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 government 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.