Board of Veterinary Medicine public meetings in 2022

Board of Veterinary Medicine

The Louisiana Board of Veterinary Medicine will consider the proposed FY 2023 budget, a contract amendment for VTNE testing accommodations, and rule changes on preceptorship and expedited licensure. The board will also address several applicant requests for waivers of preceptorship and NAVLE retake, and enter executive session for updates on civil litigation and non-licensee practice claims.

• Proposed budget for FY 2023
• Proposed AAVSB contract amendment related to testing accommodations for VTNE
• Status update on rule change for preceptorship requirement for DVM licensure (LAC 46LXXXV.Chapter 12)
• Amendment to Policy 5.04 on purchasing (bids, vendors, initiating purchases)
• Executive session on civil litigation (equine dentistry) and non-licensee practice claims

The Board approved the FY 2024 proposed budget and authorized a $100,000 certificate of deposit purchase. Several licensure waivers were granted, while one request for a NAVLE retake waiver was denied. The Board also updated its purchasing policy and approved a rule modification notice.

• Approved proposed FY 2024 budget (unanimous)
• Authorized purchase of $100,000 6-month CD (unanimous)
• Approved AAVSB contract amendment for VTNE testing accommodations (unanimous)
• Approved Notice of Intent for Rule Modification LAC 46LXXXV.100.105 (unanimous)
• Approved amendment to Policy 5.04 regarding purchasing and bids (unanimous)
• Ratified new DVM, RVT, and CAET licenses issued 09/24/22 to 11/15/22 (unanimous)
• Approved 1.0 hour of CE credit for HPFLA presentations (unanimous)
• Denied NAVLE retake and preceptorship waiver for Lara Stooksbury (unanimous)

Board of Veterinary Medicine

The Louisiana Board of Veterinary Medicine will meet to review financial reports, discuss proposed rule changes including waivers for the NAVLE and VTNE exams and the preceptorship requirement for DVM licensure, and consider administrative hearings and licensee status changes. The board will also enter executive session for personnel and litigation matters.

• Discussion of rule changes: NAVLE waiver, VTNE waiver, and RVT State Board Exam requirement (LAC 46LXXXV.303.803)
• Discussion of preceptorship requirement for DVM licensure (LAC 46LXXXV.Chapter 12)
• Expedited licensure for active military and spouses
• Administrative hearings: Case #19-0405 (DT) and Case #22-0411 (AB)
• Executive session: maximum employee wage increase, civil litigation update, probation violation, and claims of non-licensee practicing veterinary medicine

The Board adopted a new Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) policy and approved the FY2022 annual fiscal report and audit updates. Members authorized the purchase of 6-month CDs and ratified numerous new professional licenses. The Board also issued a $250 fine and ordered $1,250 in restitution for a licensee who performed unauthorized dental extractions.

• Approved new ADA policy for adoption into Policy Manual (unanimous)
• Authorized rolling two maturing CDs ($170,000 and $150,000) into 6-month CDs (unanimous)
• Accepted FY2022 Annual Fiscal Report and audit update (unanimous)
• Approved Consent Order fining veterinarian $250 and ordering $1,250 restitution (unanimous)
• Approved status change to Inactive Retired for five DVMs (unanimous)
• Granted preceptorship and NAVLE retake waivers for five DVM applicants (unanimous)
• Set maximum employee wage increase at 7% for FY2023 (unanimous)
• Approved 2023 board meeting dates (unanimous)

Board of Veterinary Medicine

The Board will review financial reports, CD investments, and a contract for a new auditor. Members are also scheduled to discuss various rule-making items including exam requirements, fee increases, and preceptorships.

• Contract with new auditor for FY 2022-2024
• DVM faculty state board exam requirement and fee discussions
• DVM faculty application/renewal fee increases
• Rule review for online continuing education hours
• Preceptorship waiver requests from several applicants

The Board approved the discontinuation of the Preceptor Program as a licensure requirement and denied requests to remove limits on online continuing education hours. It also authorized the rollover of $320,000 in CDs into 6-month terms and approved a revised Board Policy Manual.

• Approved discontinuation of Preceptor Program for DVM licensure (unanimous)
• Denied request to remove limits on online continuing education hours (unanimous)
• Denied request to require chip scanning for all new patients (unanimous)
• Authorized rollover of two CDs ($170,000 and $150,000) into 6-month terms (unanimous)
• Approved revised Board Policy Manual (unanimous)
• Approved final rule for NAVLE/VTNE waivers and RVT exam requirements (unanimous)
• Approved clarification of rules to exempt faculty license applicants from Jurisprudence exam (unanimous)
• Approved licensure waivers for Dominique Capaldo, Amanda Ensor, Laurie Millward, Kelsey Savell, Alissa St. Blanc, Robin Tolmer-Paterson, and Natalie Wong (unanimous)

Board of Veterinary Medicine

The Board conducted a second public hearing regarding proposed amendments to LAC 46LXXXV.303.803. The session focused on NAVLE waivers, VINE waivers, and RVT state jurisprudence requirements. No written comments were received and no decisions were recorded during this hearing.

• Conducted second public hearing on Regulatory Project 2022-1

Board of Veterinary Medicine

The Louisiana Board of Veterinary Medicine will discuss and potentially act on proposed rule changes including waivers for NAVLE and VTNE exams, expedited licensure for active military and spouses, and fee increases for DVM faculty. The board will also consider financial reports, a budget amendment, contract authority, and a VTNE contract adoption. Additionally, there are numerous requests from DVM applicants for waivers of preceptorship and NAVLE retakes, and a consent order in an administrative hearing.

