BOARD OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

Initial Agency Notice

Title of Regulation: 18VAC150-20. Regulations Governing the Practice of Veterinary Medicine.

Statutory Authority: § 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.

Name of Petitioner: Diane C. Carey.

Nature of Petitioner's Request:

1. All animal hospitals must post in each examination room and at the sign in (reception desk) a notice with the hours that the hospital is staffed, including a notice that the hospital is not staffed after business hours if that is applicable. This notice shall be prominently displayed in each examination room and at the sign in desk. This notice shall be at least 7 inches by 11 inches with a minimum font of 36.

2. All clients must be given a copy of the disclosure form that states the hours of the hospital for the clients to keep in their home files.

3. Any time that an animal is being kept overnight, the animal hospital must obtain a new signed disclosure form stating the hours and a copy is to be given to the client at the time the animal is left at the hospital.

Agency's Plan for Disposition of Request: In accordance with Virginia law, the petition has been filed with the Register of Regulations and will be published on January 2, 2012. Comment on the petition may be sent by email or regular mail, or posted on the Virginia Regulatory Townhall at www.townhall.virginia.gov; comment will be accepted until January 23, 2012. Following receipt of all comments on the petition to amend regulations, the board will decide whether to make any changes to the regulatory language. This matter will be on the board's agenda for its meeting scheduled for February 15, 2012, and the petitioner will be informed of the board's decision after that meeting.

Public Comment Deadline: January 23, 2012.

Agency Contact: Elaine J. Yeatts, Agency Regulatory Coordinator, Department of Health Professions, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4688, or email elaine.yeatts@dhp.virginia.gov.

VA.R. Doc. No. R12-14; Filed December 6, 2011, 10:23 a.m.