*See Sec. 19a-88b re renewal of certain professional and occupational licenses, certificates, permits or registrations which become void while the holder is on active duty in the armed forces of the United States.
Cited. 207 C. 674; 242 C. 1.
Sec. 20-196. Connecticut Board of Veterinary Medicine.
Sec. 20-196a. Fiscal and clerical assistance provided by Commissioner of Agriculture.
Sec. 20-196b. Board powers and duties.
Sec. 20-198. Qualifications for examination. Approved schools. Denial of eligibility for licensure.
Sec. 20-199. Examination. Fee.
Sec. 20-201. Renewal of license.
Sec. 20-202. Disciplinary action; grounds.
Sec. 20-204. Charges against veterinarian.
Sec. 20-204a. Allegations of wrongdoing, investigation by department. Disclosure to complainant.
Sec. 20-205. When provisions not applicable.
Sec. 20-205a. Disposition of abandoned animals.
Sec. 20-205b. Euthanization of cat or dog by licensed veterinarian. Exceptions. Penalty. Defense.
Sec. 20-196. Connecticut Board of Veterinary Medicine. (a) There shall be a Connecticut Board of Veterinary Medicine. The board shall consist of five members appointed by the Governor, subject to the provisions of section 4-9a, as follows: Three members of said board shall be practitioners of veterinary medicine residing in this state in good professional standing and two shall be public members. No member of said board shall be an elected or appointed officer of the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association or have been such an officer during the year immediately preceding his appointment, or serve for more than two consecutive terms. The Commissioner of Public Health with the advice and assistance of said board may issue regulations to insure proper veterinary care and the protection of public health, considering the convenience and welfare of the animals being treated, methods recommended by the code of ethics of the national and state veterinary associations, proper registrations of veterinarians for prompt identification and accepted health and veterinary standards as promulgated by the Department of Public Health, Department of Agriculture health ordinances and state statutes and regulations.
(b) The Governor shall appoint a chairman from among such members. Said board shall meet at least once during each calendar quarter and at such other times as the chairman deems necessary. Special meetings shall be held on the request of a majority of the board after notice in accordance with the provisions of section 1-225. A majority of the members of the board shall constitute a quorum. Members shall not be compensated for their services. Any member who fails to attend three consecutive meetings or who fails to attend fifty per cent of all meetings held during any calendar year shall be deemed to have resigned from office. Minutes of all meetings shall be recorded by the board. No member shall participate in the affairs of the board during the pendency of any disciplinary proceedings by the board against such member.
(1949 Rev., S. 3056, 4599; 1957, P.A. 360, S. 1; 1959, P.A. 616, S. 58; P.A. 77-614, S. 264, 323, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 134, 136; P.A. 80-484, S. 74, 176; P.A. 81-471, S. 44, 71; P.A. 82-472, S. 79, 183; P.A. 86-123, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-12, S. 24, 55; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 98-143, S. 13, 24; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(f); P.A. 04-189, S. 1.)
History: 1959 act deleted provisions re duty of secretary to provide books for records, duty of treasurer to receive and pay over moneys, keep accounts, etc., and provisions re the incurring and payment of board's expenses and added that moneys received be paid to state treasury to credit of general fund; P.A. 77-614 revised membership of board to consist of three veterinarian members and two public members rather than five veterinarian members, deleted reference to June appointments and five-year terms beginning on July first, deleted provisions re appointment of board president, secretary, treasurer etc., re board's establishment of procedures for applications, examinations and hearings and re agriculture commissioner's responsibility for furnishing office facilities and clerical assistance, transferred regulation power from board to commissioner of consumer protection, retaining board in advisory capacity and replaced department of health with department of health services, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-303 made technical changes; P.A. 80-484 deleted provisions re appointment of professional members from list submitted by Veterinary Medical Association, re filling vacancies and re removal upon proof of incompetence, etc., required appointment pursuant to Sec. 9-4a, replaced requirement that veterinarian members have five years' experience with provision that they be practitioners in good professional standing, deleted provision setting date of annual meeting, prohibited membership of professional who has held office within professional association within a year of his appointment, limited terms served to two, deleted provision for majority of members as quorum, transferred regulation power from commissioner of consumer protection to commissioner of health services and added Subsec. (b) re chairman, meetings, members' attendance, expense reimbursement, etc.; P.A. 81-471 changed “elected official” to “elected or appointed officer” as of July 1, 1981; P.A. 82-472 made a technical change in Subsec. (a); P.A. 86-123 changed the name of the board from the state board of veterinary registration and examination to the Connecticut board of veterinary medicine; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-12 eliminated expense reimbursement for board members; P.A. 93-381 replaced department and commissioner of health services with department and commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 98-143 added quorum provision in Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 1998; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 replaced Department of Agriculture with Department of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-189 repealed Sec. 146 of June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby reversing the merger of the Departments of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective June 1, 2004.
