4800-4811
BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE
SECTION 4800-4811
4800. (a) There is in the Department of Consumer Affairs a Veterinary Medical Board in which the administration of this chapter is vested. The board consists of the following members: (1) Four licensed veterinarians. (2) One registered veterinary technician. (3) Three public members. (b) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2014, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2014, deletes or extends that date. (c) The repeal of this section renders the board subject to the review provided for by Division 1.2 (commencing with Section 473). 4800.1. Protection of the public shall be the highest priority for the Veterinary Medical Board in exercising its licensing, regulatory, and disciplinary functions. Whenever the protection of the public is inconsistent with other interests sought to be promoted, the protection of the public shall be paramount. 4801. (a) Each veterinarian member of the board shall be a bona fide resident of this state for a period of at least five years immediately preceding his or her appointment and shall have been a licensed veterinarian under this chapter and actually engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine in this state during that period. (b) The registered veterinary technician member of the board shall be a bona fide resident of this state for a period of at least five years immediately preceding his or her appointment and shall have been registered under this chapter and actually engaged in the practice of a registered veterinary technician in this state during that period. (c) Each public member of the board shall be a bona fide resident of this state for a period of at least five years immediately preceding his or her appointment and shall not be a licensee or registrant of the board, any other board under this division, or any board referred to in Section 1000 or 3600. (d) No person shall serve as a member of the board for more than two consecutive terms. 4802. The members of the board shall hold office for a term of four years. Each member shall serve until the appointment and qualification of his or her successor or until one year shall have elapsed since the expiration of the term for which he or she was appointed, whichever first occurs. A member may be reappointed subject to the limitation contained in Section 4801. Vacancies occurring shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired term, within 90 days after they occur. The Governor shall appoint the four veterinarian members, the one registered veterinary technician member, and one public member, qualified as provided in Section 4801. The Senate Committee on Rules and the Speaker of the Assembly shall each appoint a public member, qualified as provided in Section 4801. 4803. The Governor may, in his judgment, remove any member of the board for neglect of duty or other sufficient cause, after due notice and hearing. 4804. The board shall elect a president, vice president, and any other officers of the board as shall be necessary, from its membership. The Attorney General shall act as counsel for the board and the members thereof in their official or individual capacity for any act done under the color of official right. 4804.5. The board may appoint a person exempt from civil service who shall be designated as an executive officer and who shall exercise the powers and perform the duties delegated by the board and vested in him or her by this chapter. This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2014, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2014, deletes or extends that date. 4805. The executive officer of the board may administer oaths or affirmations upon matters pertaining to the business of the board. Any person willfully making any false oath or affirmation is guilty of perjury. 4806. Each member of the board shall receive a per diem and expenses as provided in Section 103. 4807. Five members of the board constitute a quorum for transaction of business at any meeting of the board. 4808. The board may in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, adopt, amend, or repeal rules and regulations that are reasonably necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this chapter. The board may hold meetings that are necessary for the transaction of business. It shall issue all licenses to practice veterinary medicine and all registrations to practice as a veterinary technician in this state. 4809. The board shall keep an official record of its meetings, and it shall also keep an official register of all applicants for licenses. The register shall be prima facie evidence of all matters contained therein. 4809.5. The board may at any time inspect the premises in which veterinary medicine, veterinary dentistry, or veterinary surgery is being practiced. 4809.6. The enforcement of Sections 4809.5 and 4854 of this chapter is a function exclusively reserved to the Veterinary Medical Board and the state has preempted and occupied this field of enforcing the cleanliness and sanitary requirements of this chapter. 4809.7. The board shall establish a regular inspection program which will provide for random, unannounced inspections. 4809.8. (a) The board shall establish an advisory committee to assist, advise, and make recommendations for the implementation of rules and regulations necessary to ensure proper administration and enforcement of this chapter and to assist the board in its examination, licensure, and registration programs. This committee shall be known as the Veterinary Medicine Multidisciplinary Advisory Committee. Members of the multidisciplinary committee shall be appointed by the board from lists of nominees solicited by the board. The committee shall consist of the following seven members: four licensed veterinarians, two registered veterinary technicians, and one public member. Members of the multidisciplinary committee shall represent a sufficient cross section of the interests in veterinary medicine in order to address the issues before it, as determined by the board, including veterinarians, registered veterinary technicians, and members of the public. (b) Multidisciplinary committee members shall hold office for a term of three years and appointments shall be staggered accordingly. A member may be reappointed, but no person shall serve as a member of the committee for more than two consecutive terms. Vacancies occurring shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired term, within 90 days after they occur. (c) The multidisciplinary committee shall be subject to the requirements of Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. (d) Multidisciplinary committee members shall receive a per diem as provided in Section 103 and shall be compensated for their actual travel expenses in accordance with the rules and regulations adopted by the Department of Personnel Administration. (e) The board may remove a member of the multidisciplinary committee for continued neglect of a duty required by this chapter, for incompetency, or for unprofessional conduct. 4810. (a) As used in this chapter: (1) "Board" means the Veterinary Medical Board. (2) "Committee" means the Registered Veterinary Technician Committee. (3) "Multidisciplinary committee" means the Veterinary Medicine Multidisciplinary Advisory Committee established pursuant to Section 4809.8. (4) "Regulations" means the rules and regulations set forth in Division 20 (commencing with Section 2000) of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations. (b) This section shall become inoperative on the July 1 following the initial appointment of a registered veterinary technician to the board, and on the January 1 following that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before that January 1, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed. 4810. (a) As used in this chapter: (1) "Board" means the Veterinary Medical Board. (2) "Multidisciplinary committee" means the Veterinary Medicine Multidisciplinary Advisory Committee established pursuant to Section 4809.8. (3) "Regulations" means the rules and regulations set forth in Division 20 (commencing with Section 2000) of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations. (b) This section shall become operative on the July 1 following the initial appointment of a registered veterinary technician to the board. 4811. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Veterinary Medicine Practice Act."