HB 970 -- Veterinarians

Co-Sponsors:  Hampton, Leake, Koller, Wiggins

This bill contains provisions regarding veterinarians.  The bill:

(1)  Allows the Veterinary Medical Board to permit individuals
from other countries or territories to be eligible as consulting
veterinarians;

(2)  Establishes provisional licenses for persons engaged in
veterinarian candidacy programs;

(3)  Creates definitions for the veterinary candidacy program
and veterinary intern;

(4)  Allows the board to establish continuing education
requirements;

(5)  Allows veterinarians to practice as an employee of a
corporation, partnership, or other business as long as the
veterinarian is not subject to the direction of anyone who is
not licensed as a veterinarian in this state in making medical
decisions;

(6)  Contains provisions regarding application, examination, and
licensure;

(7)  Establishes reciprocity requirements;

(8)  Allows the board to issue veterinary faculty licenses to
qualified applicants associated with the University of Missouri
College of Veterinary Medicine;

(9)  Creates a noncurrent license status for licensees who fail
to renew their licenses;

(10)  Removes any liability against any veterinarian who in good
faith offers and renders emergency treatment to a sick or
injured animal.  This is not an immunity for acts of gross
negligence; and

(11)  Contains provisions relating to the qualifications,
applications, examinations, and licensure of veterinary
technicians.