See Sec. 4-9a for definition of “public member”.
See Sec. 4-40a re compensation and expenses of licensing boards and commissions.
See Secs. 21a-6 to 21a-10, inclusive, re control, powers and duties of boards within Department of Consumer Protection.
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Sec. 20-196a. Fiscal and clerical assistance provided by Commissioner of Agriculture. Section 20-196a is repealed.
(1959, P.A. 647, S. 1; P.A. 77-614, S. 609, 610.)
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Sec. 20-196b. Board powers and duties. The Connecticut Board of Veterinary Medicine shall (1) hear and decide matters concerning suspension or revocation of licensure, (2) adjudicate complaints filed against practitioners licensed under this chapter and (3) impose sanctions where appropriate.
(P.A. 80-484, S. 75, 176; P.A. 86-123, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 86-123 changed name of board from “board of veterinary registration and examination” to “Connecticut board of veterinary medicine”.
Cited. 6 CA 473.
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Sec. 20-196c. Transfer of board personnel from Department of Consumer Protection to Department of Health Services. Section 20-196c is repealed.
(P.A. 80-484, S. 145, 176; P.A. 86-123, S. 11.)
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Sec. 20-197. License required. Practice defined. Veterinarian-client-patient relationship. Requirement. (a) No person shall practice veterinary medicine, surgery or dentistry until such person has obtained a license as provided in section 20-199. A person shall be construed to practice veterinary medicine, surgery or dentistry, within the meaning of this chapter, who holds himself or herself out as being able to diagnose, administer biologics for, treat, operate or prescribe for any animal or bird disease, pain, injury, deformity or physical condition, or who either offers or undertakes, by any means or methods, to diagnose, administer biologics for, treat, operate or prescribe for any animal or bird disease, pain, injury, deformity or physical condition. The euthanizing of animals in accordance with applicable state and federal drug laws by the Connecticut Humane Society, the floating of teeth in horses by persons experienced in that practice and the performance of myofascial trigger point therapy by persons experienced in that practice shall not be deemed to be the practice of veterinary medicine. For the purposes of this section, “floating teeth” means using hand-held rasps to reduce or eliminate sharp or uneven edges on a horse's upper and lower molars to avoid injury to the tongue and cheeks and to improve chewing food, but does not include treating decay or tumors or extracting teeth. For the purposes of this section, “myofascial trigger point therapy” means the use of specific palpation, compression, stretching and corrective exercise for promoting optimum athleticism, and “persons experienced in that practice” means persons who, prior to October 1, 2003, have attended a minimum of two hundred hours of classroom, lecture and hands-on practice in myofascial trigger point therapy, including animal musculoskeletal anatomy and biomechanics, theory and application of animal myofascial trigger point techniques, factors that habituate a presenting condition and corrective exercise.
(b) No veterinarian licensed under this chapter may practice veterinary medicine on an animal without first establishing a veterinarian-client-patient relationship with the animal and the owner of the animal or person responsible for the care of the animal, except that a veterinarian licensed under this chapter may provide, in good faith, emergency or urgent care to an animal when no veterinarian-client-patient relationship has been established if the owner of the animal or person responsible for the care of such animal cannot be identified. A veterinarian shall be deemed to have established a veterinarian-client-patient relationship if the following conditions have been met:
(1) The veterinarian has assumed the responsibility of making medical judgments regarding the health of the animal and the need for the provision of medical care or treatment to the animal and has instructed the owner of the animal or person responsible for the care of the animal on the appropriate course of medical care or treatment of the animal;
(2) The veterinarian has sufficient knowledge of the animal to make at least a preliminary or general diagnosis of the animal;
(3) The owner of the animal or person responsible for the care of the animal has agreed to follow the veterinarian's recommendations regarding medical care or treatment of the animal;
(4) The veterinarian is available for a follow-up evaluation of the animal or has arranged for (A) emergency or urgent care coverage for the animal, or (B) continuing medical care or treatment of the animal, as designated by the veterinarian, by another licensed veterinarian who (i) has access to the animal's medical records, or (ii) can provide reasonable and appropriate medical care or treatment to the animal;
(5) The veterinarian oversees the medical care or treatment of the animal; and
(6) The veterinarian (A) has performed a physical examination of the animal, or (B) is personally acquainted with the keeping and care of the animal by virtue of providing timely and appropriate medical care or treatment to another animal at the same location where the animal is kept.
