Chapter 032

2013 -- H 5595

Enacted 05/24/13

A N A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS - VETERINARY PRACTICE

Introduced By: Representatives DeSimone, Palangio, Lima, Palumbo, and Slater

Date Introduced: February 27, 2013

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 5-25-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-25 entitled "Veterinary

Practice" is hereby amended to read as follows:

5-25-11. Licensing of veterinarians. -- (a) By Examination. - The applicant is required

to pass, with a grade determined by the division, an examination approved by the division; upon

payment of an examination fee as set forth in section 23-1-54 every candidate who passes that

examination, and in the opinion of the division meets the qualifications of section 5-25-10, shall,

upon payment of an initial license fee, which shall be equal to the biennial license renewal fee in

effect, be issued a license to practice veterinary medicine. Veterinarians licensed under the

provisions of this chapter on August 31, 1985 shall continue to be licensed.

      (b) Without Examination by Endorsement. - A license to practice veterinary medicine

may be issued without examination to an applicant who has been duly licensed by examination as

a veterinarian under the laws of another state or territory or District of Columbia, if, in the

opinion of the division, the applicant meets the qualifications required of veterinarians in this

state, as further defined in rules and regulations.

(c) Emergency or natural disaster. A veterinarian who is properly and currently licensed

or credentialed in another state may practice, without written examination or other qualification,

in the state of Rhode Island during an emergency or natural disaster as determined by the Rhode

Island state veterinarian or the director of the division of agriculture. Said veterinarian shall

provide only those services that are at the direction of the Rhode Island state veterinarian or the

chief of the division of agriculture and are directly related to a response to an emergency or

natural disaster and only until the services of the veterinarian are no longer required as

determined by the Rhode Island state veterinarian or the chief of the division of agriculture.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC01674

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