Current through Pa Acts 2024-53, 2024-56 through 2024-92
Section 485.4 - Pennsylvania State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners(a) There is hereby established within the Department of State the State Board of Veterinary Medicine. The board shall consist of nine members, as follows: (1) The Commissioner of Professional and Occupational Affairs.(2) Two members representing the general public who shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of a majority of the members elected to the Senate.(3) Five members, appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of a majority of the members elected to the Senate, who are licensed to practice veterinary medicine under the laws of this Commonwealth and who have been engaged in the full-time practice of veterinary medicine in this Commonwealth for at least five years immediately preceding their appointment.(4) One member, appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of a majority of the members elected to the Senate, who is certified as a veterinary technician in accordance with this act.(b) The term of office of each professional and public member shall be four years from his or her appointment or until his or her successor has been duly appointed and qualified according to law but no longer than six months beyond the four-year period, except that two of the five veterinarians and one of the two public members appointed to the board to replace members serving on the effective date of this act shall be appointed to terms of only two years and their successors shall be appointed to terms of four years. In the event that any member should die or resign or otherwise become disqualified during his or her term of office, a successor shall be appointed in the same way and with the same qualifications as set forth in subsection (a) and shall hold office for the unexpired term. No member shall be eligible for appointment to serve more than two consecutive terms.(c) Five members of the board shall constitute a quorum. Except for temporary and automatic suspensions under section 25 , a member may not be counted as part of a quorum or vote on any issue unless he or she is physically in attendance at the meeting. The board shall annually select, from among its members, a chairman and a secretary.(d) Each member of the board, other than the commissioner, shall receive reimbursement for reasonable traveling, lodging and other necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with Commonwealth regulations and per diem compensation at the rate of sixty dollars ($60) for each day of actual service while on board business.(e) A member who fails to attend three consecutive meetings shall forfeit his seat unless the commissioner, upon written request from the member, finds that the member should be excused from a meeting because of illness or the death of an immediate family member.(f) A public member who fails to attend two consecutive statutorily mandated seminars in accordance with section 813(e) of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No. 175), known as "The Administrative Code of 1929," shall forfeit his or her seat unless the Commissioner of Professional and Occupational Affairs, upon written request from the public member, finds that the public member should be excused from a meeting because of illness or the death of a family member.(g) The board is subject to evaluation, review and termination within the time and in the manner provided in the act of December 22, 1981 (P.L.508, No. 142), known as the "Sunset Act." 1974, Dec. 27, P.L. 995, No. 326, §4. Amended 1986 , May 9, P.L. 166, No. 54, § 1, imd. effective; 2002, Dec. 9, P.L. 1370, No. 167, § 1, effective in 60 days.