(c) A veterinarian-client-patient relationship may not be established solely through veterinary telemedicine. After a veterinarian-client-patient relationship has been established, such relationship may be maintained through veterinary telemedicine in between medically necessary examinations of the animal by the veterinarian or timely medical visits by the veterinarian to the location where the animal is kept. If there is no veterinarian-client-patient relationship, a veterinarian may only provide general advice using electronic means and shall not provide any specific advice regarding the animal, including, but not limited to, any diagnosis or recommended medical care or treatment of the animal. As used in this subsection, “veterinary telemedicine” means the exchange of medical information regarding the status of an animal's health or the delivery of a medical diagnosis, care or treatment of an animal through electronic means, including, but not limited to, telephone, video, mobile applications or an Internet web site-based platform.
(1949 Rev., S. 4600; 1957, P.A. 360, S. 2; P.A. 79-262, S. 1; P.A. 81-57, S. 1, 2; P.A. 86-123, S. 3; P.A. 98-94; P.A. 03-277, S. 1; P.A. 04-109, S. 3; P.A. 05-288, S. 83; P.A. 21-90, S. 12.)
History: P.A. 79-262 replaced “and” following “condition” with “or”; P.A. 81-57 excluded the euthanizing of animals from consideration as practice of veterinary medicine; P.A. 86-123 eliminated provision exempting poultry from provisions of section; P.A. 98-94 excluded floating of teeth in horses by persons experienced in that practice from meaning of practice of veterinary medicine; P.A. 03-277 excluded the performance of myofascial trigger point therapy by persons experienced in that practice from the meaning of practicing veterinary medicine and defined “myofascial trigger point therapy” and “persons experienced in that practice”; P.A. 04-109 made technical changes, effective May 21, 2004; P.A. 05-288 made technical changes, effective July 13, 2005; P.A. 21-90 designated existing provision as Subsec. (a) and added Subsecs. (b) and (c) re veterinarian-client-patient relationship requirement, effective July 1, 2021.
Cited. 3 Conn. Cir. Ct. 12.
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Sec. 20-198. Qualifications for examination. Approved schools. Denial of eligibility for licensure. (a) No person shall be granted a license to practice veterinary medicine, surgery or dentistry until the department finds that such person (1) was graduated with the degree of doctor of veterinary medicine, or its equivalent, from a school of veterinary medicine, surgery or dentistry which, at the time such person graduated, was accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association, or (2) if graduated from a school located outside of the United States, its territories or Canada, graduated from a program acceptable to the American Veterinary Medical Association as required to receive certification by the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates. No person who was graduated from a school of veterinary medicine, surgery or dentistry that is not accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association and that is located outside the United States, its territories or Canada shall be granted a license unless such person has also received certification from the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates or Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence.
(b) The department may, under such regulations as the Commissioner of Public Health may adopt, in accordance with chapter 54, with the advice and assistance of the board, deny eligibility for licensure to a graduate of a school that has been found to have provided fraudulent or inaccurate documentation regarding either the school's educational program or the academic credentials of graduates of the school's program or to have failed to meet educational standards prescribed in such regulations.
(1949 Rev., S. 4601, 4602; P.A. 80-484, S. 76, 176; P.A. 86-123, S. 4; P.A. 89-115, S. 2, 7; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 94-210, S. 26, 30; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 03-252, S. 13; P.A. 05-272, S. 8; P.A. 07-252, S. 48.)
History: P.A. 80-484 essentially transferred powers previously held by board to department of health services, except power to approve schools which requires health services commissioner's consent and deleted requirement that applicant present “certification of good moral character, signed by two reputable citizens”; P.A. 86-123 revised qualifications for licensure to distinguish between schools accredited by American Veterinary Medical Association and others approved by board and added provision specifying circumstances under which eligibility for licensure may be denied; P.A. 89-115 added the requirement for certification from the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates of the American Veterinary Medical Association for persons seeking a license who were educated outside the United States, its territories or Canada; P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 94-210 amended Subdiv. (2) to approve degree programs deemed equivalent to programs accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association, effective June 9, 1994; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 03-252 added Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence and made technical changes; P.A. 05-272 divided existing provisions into Subsecs. (a) and (b), amended Subsec. (a) to make technical changes, to remove reference to schools “located in the United States, its territories or Canada” and to add prohibition re granting of licenses to persons graduating from any school that is not accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association, and amended Subsec. (b) to add a reference to chapter 54 and make a technical change; P.A. 07-252 revised qualification requirements for foreign veterinary graduates in Subsec. (a)(2) by requiring graduation “from a program acceptable to the American Veterinary Medical Association as required to receive certification by the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates”, effective July 12, 2007.
