TITLE 18. PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING

BOARD OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

Initial Agency Notice

Title of Regulation: 18VAC150-20. Regulations Governing the Practice of Veterinary Medicine.

Statutory Authority: § 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.

Name of Petitioner: Mark Finkler for the VVMA.

Nature of Petitioner's Request: To define the term "veterinary specialist" and prohibit its use unless the veterinarian is certified by an American Veterinary Medical Association-recognized specialty organization or an organization recognized by the American Board of Veterinary Specialists or any other board-approved organization.

Agency Plan for Disposition of Request: The petition will be published on December 29, 2014, in the Virginia Register of Regulations and also posted on the Virginia Regulatory Townhall at http://www.townhall.virginia.gov to receive public comment ending January 28, 2015. Following receipt of all comments on the petition to amend regulations, the board will decide whether to make any changes to the regulatory language. This matter will be on the board's agenda for its first meeting after the comment period, which is scheduled for February 19, 2015.

Public Comment Deadline: January 28, 2015.

Agency Contact: Elaine Yeatts, Agency Regulatory Coordinator, Department of Health Professions, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4688, or email elaine.yeatts@dhp.virginia.gov.

VA.R. Doc. No. R15-16; Filed December 1, 2014, 10:09 a.m