARY PRACTICE

     Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, P Fogarty, Ruggerio, Walaska, and McCaffrey

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2012

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

1-1

     SECTION 1. Section 5-25-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-25 entitled "Veterinary

1-2

Practice" is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-3

     5-25-11. Licensing of veterinarians. -- (a) By Examination. - The applicant is required

1-4

to pass, with a grade determined by the division, an examination approved by the division; upon

1-5

payment of an examination fee of three hundred and thirty dollars ($330) every candidate who

1-6

passes that examination, and in the opinion of the division meets the qualifications of section 5-

1-7

25-10, shall, upon payment of an initial license fee, which shall be equal to the biennial license

1-8

renewal fee in effect, be issued a license to practice veterinary medicine. Veterinarians licensed

1-9

under the provisions of this chapter on August 31, 1985 shall continue to be licensed.

1-10

      (b) Without Examination by Endorsement. - A license to practice veterinary medicine

1-11

may be issued without examination to an applicant who has been duly licensed by examination as

1-12

a veterinarian under the laws of another state or territory or District of Columbia, if, in the

1-13

opinion of the division, the applicant meets the qualifications required of veterinarians in this

1-14

state, as further defined in rules and regulations.

1-15

     (c) Exemption at discretion of Governor. A veterinarian who is properly and currently

1-16

licensed or credentialed in another state may practice, without written examination or other

1-17

qualification, in the state of Rhode Island during an emergency or natural disaster, in a capacity

1-18

that is in direct response to said emergency or natural disaster and in a manner that is directed by

1-19

the Rhode Island state veterinarian, or other animal health official with authority delegated by the

1-20

Rhode Island state veterinarian, and until the services of said veterinarian are no longer required

2-1

within the state as determined by the Rhode Island state veterinarian or other animal health

2-2

official with authority delegated by the Rhode Island state veterinarian; provided that:

2-3

     (1) An official declaration of the disaster or emergency, as defined in subdivision 30-15-3

2-4

(1), has been declared by the governor or other authorized state official; or

2-5

     (2) An invitation has been extended to the veterinarian by the governor or another

2-6

authorized state official or an animal health official with authority delegated by an authorized

2-7

state official. Such entities shall include the director of the department of environmental

2-8

management the director of health and the chief of the division of agriculture or the state

2-9

veterinarian.

2-10

     SECTION 2. Section 20-1-26 of the General Laws in Chapter 20-1 entitled "General

2-11

Provisions" is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-12

     20-1-26. Freshwater invasive aquatic plants -- Prohibition on importation and

2-13

possession. -- (a) No person shall import, transport, disperse, distribute, introduce, sell, purchase,

2-14

or possess in the state any species of non-native (exotic) freshwater invasive aquatic plants, as

2-15

defined by the director. The director shall promulgate rules and regulations governing the

2-16

prohibition and its applicability. The prohibition and its enforcement shall not become effective

2-17

until the rules and regulations governing the prohibition and its applicability take effect.

2-18

      (b) Violations of this section shall be a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more

2-19

than five hundred dollars ($500) or imprisonment for up to ninety (90) days, or both.

2-20

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

=======

LC01921

========

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS - VETERINARY PRACTICE

***

3-1

     This act would provide for an emergency waiver for veterinarians to perform veterinary

3-2

services in Rhode Island under certain emergency situations.

3-3

     This act would take effect upon passage.

=======

LC01921

=======