Cited. 45 CA 83.
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Sec. 20-199. Examination. Fee. No person shall be issued a license until such person has taken and passed, with a minimum passing grade established by the department with the consent of the board, written, oral or practical examinations prescribed by the department with the advice and consent of the board. Before being admitted to the examination, each applicant shall pay to the department the sum of five hundred sixty-five dollars and an applicant rejected by the department may be reexamined at any subsequent time, upon payment of the sum of five hundred sixty-five dollars for each appearance. The Department of Public Health under the supervision of the board shall hold such examinations at least once each year at such places as it designates and at such other times and places as it determines.
(1949 Rev., S. 4603, 4604; 1957, P.A. 360, S. 3, 4; 1959, P.A. 616, S. 59; June, 1971, P.A. 8, S. 67; P.A. 77-614, S. 265, 610; P.A. 80-484, S. 77, 176; P.A. 81-471, S. 45, 71; P.A. 86-123, S. 5; P.A. 89-251, S. 106, 203; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6, S. 27, 117; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 215.)
History: 1959 act doubled fees; 1971 act increased fee for first examination from $50 to $150; P.A. 77-614 required consent of consumer protection commissioner for subjects of examination, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-484 transferred duties formerly held by board re examinations to department of health services, retaining board in advisory and supervisory capacity, deleted reference to commissioner of consumer protection and replaced minimum passing grade of 70% with minimum grade established by department; P.A. 81-471 changed requirement that exams be held in January and July to at least once each year and deleted provision authorizing board to prescribe form of examinations; P.A. 86-123 deleted reference to specific examination subject matter and provision requiring that applicant be notified of “the subject in which he is to be examined” and reorganized other provisions of section; P.A. 89-251 increased the fee from $150 to $450; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6 raised reexamination fee from $50 to $450; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 increased fees from $450 to $565.
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Sec. 20-200. Issuance of license or temporary permit to persons licensed to practice in another state or territory. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 20-198, the Department of Public Health may issue a license by endorsement to any veterinarian of good professional character who is currently licensed and practicing in some other state or territory, having requirements for admission determined by the department to be at least equal to the requirements of this state, upon the payment of a fee of five hundred sixty-five dollars to said department. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 20-198, the department may, upon payment of a fee of five hundred sixty-five dollars, issue a license without examination to a currently practicing, competent veterinarian in another state or territory who (1) holds a current valid license in good professional standing issued after examination by another state or territory that maintains licensing standards which, except for examination, are commensurate with this state's standards, and (2) has worked continuously as a licensed veterinarian in an academic or clinical setting in another state or territory for a period of not less than five years immediately preceding the application for licensure without examination. No license shall be issued under this section to any applicant against whom professional disciplinary action is pending or who is the subject of an unresolved complaint. The department shall inform the board annually of the number of applications it receives for licensure under this section.
(b) The Department of Public Health may issue a temporary permit to an applicant for licensure without examination upon receipt of a completed application form, accompanied by the fee for licensure without examination, a copy of a current license from another state of the United States, the District of Columbia or a commonwealth or territory subject to the laws of the United States, and a notarized affidavit attesting that the license is valid and belongs to the person requesting notarization. Such temporary permit shall be valid for a period not to exceed one hundred twenty calendar days and shall not be renewable. The department shall not issue a temporary permit under this section to any applicant against whom professional disciplinary action is pending, or who is the subject of an unresolved complaint.
(1957, P.A. 360, S. 8; June, 1971, P.A. 8, S. 68; P.A. 80-484, S. 78, 176; P.A. 86-123, S. 6; P.A. 89-251, S. 107, 203; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-125, S. 3, 6; 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 03-252, S. 14; P.A. 05-272, S. 9; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 216.)
History: 1971 act increased fee from $75 to $150; P.A. 80-484 transferred powers formerly held by board to department of health services, allowed unconditional waiver of examination, deleting requirement for practical examination of proficiency, required that applicants be of good “professional”, rather than “moral”, character, replaced requirement for five years' experience with requirement that applicants be currently licensed and practicing and added provisions forbidding issuance of license to person involved in disciplinary action or unresolved complaint and requiring annual notification of number of applications received; P.A. 86-123 deleted provision requiring reciprocity for the issuance of a license to out-of-state veterinarians and added provisions regarding licensure without examination of out-of-state veterinarians; P.A. 89-251 increased the fee from $150 to $450; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-125 increased from $150 to $450 the fee for veterinarians from other states who meet the requirements of Subdivs. (1) to (3), effective June 7, 1995; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 03-252 replaced provision re issuance of license without examination with provision re issuance of license by endorsement, deleted requirement of certificate from out-of-state board, deleted requirement that veterinarian graduate from accredited school of veterinary medicine, surgery or dentistry and made technical changes; P.A. 05-272 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a), made a technical change therein and added Subsec. (b) authorizing the issuance of temporary permits to veterinarians currently licensed and practicing in another state under certain circumstances; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 amended Subsec. (a) to increase fees from $450 to $565.