• FY2022 Year-End Budget Amendment
• VTNE Contract Adoption
• Status update on LAC 46LXXXV.303.803 (NAVLE/VTNE waivers)
• Discussion on DVM faculty exam fee and application fee increases
• Consent Order – Case #18-1220

The Board elected new officers effective August 1, 2022, and approved a budget amendment and CD purchases. It voted to reduce the weekly work hour requirement for NAVLE and VTNE exam waivers from 32 to 20 hours. The Board also ratified several new licenses and approved multiple preceptorship waivers for DVM applicants.

• Elected Dr. Alfred Stevens (President), Dr. Trisha Marullo (Vice-President), and Dr. Larry Findley Sr (Secretary-Treasurer) (Unanimous)
• Reduced average weekly hours for NAVLE and VTNE waiver eligibility from 32 to 20 hours (Unanimous)
• Approved FY2022 year-end budget amendment (Unanimous)
• Authorized purchase of a $75,000 6-month CD and renewal of a maturing CD (Unanimous)
• Adopted VTNE as a requirement for Louisiana veterinary technician certification (Unanimous)
• Approved Consent Order for Case #18-1220 involving fines, ethics CE, and community service (Unanimous)
• Ratified all new licenses and certificates issued from 03/19/22 to 05/13/22 (Unanimous)
• Approved preceptorship and NAVLE retake waivers for 12 DVM applicants (Unanimous)

Board of Veterinary Medicine

The Louisiana Board of Veterinary Medicine is holding a public hearing to solicit comments and testimony regarding Regulatory Project 2022-1. This project involves proposed changes to NAVLE waivers, VTNE waivers, and RVT state jurisprudence requirements.

• Public hearing on NAVLE waiver, VTNE waiver, and RVT State Jurisprudence Requirement

The Board held a public hearing to receive comments on proposed amendments to LAC 46LXXXV.303.803 regarding NAVLE and VTNE waivers and RVT state jurisprudence requirements. Three attendees presented comments. No final decisions were made during this hearing; the Board scheduled a meeting for June 2, 2022, to consider the comments and amendment language.

Board of Veterinary Medicine

The Louisiana Board of Veterinary Medicine will consider rule-making updates including waivers for the NAVLE and VTNE exams, and a proposal for expedited licensure for active military members and their spouses. The board will also review a preceptorship site application from Chimp Haven. Several consent agenda opinions on topics like recordkeeping and non-veterinarian ownership will be addressed.

• Rule proposal: Expedited licensure for active military and spouses
• Status update: NAVLE waiver, VTNE waiver, and RVT state board exam requirement
• Review of Chimp Haven application for preceptorship site approval
• Answered consent opinions on recordkeeping, non-veterinarian ownership, and pet crematory licensing
• DVM applicant requests for waivers of preceptorship and NAVLE retake (6 applicants)

The Board ratified several new professional licenses and approved licensure waivers for five DVM applicants. It also granted limited preceptorship site approval to Chimp Haven and approved conference attendance for the Executive Director.

• Approved 17 new licenses and certificates (unanimous)
• Granted Limited Approval for Chimp Haven preceptorship site (unanimous)
• Approved NAVLE and preceptorship waivers for Jonathan Bergmann and Alana Canupp (unanimous)
• Approved preceptorship waivers for Bianca Le, Ashton J. Richardson, and John Trahan (unanimous)
• Denied NAVLE and preceptorship waiver for Lara Stooksbury (unanimous)
• Approved Executive Director attendance at 2022 FARB and IPMA-HR conferences (unanimous)
• Accepted January and February 2022 financial reports (unanimous)
• Ratified responses to 11 general and consent agenda opinions (unanimous)

Board of Veterinary Medicine

The Board will review financial reports, the FY2021 audit report, and various rule proposals. The agenda includes discussions on licensing requirements and specific applicant requests for preceptorship waivers.

• Review of FY2021 Audit Report
• AAVSB State Jurisprudence Exam Administration Contract
• Rule Proposal: NAVLE/VTNE Requirement & Waiver for DVMs/RVTs
• Rule Proposal: State Board Exam Requirement for RVT Apps
• Preceptorship waiver requests for Katie Burchfield, Samantha E. Freudenthal, Claire E. Hannah, and Arturo J. Otamendi

The Board approved filing rule changes to provide more discretion for NAVLE waivers for DVMs and to replace the RVT state practical exam with a state board examination. The Board also ratified several new licenses and approved preceptorship and exam waivers for four DVM applicants.

• Approved rule change to allow greater discretion for NAVLE retake waivers for out-of-state DVMs (Unanimous)
• Approved rule change to replace RVT state practical exam with a state board examination (Unanimous)
• Approved AAVSB contract for online jurisprudence exams pending liability language changes (Unanimous)
• Ratified new licenses and certificates issued from 11/11/21 to 01/19/22 (Unanimous)
• Approved 2021-2022 Spring Newsletter with editorial changes (Unanimous)
• Approved preceptorship waiver for Katie Burchfield (Unanimous)
• Approved NAVLE retake and preceptorship waivers for Samantha E. Freudenthal (Unanimous)
• Approved preceptorship waivers for Claire E. Hannah and Arturo J. Otamendi (Unanimous)