21-17-308. Wyoming state veterinary laboratory.

(a) The division of microbiology and veterinary medicine, college of agriculture, University of Wyoming shall manage, operate and maintain the Wyoming state veterinary laboratory. All records, property, personnel and unused funds of the Wyoming livestock board designated for the Wyoming state veterinary laboratory shall be transferred to the division of microbiology and veterinary medicine.

(b) The Wyoming state veterinary laboratory shall:

(i) Inquire into, maintain records of and prepare an annual report of the causes of contagious, infectious and communicable diseases found among livestock in this state; assist in the determination of means for the prevention and treatment of such diseases; and collect and disseminate information on these and other animal health related subjects valuable to the livestock interests of Wyoming;

(ii) Assist licensed veterinarians and the livestock industry in this state in making diagnoses at their request;

(iii) Assist licensed veterinarians in this state with proper collection and shipment of diagnostic materials; and

(iv) Otherwise provide services and consultation upon request of licensed veterinarians and the livestock industry in this state.

(c) There is created a six (6) member advisory council hereafter known as the council. The council shall advise the division of microbiology and veterinary medicine on matters pertaining to the Wyoming state veterinary laboratory and other matters that pertain to animal health. Three (3) members of the council shall be appointed by the Wyoming board of veterinary medicine and three (3) members shall be appointed by the Wyoming livestock board. The head of the division of microbiology and veterinary medicine shall be an ex officio member of the council. Council members shall serve a term of three (3) years. The initial council shall constitute itself so that no more than two (2) members will be replaced each year. The council shall elect a chairman and secretary from its membership. The council shall meet at least semiannually and on other occasions as deemed necessary by the council. Authorized travel expenses of the council members shall be paid by the agency responsible for their appointment in the same manner and amount as provided by W.S. 9-3-102.

(d) The annual report of the council shall be prepared for the governor, Wyoming livestock board, Wyoming board of veterinary medicine, president of the University of Wyoming and such other individuals deemed necessary by the council. The cost of printing the annual report shall be borne by the budget of the Wyoming state veterinary laboratory.

(e) All individual identifying client information in the records and information maintained or collected by the Wyoming state veterinary laboratory related to diagnosis of contagious, infectious, communicable, toxic and genetic diseases of individual animals or herds shall be confidential and shall not be released except to the individual submitting the sample for diagnosis unless:

(i) Laboratory testing results in the recognition of a state or federally reportable disease;

(ii) It is in the best interests of animal or human public health, as determined by the director of the Wyoming state veterinary laboratory or his designee, to release the information; or

(iii) The release of the information is required by state or federal law. Nothing in this subsection shall affect the duty of the Wyoming state veterinary laboratory or any other person to report contagious or infectious diseases as required by state or federal law.