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Sec. 20-201. Renewal of license. Said department shall, annually in accordance with the provisions of section 19a-88, issue to each licensed veterinarian in the state, presenting an application for renewal of his or her license accompanied by the professional services fee for class I, as defined in section 33-182l, plus five dollars, a receipt stating the fact of such payment, which receipt shall be a license to follow such practice for one year.
(1949 Rev., S. 4607; June, 1971, P.A. 8, S. 69; P.A. 80-484, S. 79, 176; P.A. 81-471, S. 46, 71; P.A. 89-251, S. 108, 203; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-16, S. 50, 89; P.A. 15-244, S. 125; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5, S. 474.)
History: 1971 act increased fee for timely renewal from $5 to $150 and for late renewal from $10 to $150; P.A. 80-484 replaced board with department of health services, made renewals subject to Sec. 19-45 as of January 1, 1981, made renewals valid for one year and deleted provision for $150 fee for late renewal; P.A. 81-471 deleted reference to October first as renewal date; P.A. 89-251 increased the renewal fee from $150 to $450; May Sp. Sess. 92-16 replaced $450 renewal fee with fee for professional service fee class I established pursuant to Sec. 33-182l; P.A. 15-244 increased renewal fee by $5 and made a technical change, effective July 1, 2015; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5 changed effective date of P.A. 15-244, S. 125, from July 1, 2015, to October 1, 2015, and applicable to the renewal of a license or certificate that expires on or after that date, effective June 30, 2015.
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Sec. 20-201a. Continuing education: Definitions; contact hours; attestation; record-keeping; exemptions, waivers and extensions; reinstatement of void licenses. (a) As used in this section:
(1) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Public Health;
(2) “Contact hour” means a minimum of fifty minutes of continuing education activity;
(3) “Department” means the Department of Public Health;
(4) “Licensee” means any person who receives a license from the department pursuant to this chapter; and
(5) “Registration period” means the one-year period for which a license renewed in accordance with section 19a-88 is current and valid.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this section, for registration periods beginning on and after July 1, 2011, a licensee applying for license renewal shall earn a minimum of twenty-four contact hours of continuing education within the preceding twenty-four-month period. Such continuing education shall (1) be in an area of the licensee's practice; and (2) reflect the professional needs of the licensee in order to meet the veterinary health care needs of the public. Qualifying continuing education activities include, but are not limited to, courses, including on-line courses, offered or approved by national or state veterinary medical organizations, societies or associations, colleges or schools of veterinary medicine and other professional societies and organizations as appropriate to the educational needs of the licensee.
(c) Each licensee applying for license renewal pursuant to section 19a-88 shall sign a statement attesting that he or she has satisfied the continuing education requirements of subsection (b) of this section on a form prescribed by the department. Each licensee shall retain records of attendance or certificates of completion that demonstrate compliance with such continuing education requirements for a minimum of three years following the year in which the continuing education activities were completed and shall submit such records to the department for inspection not later than forty-five days after a request by the department for such records.
(d) A licensee applying for the first time for license renewal pursuant to section 19a-88 is exempt from the continuing education requirements of this section.
(e) A licensee who is not engaged in active professional practice in any form during a registration period shall be exempt from the continuing education requirements of this section, provided the licensee submits to the department, prior to the expiration of the registration period, a notarized application for exemption on a form prescribed by the department and such other documentation as may be required by the department. The application for exemption pursuant to this subsection shall contain a statement that the licensee may not engage in professional practice until the licensee has met the continuing education requirements of this section.
(f) In individual cases involving medical disability or illness, the commissioner may, in the commissioner's discretion, grant a waiver of the continuing education requirements or an extension of time within which to fulfill the continuing education requirements of this section to any licensee, provided the licensee submits to the department an application for waiver or extension of time on a form prescribed by the department, along with a certification by a licensed physician, a licensed physician assistant or a licensed advanced practice registered nurse of the disability or illness and such other documentation as may be required by the commissioner. The commissioner may grant a waiver or extension for a period not to exceed one registration period, except that the commissioner may grant additional waivers or extensions if the medical disability or illness upon which a waiver or extension is granted continues beyond the period of the waiver or extension and the licensee applies for an additional waiver or extension.
