2019 US Virgin Islands Code
Title 27 - Professions and Occupations
Chapter 3 - The Practice of Veterinary Medicine in the Virgin Islands
§ 180. Additional powers of the Board

(a) In addition to the general powers set forth in § 179, the Board shall:

• (1) Fix minimum standards for continuing veterinary medical education for veterinarians and technicians, which shall be a condition precedent to the renewal of a veterinary license, limited license, veterinary faculty certificate, or veterinary technician registration, respectively;

• (2) Inspect any hospitals, clinics, mobile units or other facilities used by any practicing veterinarian, either by a member of the Board or its authorized representatives, for the purpose of reporting the results of the inspection to the Board on a form prescribed by the Board and seeking disciplinary action for violations of health, sanitary, and medical waste disposal rules of the Board, affecting the practice of veterinary medicine, or violations of regulation or laws of any territorial or federal department or agency having jurisdiction in these areas of health, sanitation, and medical waste disposal that relate to or affect the practice of veterinary medicine;

• (3) Upon complaint or information received by the Board, prohibit through summary emergency order of the Board, prior to a hearing, the operation of any veterinary practice facility that the Board determines is endangering, or may endanger, the public health or safety or the welfare and safety of animals, and suspend the license of the veterinarian operating the veterinary practice facility, provided that upon the issuance of any summary emergency order, the Board shall initiate, within ten days, a notice of hearing under the administrative rules issued pursuant to this chapter;

• (4) Provide special registration for veterinary technicians and adopt regulations concerning the training, registration and service limits of such assistants while employed by and acting under the supervision and responsibility of veterinarians. The Board has exclusive jurisdiction in determining eligibility and qualification requirements for these assistants. Renewals of registrations for veterinary technicians are required at least every twenty-four months, provided that the certificate of registration for the veterinary technician is otherwise eligible for renewal;

• (5) Provide, pursuant to regulations, requirements for the inactive status of license and limited veterinary licenses; and

• (6) Pursuant to regulations, to assess and recover against persons holding licenses, limited licenses, temporary permits or any certificates issued by the Board, costs reasonably incurred by the Board in the investigation, prosecution, hearing, or other administrative action of the Board in final decisions or orders where those persons are found to have violated the Veterinary Practice Act or regulations of the Board issued pursuant to the chapter.

(b) All costs recovered is property of the Board.