S3971

An Act concerning institutional licensure for veterinarians and supplementing chapter 16 of Title 45 of the Revised Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. a. An individual who practices veterinary medicine, dentistry, and surgery as an employee of an accredited veterinary school in the State shall be:

(1) currently licensed in the State as a veterinarian; or

(2) eligible for institutional licensure in the State as a veterinarian and issued an institutional license to practice veterinary medicine, dentistry, and surgery only as it relates to the individual’s regular function as an employee of the accredited veterinary school.

b. An individual seeking institutional licensure shall submit to the board:

(1) documentation, as determined by the board, demonstrating proof that the applicant has been awarded a degree in veterinary medicine and has passed the New Jersey Jurisprudence Examination;

(2) proof of the applicant’s employment at, or offer of employment from, an accredited veterinary school in the State;

(3) certification that the applicant understands and agrees that the institutional license shall only be valid for the practice of veterinary medicine, dentistry, and surgery associated with the applicant’s employment at the accredited veterinary school where the applicant is or will be employed;

(4) a fee as determined by the board; and

(5) any other information required by the board through regulation.

c. An accredited veterinary school in the State may submit applications for institutional licensure of its employees or future employees to the board in a compiled format accessible to the board and with a single form of payment for the applicable fees.

d. An institutional license issued pursuant to this section shall be revoked by the board upon receipt of information that indicates the licensee is no longer employed at an accredited veterinary school in the State.

e. An individual licensed pursuant to this section shall act in compliance with all existing laws and regulations governing the practice of veterinary medicine, dentistry, and surgery in the State.

f. In accordance with chapter 16 of Title 45 of the Revised Statutes:

(1) practicing veterinary medicine beyond the scope of an institutional license shall be the equivalent of practicing veterinary medicine, dentistry, and surgery without a license, and shall be grounds for discipline; and

(2) an institutional license issued pursuant to this section may be revoked or suspended or the licensee may be otherwise disciplined.

g. An individual issued an institutional license pursuant to this section shall be remunerated for the practice of veterinary medicine, dentistry, and surgery within the State solely from State, federal, or institutional funds and not from the patient-owner beneficiary of the individual’s practice efforts.

2. The State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), shall adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this act.

3. This act shall take effect on the first day of the 18th month next following the date of enactment, except that the board may take any anticipatory administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act.

STATEMENT

This bill establishes an institutional license for individuals to practice veterinary medicine, dentistry, and surgery while employed at an accredited veterinary school in the State.

Under the bill, an institutional license would permit the licensee to practice veterinary medicine, dentistry, and surgery only as it relates to the licensee’s regular function as an employee of an accredited veterinary school in the State. The bill requires applicants for institutional licensure to submit proof, as determined by the board, (1) that the applicant has been awarded a degree in veterinary medicine and has passed the New Jersey Jurisprudence Examination; (2) proof of employment at, or an offer of employment from, an accredited veterinary school in the State; and (3) certification that the applicant understands the institutional license only permits the licensee to practice veterinary medicine, dentistry, and surgery in association with the licensee’s employment at an accredited veterinary school in the State.

The bill also permits an accredited veterinary school in the State to submit applications for institutional licensure on behalf of employees and future employees of the school in a compiled format and with one form of payment for the applicable fees.

The board is required by the bill to revoke an institutional license upon receipt of information by the board that indicates the licensee is no longer employed at an accredited veterinary school in the State.

A veterinarian issued an institutional license under the provisions of the bill is required to act in compliance with all other regulations governing veterinarians licensed in the State and is required to be remunerated solely from State, federal, or institutional funds and not from the patient-owner beneficiary of the veterinarian’s practice efforts.