Section 34-29-88

Premise permits - Required; fees; inspection; revocation, etc.; closure and imposition of penalties; renewal; requirements for satellite on mobile clinics.

(a) Any facility, including mobile clinics or any other premises where a licensed veterinarian practices shall have a premise permit issued by the board. Upon application and payment of a premise permit fee and an inspection fee, if necessary to cover the cost of inspection, the board shall cause a facility to be inspected. A premise permit shall be issued if the facility meets minimum standards to be adopted by the administrative code of the board as to sanitary conditions and physical plant. In lieu of the above procedure, the board may issue a premise permit to any premise which is accredited by a recognized organization whose standards meet or exceed minimum board standards as established by the administrative code of the board.

(b) Each application for premise permit shall set forth the names of all licensed veterinarians who shall be responsible for the management of the premises.

(c) The premise permit may be revoked, suspended, or denied when inspection reveals that the premises do not meet the standards set by the administrative code of the board or when the license of the responsible veterinarian or veterinarians has been suspended or revoked.

(d) The board may cause the closure of a facility and impose a penalty against any owner, operator, or responsible veterinarian of any premises operating without a premise permit in violation of this section or in violation of the administrative code of the board. No penalties so imposed shall exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each count or separate offense. In order that the board and the executive director may determine whether or not a danger to the public or to animals exists, the executive director or investigators employed by the board may conduct inspections or investigations of premises suspected of being in violation of any rule of the board. If a violation is found in conducting an inspection which is determined to be a hazard and a danger to the public or to animals, the executive director may suspend that premise permit until further notice.

(e) All premise permits shall be renewed yearly by payment of a fee to the board.

(f) Veterinary facilities shall be reinspected periodically as determined by the board.

(g) Premise permits issued to satellite, outpatient, or mobile small animal clinics shall state the name of the full service veterinary facility in that locale providing emergency and after hours service. Premise permits issued to mobile large animal clinics shall state the name of the full service veterinary facility in that locale providing radiology, emergency, and after hours service. Mobile clinics operating in more than one locale, i.e. city, shall have a premise permit for each locale. If the agreement between the outpatient, satellite, mobile large animal clinic, mobile small animal clinic, and the full service veterinary clinic providing back-up service ceases, the board shall be notified immediately and a new agreement for back-up service shall be provided before the issuance of a new premise permit.

(Acts 1986, No. 86-500, p. 956, §29; Acts 1987, No. 87-794, p. 1557, §9; Acts 1997, No. 97-249, p. 431, §1.)