(A) The state veterinary medical licensing board may refuse to issue or renew a license, limited license, registration, or temporary permit to or of any applicant who, and may issue a reprimand to, suspend or revoke the license, limited license, registration, or the temporary permit of, or impose a civil penalty pursuant to this section upon any person holding a license, limited license, or temporary permit to practice veterinary medicine or any person registered as a registered veterinary technician who:

(1) In the conduct of the person's practice does not conform to the rules of the board or the standards of the profession governing proper, humane, sanitary, and hygienic methods to be used in the care and treatment of animals;

(2) Uses fraud, misrepresentation, or deception in any application or examination for licensure, or any other documentation created in the course of practicing veterinary medicine;

(3) Is found to be physically or psychologically addicted to alcohol or an illegal or controlled substance, as defined in section 3719.01 of the Revised Code, to such a degree as to render the person unfit to practice veterinary medicine;

(4) Directly or indirectly employs or lends the person's services to a solicitor for the purpose of obtaining patients;

(5) Obtains a fee on the assurance that an incurable disease can be cured;

(6) Advertises in a manner that violates section 4741.21 of the Revised Code;

(7) Divides fees or charges or has any arrangement to share fees or charges with any other person, except on the basis of services performed;

(8) Sells any biologic containing living, dead, or sensitized organisms or products of those organisms, except in a manner that the board by rule has prescribed;

(9) Is convicted of or pleads guilty to any felony or crime involving illegal or prescription drugs, or fails to report to the board within sixty days of the individual's conviction of, plea of guilty to, or treatment in lieu of conviction involving a felony, misdemeanor of the first degree, or offense involving illegal or prescription drugs;

(10) Is convicted of any violation of section 959.13 of the Revised Code;

(11) Swears falsely in any affidavit required to be made by the person in the course of the practice of veterinary medicine;

(12) Fails to report promptly to the proper official any known reportable disease;

(13) Fails to report promptly vaccinations or the results of tests when required to do so by law or rule;

(14) Has been adjudicated incompetent for the purpose of holding the license or permit by a court, as provided in Chapter 2111. of the Revised Code, and has not been restored to legal capacity for that purpose;

(15) Permits a person who is not a licensed veterinarian, a veterinary student, or a registered veterinary technician to engage in work or perform duties in violation of this chapter;

(16) Is guilty of gross incompetence or gross negligence;

(17) Has had a license to practice veterinary medicine or a license, registration, or certificate to engage in activities as a registered veterinary technician revoked, suspended, or acted against by disciplinary action by an agency similar to this board of another state, territory, or country or the District of Columbia;

(18) Is or has practiced with a revoked, suspended, inactive, expired, or terminated license or registration;

(19) Represents self as a specialist unless certified as a specialist by the board;

(20) In the person's capacity as a veterinarian or registered veterinary technician makes or files a report, health certificate, vaccination certificate, or other document that the person knows is false or negligently or intentionally fails to file a report or record required by any applicable state or federal law;

(21) Fails to use reasonable care in the administration of drugs or acceptable scientific methods in the selection of those drugs or other modalities for treatment of a disease or in conduct of surgery;

(22) Makes available a dangerous drug, as defined in section 4729.01 of the Revised Code, to any person other than for the specific treatment of an animal patient;

(23) Refuses to permit a board investigator or the board's designee to inspect the person's business premises during regular business hours, except as provided in division (A) of section 4741.26 of the Revised Code;

(24) Violates any order of the board or fails to comply with a subpoena of the board;

(25) Fails to maintain medical records as required by rule of the board;

(26) Engages in cruelty to animals;

(27) Uses, prescribes, or sells any veterinary prescription drug or biologic, or prescribes any extra-label use of any over-the-counter drug or dangerous drug in the absence of a valid veterinary-client-patient relationship.

(B) Except as provided in division (D) of this section, before the board may revoke, deny, refuse to renew, or suspend a license, registration, or temporary permit or otherwise discipline the holder of a license, registration, or temporary permit, the executive director shall file written charges with the board. The board shall conduct a hearing on the charges as provided in Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

(C) If the board, after a hearing conducted pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, revokes, refuses to renew, or suspends a license, registration, or temporary permit for a violation of this section, section 4741.23, division (C) or (D) of section 4741.19, or division (B), (C), or (D) of section 4741.21 of the Revised Code, the board may impose a civil penalty upon the holder of the license, permit, or registration of not less than one hundred dollars or more than one thousand dollars. In addition to the civil penalty and any other penalties imposed pursuant to this chapter, the board may assess any holder of a license, permit, or registration the costs of the hearing conducted under this section if the board determines that the holder has violated any provision for which the board may impose a civil penalty under this section.

(D) The executive director may recommend that the board suspend an individual's certificate of license without a prior hearing if the executive director determines both of the following:

(1) There is clear and convincing evidence that division (A)(3), (9), (14), (22), or (26) of this section applies to the individual.

(2) The individual's continued practice presents a danger of immediate and serious harm to the public.

The executive director shall prepare written allegations for consideration by the board. The board, upon review of those allegations and by an affirmative vote of not fewer than four of its members, may suspend the certificate without a prior hearing. A telephone conference call may be utilized for reviewing the allegations and taking the vote on the suspension.

The board shall issue a written order of suspension by certified mail or in person in accordance with section 119.07 of the Revised Code. If the individual subject to the suspension requests an adjudicatory hearing by the board, the date set for the hearing shall be not later than fifteen days, but not earlier than seven days after the individual requests the hearing unless otherwise agreed to by both the board and the individual.

A suspension imposed under this division shall remain in effect, unless reversed on appeal, until a final adjudicative order issued by the board under this section and Chapter 119. of the Revised Code becomes effective. The board shall issue its final adjudicative order not later than ninety days after completion of its hearing. Failure to issue the order within ninety days results in dissolution of the suspension order, but does not invalidate any subsequent, final adjudicative order.

(E) A license or registration issued to an individual under this chapter is automatically suspended upon that individual's conviction of or plea of guilty to or upon a judicial finding with regard to any of the following: aggravated murder, murder, voluntary manslaughter, felonious assault, kidnapping, rape, sexual battery, gross sexual imposition, aggravated arson, aggravated robbery, or aggravated burglary. The suspension shall remain in effect from the date of the conviction, plea, or finding until an adjudication is held under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. If the board has knowledge that an automatic suspension has occurred, it shall notify the individual subject to the suspension. If the individual is notified and either fails to request an adjudication within the time periods established by Chapter 119. of the Revised Code or fails to participate in the adjudication, the board shall enter a final order permanently revoking the individual's license or registration.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 64, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2015.

Effective Date: 07-22-1998; 10-12-2006