(1) This chapter shall be known as the Kentucky Veterinary Medicine Practice Act. (2) It is hereby declared that: (a) The practices of veterinary medicine, veterinary technology, animal euthanasia, and allied animal health professionals and the operation of veterinary facilities, AAHP facilities, and board -certified animal control agencies are privileges which are granted by legislative authority and are subject to regulation and control in the interest of public health, safety, and welfare to protect the public from: 1. Being misled by incompetent, unscrupulous, and unauthorized practitioners; 2. Unprofessional or illegal practices by persons licensed to practice veterinary medicine, veterinary technology, animal euthanasia, and the allied animal health professions; 3. Substandard care; and 4. Unlicensed persons; (b) It is a matter of public interest and concern that the practices of veterinary medicine, veterinary technology, animal euthanasia, and allied animal health professions working on animals merit and receive the confidence of the public and that only qualified individuals be permitted to practice these professions in the Commonwealth. This chapter shall be liberally construed to carry out these objectives and purposes; (c) The intent of this chapter is to regulate the professions of veterinary medicine, veterinary technology, animal euthanasia, and allied animal health professional work on animals and to establish standards for veterinary premises and AAHP premises, both fix ed and mobile, and shall result in displacing competition by restricting licensure, permitting, certification, and registration to practice these professions, as this practice is defined and interpreted by the board, to persons and premises determined by t he board to be qualified under this chapter; and (d) Any resulting restriction on competition is outweighed by the broader interest in protection of the public health, safety, and welfare. It is understood that the regulatory structure calls for veterinari ans, veterinary technicians, AAHPs, and citizens at large to serve on the board and this chapter recognizes the need for professional expertise provided by veterinarians and veterinary technicians serving the public interest. (3) This chapter is intended t o provide active oversight and supervision through its legislative enactment, the promulgation of administrative regulations, the appointment of board members by the Governor, legal representation of the board by competent counsel, legislative appropriatio n of moneys and spending authority to support the board, and engagement in the administrative regulation review process under the auspices of the Legislative Research Commission. (4) It is the purpose of this chapter to promote, preserve, and protect the p ublic health, safety, and welfare by and through the licensure, permitting, certification, registration, and regulation of individuals, whether physically located within or outside of the Commonwealth, who practice veterinary medicine, veterinary technology, animal euthanasia, and AAHP services within Kentucky, and the registration of veterinary facility locations, AAHP facility locations, and mobile facilities where veterinary medicine or AAHP activities are being practiced. In furtherance of this purpose, the Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners is created, and its members, functions, and procedures shall be established in accordance with this chapter. (5) The purpose of this chapter is to establish a comprehensive scheme to fully occupy the fields of ve terinary medicine, veterinary technology, AAHP work on animals, and animal euthanasia, and provide a uniform regulatory scheme to be enforced by the Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners as defined in the scopes of practice.
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