Veterinary technicians.

WORKING DRAFT
2013
STATE OF
WYOMING
13LSO-0356.E1

SENATE FILE
NO.
SF0089

Veterinary technicians.

Sponsored by:
Senator(s) Emerich and Representative(s) Moniz and Semlek

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to veterinarians; providing requirements for veterinary technicians as specified;
providing for
state
certification of veterinary technicians; providing rulemaking authority;
providing
a definition
; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.

W.S. 33
‑
30
‑
301 through 33
‑
30
‑
305
are created to read:

ARTICLE 3
Veterinary Technicians

33
‑
30
‑
301.

State c
ertification
r
equired.

Any veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the state of Wyoming may use the services of one (1) or more registered veterinary technicians. No person shall practice as a veterinary technician unless the person is registered by the board under this article. A registered veterinary technician who is
supervised
by a licensed veterinarian is not considered to be engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine.

33
‑
30
‑
302.

Requirement for a
c
ertificate.

(a)

The board may issue a certificate as a veterinary technician to any applicant who files an application upon a form and in the manner prescribed by the board, accompanied by the appropriate fee and who furnishes satisfactory evidence to the board of the following:

(i)

The applicant has reached the age of majority;

(ii)

The applicant has no felony or misdemeanor convictions involving moral turpitude, although exceptions to this requirement may be granted by the board if consistent with the public interest;

(iii)

The applicant has successfully completed an accredited program in veterinary technology as approved by the board
or has other training and experience which the board determines is adequate
.

(b)

The board may, in its sole discretion, require the applicant to appear before the board.

(c)

Upon examination of all credentials, the board may consider the credentials adequate evidence of professional competence and issue a certificate.

33
‑
30
‑
303.

Supervision.

(a)

A veterinary technician shall only work
as a veterinary technician
under the direction or supervision of a licensed veterinarian who employs the technician.

(b)

The licensed veterinarian who employs a registered veterinary technician is responsible for the acts of the technician, and nothing in this
article
relieves the employer of the ordinary duties and responsibilities for the acts or conduct of the employee.

(c)

A veterinary technician shall not maintain or operate any office separate from the office of the licensed veterinarian who employs the technician.

33
‑
30
‑
304.

Reciprocity.

A person who has been issued a certificate to practice as a veterinary technician under the laws of any other state having requirements substantially equal to those provided for in this
article
may
, after consideration by the board,
be issued a certificate to practice in this state.

33
‑
30
‑
305.

Rulemaking authority
.

The board shall adopt rules necessary for the implementation of this article.

Section 2.

W.S. 33
‑
30
‑
202
(a) by creating new paragraphs (x) and (xi) and 33
‑
30
‑
214(a) are
amended to read:

33
‑
30
‑
202.

Definitions.

(a)

When used in this act, these words and phrases, unless the context otherwise indicates, shall be defined as follows:

(x)

"Veterinary technician" means a
person
who is
certified by the Wyoming board of veterinary medicine

as a veterinary technician
;

(xi)

"This act" means W.S. 33
‑
30
‑
201 through 33
‑
30
‑
215 and 33
‑
30
‑
301 through 33
‑
30
‑
305.

33
‑
30
‑
214.

Penalty for violation; injunction.

(a)

Any person who violates W.S. 33
‑
30
‑
101 through 33
‑
30
‑
215

or 33
‑
30
‑
301 through 33
‑
30
‑
305
is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, or both. Each act of such unlawful practice shall constitute a distinct and separate offense.

Section 3.

This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

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SF0089