10. Continuing Veterinary Education for Veterinarians and Veterinary Technicians.
Another chapter, VE 11, Veterinary Professional Assistance Program, is currently in the rule-making process. These eleven smaller chapters would be condensed into three larger chapters. Additional chapters may be created if necessary. Each chapter would include applicable definitions.
It is contemplated that existing procedures, but no new policies, will be reflected in the proposed rule. All fees will remain the same but will be codified in the proposed rule.
Should the VEB not modify the existing rule, the amounts of fees will not be specified in the code. Furthermore, current requirements relating to veterinarians and veterinary technicians will remain scattered across multiple rules, making the rules more opaque and more difficult to understand.
3. Statutory authority for the rule (including the statutory citation and language):
Under Wis. Stat. ch. 89, the VEB has the authority and an obligation to “promulgate rules… establishing the scope of practice permitted for veterinarians and veterinary technicians.” The VEB “shall review the rules at least once every 5 years to determine whether they are consistent with current practice.” Wis. Stat. § 89.03. The VEB must “promulgate rules requiring training and continuing education sufficient to assure competency of veterinarians and veterinary technicians in the practice of veterinary medicine” and may “promulgate rules relating to licensure qualifications, denial of a license, certification, or temporary permit, unprofessional conduct, and disciplinary proceedings.” Wis. Stat. § 89.03. Regarding the authority pertaining to fees, the statutes grant authority to the Department who “shall determine by rule the fees for each initial license, certification, and permit issued.” Wis. Stat. § 89.063. 4. Estimate of the amount of time that state employees will spend to develop the rule and of other resources necessary to develop the rule:
The Department estimates that it will use approximately .50 FTE staff to develop this rule. That calculation includes time required for investigation and analysis, drafting the rule, preparing related documents, coordinating advisory committee meetings, holding public hearings, and communicating with affected persons and groups. The Department will use existing staff to develop this rule.
5. Description of all entities that may be impacted by the rule:
This rule will have a direct impact on veterinarians and veterinary technicians licensed by the VEB.
6. Summary and preliminary comparison of any existing or proposed federal regulation that is intended to address the activities to be regulated by the rule:
Pursuant to 9 CFR 160 to 162, a veterinarian must be specifically authorized by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to perform animal disease eradication and control functions under federal animal health laws. Licensure requirements to practice veterinary medicine are established by each state and should not be affected by federal requirements.
7. Anticipated economic impact:
The Department expects the proposed rule to have no economic impact or at most a minimal impact.
Contact Person: Melissa Mace, Acting Executive Director, Veterinary Examining Board; (608) 224-4883
I, Melissa Mace, Acting Executive Director of the Veterinary Examining Board, the Board having submitted this statement of scope before the Governor of the state of Wisconsin and now in receipt of his approval dated August 22, 2018, hereby approve this statement of scope as evidenced by my signature below.