(g) Any licensee whose license has become void pursuant to section 19a-88 and who applies to the department for reinstatement of such license pursuant to section 19a-14 shall submit evidence documenting successful completion of twelve contact hours of continuing education within the one-year period immediately preceding application for reinstatement.
(P.A. 09-232, S. 10; P.A. 16-39, S. 38; P.A. 21-196, S. 44.)
History: P.A. 09-232 effective July 1, 2009; P.A. 16-39 amended Subsec. (f) by adding reference to licensed advanced practice registered nurse; P.A. 21-196 amended Subsec. (f) by adding reference to licensed physician assistant.
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Sec. 20-202. Disciplinary action; grounds. After notice and opportunity for hearing as provided in the regulations established by the Commissioner of Public Health, said board may take any of the actions set forth in section 19a-17 for any of the following causes: (1) The presentation to the board of any diploma, license or certificate illegally or fraudulently obtained; (2) proof that the holder of such license or certificate has become unfit or incompetent or has been guilty of cruelty, unskillfulness or negligence towards animals and birds. In determining whether the holder of such license has acted with negligence, the board may consider standards of care and guidelines published by the American Veterinary Medical Association including, but not limited to, guidelines for the use, distribution and prescribing of prescription drugs; (3) conviction of the violation of any of the provisions of this chapter by any court of criminal jurisdiction, provided no license or registration shall be revoked or suspended because of such conviction if an appeal to a higher court has been filed until such appeal has been determined by the higher court and the conviction sustained; (4) the violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or the refusal to comply with any of said provisions; (5) the publication or circulation of any statement of a character tending to deceive or mislead the public; (6) the supplying of drugs, biologics, instruments or any substances or devices by which unqualified persons may practice veterinary medicine, surgery and dentistry, except that such drugs, biologics, instruments, substances or devices may be supplied to a farmer for his own animals or birds; (7) fraudulent issue or use of any health certificate, vaccination certificate, test chart or other blank form used in the practice of veterinary medicine relating to the dissemination of animal disease, transportation of diseased animals or the sale of inedible products of animal origin for human consumption; (8) knowingly having professional association with, or knowingly employing any person who is unlawfully practicing veterinary medicine; (9) failure to keep veterinary premises and equipment in a clean and sanitary condition; (10) physical or mental illness, emotional disorder or loss of motor skill, including but not limited to, deterioration through the aging process; (11) abuse or excessive use of drugs, including alcohol, narcotics or chemicals; or (12) failure to comply with the continuing education requirements prescribed in section 20-201a. A violation of any of the provisions of this chapter by any unlicensed employee in the practice of veterinary medicine, with the knowledge of his employer, shall be deemed a violation thereof by his employer. The Commissioner of Public Health may order a license holder to submit to a reasonable physical or mental examination if his physical or mental capacity to practice safely is the subject of an investigation. Said commissioner may petition the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford to enforce such order or any action taken pursuant to section 19a-17.
(1949 Rev., S. 4604; 1957, P.A. 360, S. 4; P.A. 77-614, S. 266, 610; P.A. 79-262, S. 2; P.A. 80-484, S. 80, 176; P.A. 88-230, S. 1, 12; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-142, S. 4, 7, 8; 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-220, S. 4–6; 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; 95-271, S. 38, 40; P.A. 09-232, S. 11; P.A. 13-230, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 77-614 specified that there must be notice and opportunity for hearing before revocation or suspension of license, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 79-262 added Subdivs. (15) and (16) allowing suspension or revocation of license for having professional association with or employing unlawful practitioner or failure to maintain sanitary conditions; P.A. 80-484 extended applicability to disciplinary actions listed in Sec. 19-4s, rewrote and moved provisions re grounds for disciplinary action involving felony conviction and vice or drug addiction, replaced regulations of consumer protection commissioner with regulations of health services commissioner, deleted Subdivs. (3) re conviction of crime of moral turpitude, (7) to (11) re various types of advertising and (12) re unprofessional conduct, added new Subdivs. re grounds of physical or mental illness, etc., renumbering and numbering as necessary, and added provisions re physical and mental examinations and re petitions to court for enforcement of orders or actions; P.A. 88-230 replaced “judicial district of Hartford-New Britain” with “judicial district of Hartford”, effective September 1, 1991; P.A. 90-98 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1991, to September 1, 1993; P.A. 93-142 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1993, to September 1, 1996, effective June 14, 1993; P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-220 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 95-271 amended Subdiv. (2) to require “negligence” rather than “gross negligence”; P.A. 09-232 added Subdiv. (12) re disciplinary action for failure to comply with prescribed continuing education requirements; P.A. 13-230 amended Subdiv. (2) by adding provision re authority of board to consider standards of care and guidelines published by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Injury to animal not required for veterinarian to be determined negligent, where such veterinarian supervised employee, with no educational training, in neutering cats. 109 CA 113. Subdiv. (2): Administration by a veterinarian of a rabies vaccine in a manner other than as directed by the attendant rabies vaccine label directions constitutes professional negligence. 204 CA 595.
