(a) Any person who owns or operates any veterinary facility, including mobile clinics, or any other premises where a licensed veterinarian practices or where the practice of veterinary medicine occurs shall apply for and secure a premises permit from the board prior to the commencement of any services that would subject the provider of those services to licensure under this chapter. Any premises in operation on January 1, 1997, shall register with the board by filling out an application as required by the board.

(b) Any premises at which veterinary services are provided and not owned or leased by a licensed veterinarian on January 1, 1997, shall be inspected prior to the opening of such premises. Upon receipt of the application and payment of the application and inspection fee established by the board, the board shall cause such premises to be inspected by an authorized agent of the board within thirty (30) days of receipt of the application. Any premises in which a licensed veterinarian operates a practice on January 1, 1997, shall be granted a temporary permit upon submission of the registration required by subsection (a), which temporary permit shall remain in effect until the premises are inspected by the board. Any premises for which a permit has been granted on or after January 1, 1997, shall be inspected by the board within sixty (60) days of any change of ownership or legal responsibility for the premises. If the board is unable to complete any inspection of the premises within the thirty- or sixty-day time periods prescribed in this subsection (b), it shall issue a temporary premises permit, which shall remain in effect until the inspection required by this section is completed.

(c)

(1) A premises permit shall be issued if the premises meet minimum standards established by board rules as to sanitary conditions and physical plant. In lieu of the procedures identified in subsection (b), the board may issue a premises permit upon certification by the applicant that the premises have been inspected and accredited by a recognized organization, the standards of which are found by the board to meet or exceed the minimum standards established by board rules.

(2) Except as provided in subdivision (c)(3), all veterinary facilities located in retail establishments shall have an entrance into the permitted premises that is directly on a public street or other area which adjoins the establishment, and such entrance shall be separate from the entrance primarily used by regular retail customers. For purposes of this chapter, “retail establishment” means any retail store in excess of two thousand five hundred (2,500) square feet that primarily sells goods not related to the practice of veterinary medicine; companion animal retail facilities that primarily sell goods in the categories of companion animal nutrition, food, supplies, and behavioral products; or any veterinary facility located in an enclosed shopping mall or enclosed shopping center.

(3) Veterinary facilities located in retail establishments that were issued a premises permit prior to January 1, 2015, and that have a separate entrance used by regular retail customers shall maintain and utilize the separate entrance in order to comply with subdivision (c)(2). Veterinary facilities located in retail establishments that were issued a premises permit prior to January 1, 2015, and that do not have a separate entrance used by regular retail customers on July 1, 2016, are in compliance with subdivision (c)(2).

(4) The costs of any inspection undertaken by the board shall be set by the board and paid in advance by the applicant, in addition to the fee established by the board for the premises permit.

(d) Each application for a premises permit submitted by a person not licensed under this chapter shall state the name and address of the licensed veterinarian who will be responsible for the practice of veterinary medicine on the premises. The supervising veterinarian shall be licensed in Tennessee. The applicant shall also include the name or names and address or addresses of the licensee or licensees who will be onsite when the practice of veterinary medicine occurs. The applicant shall affirm that the practice of veterinary medicine shall not be provided on the premises without the physical presence of a veterinarian licensed in this state. An application for a premises permit submitted pursuant to this subsection (d) may be denied if any veterinarian submitted by the applicant has been previously disciplined by the board. The holder of a premises permit shall notify the board of any change of ownership or legal responsibility for premises for which a permit has been issued, any change as to the supervising veterinarian for the premises and any change as to the licensed veterinarian or veterinarians who will be employed to provide veterinary medical services at the premises at least thirty (30) days prior to the effective date of the change unless the change arises from unforeseen circumstances, in which case notice shall be given within five (5) days of the effective date of the change.

(e) The board shall deny any application for a premises permit if the inspection reveals that the premises do not meet the minimum standards established by the board. The applicant shall pay the inspection fee for each additional reinspection required to determine whether any deficiencies found by the board have been brought into compliance with the minimum standards established by board rules and regulations as to sanitary conditions and physical plant.

(f) Any practitioner who provides veterinary services on a house-call basis and does not maintain a veterinary facility for the receipt of patients shall not be required to secure a premises permit, but must provide for appropriate equipment and facilities as established by the board.

(g) Any practitioner who provides veterinary services solely to agricultural animals and does not maintain a veterinary facility for the receipt of patients shall not be required to obtain a premises permit, but must provide for appropriate equipment and facilities as established by the board.

(h) Mobile large and small animal veterinary clinics operating in more than one (1) location and examining and/or treating animals belonging to multiple clients whose animals are not permanently housed or boarded at that location shall have a premises permit for the mobile facilities that are utilized unless exempted by state or local public health officials. Such mobile clinics shall also specify the locations at which such mobile clinics will operate. Such information shall be considered as part of the application for a premises permit. Any change in the locations at which the mobile clinics will operate shall be reported to the board at least thirty (30) days in advance of the effective date of the change.

(i) The following are exempt from this section:

(1) A veterinary facility owned by a person, corporation or other similar organization, public or private, for-profit or not-for-profit, to treat such employer's animals;

(2) A veterinary facility operated by an official agency of the federal or state government; and

(3) A licensed research facility.

(j) The board shall be authorized to employ such persons who may be required, in its discretion, to inspect premises under the jurisdiction of the board. The board shall establish a fee schedule for inspections required under this chapter. An applicant for a premises permit shall remit to the board an application fee, which shall be equal to the license fee required of licensed veterinarians. A licensed veterinarian or an applicant for licensure as a veterinarian shall not be required to submit an additional fee for a premises permit but shall be required to submit the required inspection fee, if such licensed veterinarian or applicant also submits an application for a premises permit.

(k) The board of veterinary examiners is authorized to issue a limited waiver to the requirement for a premises permit under this section to a veterinarian who meets the following requirements:

(1) The waiver is granted for one (1) day, once in a calendar year;

(2) The waiver is applicable to only one (1) county and only one (1) waiver shall be granted in each county in a calendar year;

(3) The waiver is only for livestock testing; and

(4) The waiver is only for one (1) location, which shall be a farm.