VEB Docket No. 17–VER-11 Final Rule
Rules Clearinghouse No. 17-083 June 22, 2018
ORDER
OF THE WISCONSIN VETERINARY EXAMINING BOARD
ADOPTING RULES
The Wisconsin veterinary examining board hereby adopts the following permanent rule to amend s. VE 1.02 (intro.) and to create ch. VE 11, relating to a veterinary professional assistance program and affecting small business. ____________________________________________________________________________
Analysis Prepared by the Veterinary Examining Board
This permanent rule, in conjunction with a proposed emergency rule, creates ch. VE 11, “Veterinary Professional Assistance Program”, to implement s. 89.03(3), Stats., created by the Legislature in 2017 Wisconsin Act 59, the Budget Bill. S. 89.03 (3), Stats., states that the veterinary examining board (“VEB”) shall promulgate rules specifying a procedure for addressing allegations that a person licensed or certified by the VEB under this chapter has practiced as a veterinarian or veterinary technician while impaired by alcohol or other drugs or that his or her ability to practice is impaired by alcohol or other drugs, and for assisting a person licensed by the VEB under this chapter who requests to participate in the procedure or who requests assistance in obtaining mental health services. In promulgating rules under this subsection, the VEB shall seek to facilitate early identification of chemically dependent veterinarians or veterinary technicians and encourage their rehabilitation. The rules promulgated under this subsection may be used in conjunction with the formal disciplinary process under this chapter. The VEB may contract with another entity to administer the procedure specified under the rules promulgated under this subsection. Statutes Interpreted
Statutes Interpreted: s. 89.03, Stats. (title) “Rules.” Statutory Authority
Statutory Authority: s. 89.03 (3), Stats. Explanation of Statutory Authority
The VEB has been given specific authority, pursuant to s. 89.03 (3), Stats., to adopt rules specifying a procedure for addressing allegations that a person licensed or certified by the VEB under this chapter has practiced as a veterinarian or veterinary technician while impaired by alcohol or other drugs or that his or her ability to practice is impaired by alcohol or other drugs, and for assisting a person licensed by the VEB under this chapter who requests to participate in the procedure or who requests assistance in obtaining mental health services. In promulgating rules under this subsection, the VEB shall seek to facilitate early identification of chemically dependent veterinarians or veterinary technicians and encourage their rehabilitation. The rules promulgated under this subsection may be used in conjunction with the formal disciplinary process under this chapter. Related Statutes and Rules
Since the transfer of the Department of Safety and Professional Services’ (DSPS) limited purposes authority over the VEB in January 2016 to the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (“DATCP”), the VEB has utilized ch. 89, Stat., and chs. VE 1-10, Wis. Adm. Code, to oversee the operations of the VEB.
Plain Language Analysis
When the VEB was transferred from DSPS to DATCP, the specific administrative code chapters that pertained to its operations were transferred. However, none of the general DSPS administrative code chapters pertaining to all the credentialing boards were made a part of the VE rules, including ch. SPS 7, Professional Assistance Procedure. To correct this, 2017 Wisconsin Act 59 included an amendment to the statute, relating to the authority of the VEB to write rules, to require the VEB to write rules for a procedure for addressing allegations that a person licensed or certified by the VEB under this chapter has practiced as a veterinarian or veterinary technician while impaired by alcohol or other drugs or that his or her ability to practice is impaired by alcohol or other drugs, and for assisting a person licensed by the VEB under this chapter who requests to participate in the procedure or who requests assistance in obtaining mental health services. The newly created ch. VE 11, Veterinary Professional Assistance Program, specifies the authority and purpose of the rules; definitions used in the chapter; contracting requirements for a third-party program administrator; use of the confidential voluntary program component by impaired veterinary professionals; referral to and eligibility for credential holders to use the disciplinary program, including participation requirements and agreement terms; approval of service providers, including those providing alcohol, drug or other chemical testing services; record requirements, including confidentiality provisions; and reports to the VEB. The rule ensures early identification of impaired veterinary professionals, as required in statute, by providing that the program has a confidential, voluntary component for those persons, so long as the professional is not a credential holder with an outstanding complaint before the board’s disciplinary process. The rules promulgated under this subsection may be used in conjunction with the formal disciplinary process under this chapter and this rule does so with a disciplinary component in the program that may be utilized through either a stipulation, between a credential holder and board or disciplinary counsel, or a board order. The rule specifies the contracting requirements for another entity to administer the program.
Federal and Surrounding State Programs
Federal Programs
There are no federal regulations governing professional assistance programs for veterinary professionals.
Surrounding State Programs
In Illinois, a veterinarian who has been determined by a qualified health care professional to be impaired shall enter into an agreement with the state’s Department of Financial and Professional Regulation-Division of Professional Regulation (“Division”), in which the veterinarian agrees to participate in a program designed to provide care and treatment specifically for health care professionals and which has been approved by the Division. The agreement may include, but not be limited to, the length of the program, the status of the licensee while in a treatment program, and a termination clause whereby both parties may terminate the agreement at any time.
There is nothing specific in the Iowa Veterinary Practice Act regarding a veterinary professional assistance program. However, the Act does allow the Iowa Board of Veterinary Medicine to have a licensee submit to a physical or mental examination by a designated physician.
There is nothing in the Michigan Veterinary Practice Act regarding a specific veterinary professional assistance program. However, Michigan has a Health Professional Recovery Committee that includes veterinarians. The purpose of this committee is to establish the general components of the health professional recovery program and a mechanism for monitoring health professionals who may be impaired.
There is nothing in the Minnesota Veterinary Practice Act regarding a specific veterinary professional assistance program. However, the Board has the authority to issue an order directing the regulated person to submit to a mental or physical examination or chemical dependency evaluation. Veterinarians may participate in the state's Health Professionals Services Program.
Analysis and Supporting Documents Used to Determine Effect on Small Business
The VEB looked at the current rules in effect under ch. SPS 7, Wis. Adm. Code, with regard to professional assistance programs that apply to other professions, and also at other states that have professional assistance programs. Effect on Small Business