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Sec. 20-203. Appeal. Any person aggrieved by a final decision of said board taken under section 19a-17 may appeal therefrom as provided in section 4-183. Such appeal shall be privileged.
(1949 Rev., S. 4605; 1957, P.A. 360, S. 6; 1971, P.A. 179, S. 14; 870, S. 63; P.A. 76-436, S. 427, 681; P.A. 77-603, S. 73, 125; 77-614, S. 267, 610; P.A. 78-280, S. 45, 127; P.A. 80-484, S. 81, 176; P.A. 96-47, S. 10.)
History: 1971 acts required that petition be brought within 15 days and between 12 and 30 days after service rather than at next return day or “next but one” and, effective September 1, 1971, except that courts with cases pending retain jurisdiction unless pending matters deemed transferable, replaced superior court with court of common pleas; P.A. 76-436 replaced court of common pleas with superior court and added reference to judicial districts, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-603 replaced provisions re petitions to court with statement that appeals be made in accordance with Sec. 4-183, retaining privileged status of appeals; P.A. 77-614 deleted provision granting appeals privileged status, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-280 restored provision granting appeals privileged status; P.A. 80-484 replaced reference to revocation of license under Sec. 20-202 with reference to disciplinary actions under Sec. 19-4s; P.A. 96-47 changed “any action” to “a final decision”.
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Sec. 20-204. Charges against veterinarian. Section 20-204 is repealed.
(1957, P.A. 360, S. 5; P.A. 80-484, S. 175, 176.)
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Sec. 20-204a. Allegations of wrongdoing, investigation by department. Disclosure to complainant. (a) The department shall investigate each allegation of any act or omission by a veterinarian specified in section 20-202. The investigation shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of section 19a-14 to determine if probable cause exists to issue a statement of charges and to institute proceedings against the veterinarian. Such investigation shall be concluded not later than twelve months from the date the allegation is submitted to the department.
(b) Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d) of this section, the investigation shall be confidential and not subject to disclosure under section 1-210 and no person may disclose knowledge of the investigation to a third party unless the veterinarian requests that the investigation be open, except that the department shall provide information to the person who filed the complaint pursuant to subdivision (12) of subsection (a) of section 19a-14.
(c) If the department makes a finding of no probable cause to take action under section 20-202 or fails to make a finding within the twelve-month period required by subsection (a) of this section, the allegation submitted pursuant to subsection (a) of this section and the entire record of the investigation may remain confidential and no person shall disclose knowledge of such investigation to a third party unless the veterinarian requests that it be open, except that the department shall provide information to the person who filed the complaint pursuant to subdivision (12) of subsection (a) of section 19a-14.
(d) If the department makes a finding that there is probable cause to take action under section 20-202, the allegation submitted pursuant to subsection (a) of this section and the entire record of such investigation shall be deemed a public record, in accordance with section 1-210.
(P.A. 98-166, S. 1, 9; P.A. 17-168, S. 1; P.A. 21-121, S. 21.)
History: P.A. 98-166 effective June 4, 1998; P.A. 17-168 amended Subsec. (b) by adding provision re owner of animal that is subject of investigation not deemed to be third party to investigation for purposes of disclosure; P.A. 21-121 amended Subsec. (b) by deleting provision re owner of animal that is subject of investigation not deemed to be third party to investigation for purposes of disclosure and adding provision re disclosure of information to person who filed complaint, amended Subsec. (c) by adding provision re disclosure of information to person who filed complaint and making a technical change.
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Sec. 20-205. When provisions not applicable. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any (1) person in governmental employ while acting in the scope of his or her employment, (2) person who furnishes medical or surgical assistance without compensation in an emergency, (3) veterinarian, licensed in another state, who is employed as a direct consultant for not more than ten days during any calendar year with any practitioner licensed in conformity with the provisions of section 20-197, (4) hospital, institution of higher education, laboratory, state or federal institution, or employee, student or person associated with any such hospital, institution of higher education, laboratory or state or federal institution, while engaged in research or studies involving the administration of medical, surgical or dental procedures to an animal or livestock within such hospital, institution of higher education, laboratory or state or federal institution, (5) faculty member, resident, student or intern employed by a school of veterinary medicine, surgery or dentistry accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association, while engaged in clinical practice, research or studies involving the use of veterinary medical, surgical or dental procedures within a hospital, clinic or laboratory owned by such school of veterinary medicine, surgery or dentistry, or (6) owner of any animal or livestock or his or her employee while administering to such animal or livestock.
(1949 Rev., S. 4606; 1957, P.A. 360, S. 7; P.A. 86-123, S. 7; P.A. 03-198, S. 2; P.A. 04-257, S. 40; P.A. 19-118, S. 76.)
History: P.A. 86-123 specified that out-of-state licensees may serve as consultants for not more than 10 days and deleted provision prohibiting construction of chapter so as to prohibit a registered physician from prescribing for domestic animals; P.A. 03-198 excluded owners of animals who are administering to their animals from requirement to have veterinary license and made a technical change; P.A. 04-257 made technical changes, effective June 14, 2004; P.A. 19-118 designated existing provisions re application of chapter as Subdivs. (1) to (4) and (6), replaced “educational institution” with “institution of higher education” and added provisions re administration of medical, surgical or dental procedures to an animal or livestock in Subdiv. (4), added Subdiv. (5) re faculty member, resident, student or intern employed by school of veterinary medicine, surgery or dentistry, and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2019.
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Sec. 20-205a. Disposition of abandoned animals. Any veterinarian may dispose of any animal abandoned in his establishment, provided he shall give notice of his intention to do so to the owner at his last-known address by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, and shall allow a period of fifteen days to elapse after the receipt is returned before disposing of such animal; but, if the owner cannot be located at such address, the veterinarian shall give such notice by publication in a newspaper having a circulation in the town in which such owner was last known to reside, and shall allow a period of fifteen days to elapse after such publication before disposing of such animal.
(1959, P.A. 345; P.A. 81-137.)
History: P.A. 81-137 reduced from 30 to 15 the number of days a veterinarian must maintain an abandoned animal after giving notice of his intention to dispose of the animal.
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Sec. 20-205b. Euthanization of cat or dog by licensed veterinarian. Exceptions. Penalty. Defense. (a) Whenever any cat or dog is euthanized, such euthanization shall be performed in a humane manner by a licensed veterinarian, provided nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the killing of any cat or dog while such cat or dog is attacking a person or another animal under circumstances where a reasonable person would consider such attack life threatening to a person or another animal or likely to cause serious physical injury to a person or another animal. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to apply to (1) the euthanization of any farm animal or livestock, (2) the euthanization of any cat or dog by any law enforcement officer in the course of his or her duties or as described in section 20-197, (3) the euthanization of any dog in accordance with the provisions of section 22-332b and regulations adopted under said section, or (4) the euthanization of any animal in a facility subject to regulation by the United States Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare or the United States Department of Agriculture.
(b) Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
(c) It shall be a defense to prosecution under this section that such person euthanized such cat or dog with a life-threatening injury or condition in order to prevent such cat's or dog's further suffering.
(P.A. 13-236, S. 1; P.A. 14-226, S. 4.)
History: P.A. 13-236 effective July 2, 2013; P.A. 14-226 amended Subsec. (a)(4) by adding “or the United States Department of Agriculture”, effective June 13, 2014.
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Sec. 20-206. Penalty. (a) Any person who practices veterinary medicine, surgery or dentistry in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to the disciplinary actions specified in section 19a-17.
(b) Any person not licensed as provided in this chapter who represents himself as a veterinarian or, having had his license suspended or revoked continues to represent himself as a veterinarian or carries on veterinary medicine, surgery or dentistry as defined in section 20-197, shall be fined not more than three hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than six months or both. Failure to renew a license in a timely manner shall not constitute a violation for the purposes of this subsection. Any such person shall be enjoined from such practice by the Superior Court upon application by the Connecticut Board of Veterinary Medicine. The Department of Public Health may, on its own initiative or at the request of the board, investigate any alleged violation of this chapter or any regulations adopted thereunder.
(1949 Rev., S. 4608; P.A. 85-314; P.A. 86-123, S. 9; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 98-166, S. 2, 9.)
History: P.A. 85-314 was incorporated as Subsec. (b) through editorial action; P.A. 86-123 changed name of board from “board of veterinary registration and examination” to “Connecticut board of veterinary medicine”; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 98-166 amended Subsec. (a) to change penalty from fine and imprisonment to disciplinary actions under Sec. 19a-17, effective June 4, 1998.
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