Colorado § 12-315-106 - Board of veterinary medicine - creation - powers - rules.

§ 12-315-106. Board of veterinary medicine - creation - powers - rules.

(1) There is hereby created a state board of veterinary medicine consisting of nine members appointed by the governor. Each member shall be appointed for a term of four years. The governor shall appoint members of the board from qualified persons as described in subsection (2) of this section. The governor shall appoint members to fill vacancies on the board caused by death, resignation, or removal for the balance of the unexpired term. A person shall not serve more than two consecutive four-year terms. A person appointed to serve out the balance of an unexpired term may be reappointed for an additional consecutive four-year term. Members of the board may remain on the board until a successor is appointed.

(1.5) The state board of veterinary medicine is a type 1 entity, as defined in section 24-1-105.

(2) The governor shall appoint:

(a) Five members to the board who:

(I) Are graduates of a school of veterinary medicine;

(II) Are residents of this state; and

(III) Have been licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state for the five years preceding the time of the appointment;

(b) Not later than March 1, 2023, two members to the board who are residents of this state and who, for at least five years immediately preceding the time of appointment:

(I) Have been certified by a Colorado association of veterinary technicians; and

(II) Have been practicing as veterinary technicians in this state; and

(c) Two members to the board from the public at large who have no financial or professional association with the veterinary profession.

(3) The governor may remove a member of the board for misconduct, incompetence, or neglect of duty or other sufficient cause.

(4) The board shall meet at least once each quarter during the year at a time and place fixed by the board. Other meetings may be called from time to time by the president of the board. Except as otherwise provided, a majority of the board constitutes a quorum. Meetings shall be conducted as provided in article 6 of title 24.

(5) The board has the power to:

(a) Examine and determine the qualifications and fitness of applicants for a license to practice veterinary medicine, for registration as a veterinary technician or veterinary professional associate, or for designation as a veterinary technician specialist in this state;

(b) Pursuant to section 12-20-404, issue, renew, deny, suspend, or revoke licenses to practice veterinary medicine, registrations of veterinary technicians and veterinary professional associates, and designations of registered veterinary technicians as veterinary technician specialists in the state or otherwise discipline or fine, or both, licensees or registrants consistent with this article 315 and the rules adopted by the board under this article 315;

(c) Regulate artificial insemination and ova transplantation of cattle or other animal species by establishing rules for standards of practice, including rules relating to methods and procedures for safe artificial insemination and ova transplantation;

(d) Establish, pursuant to section 12-20-105, and publish annually a schedule of fees for licensing and registration of veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and veterinary professional associates. The board shall base the fee on its anticipated financial requirements for the year.

(e) Conduct disciplinary proceedings in accordance with section 12-20-403;

(f) Bring proceedings in the courts for the enforcement of this article 315 or any rules made by the board;

(g) Adopt, amend, or repeal rules in accordance with section 12-20-204. The board shall adopt rules to establish a uniform system and schedule of fines that it may impose on licensees or registrants for violations of this article 315 or of rules adopted pursuant to this article 315.

(h) Issue a cease-and-desist order in accordance with section 12-20-405;

(i) Impose fines against corporations in accordance with section 12-315-122 (2).

(j) Adopt rules to approve a nationally recognized veterinary professional associate credentialing organization for purposes of credentialing veterinary professional associates in this state. The credentialing organization approved by the board must:

(I) Require completion of a university-approved program for veterinary professional associates that:

(A) If completed before September 1, 2033, must be approved by the board; or

(B) If completed on or after September 1, 2033, must be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting organization or equivalent organization, as approved by the board;

(II) Require that an applicant pass a veterinary professional associate national examination that has been approved by the board; and

(III) Require continuing education for veterinary professional associates.

(6) The board may, at any time, inspect veterinary premises to assure that they are clean and sanitary.

(7) The powers of the board are granted to enable the board to effectively supervise the practice of veterinary medicine and of veterinary technicians and veterinary professional associates and are to be construed liberally to accomplish this objective.

(8) The board shall consult with the state physical therapy board created in section 12-285-105 concerning rules that the board intends to adopt with regard to physical therapy of animals.

(9) (a) The board may promulgate rules regarding the use of telehealth to provide veterinary services in Colorado pursuant to part 3 of this article 315.

(b) In developing rules pursuant to subsection (9)(a) of this section, the board shall consult with licensed veterinarians, registered veterinary technicians, clients, and other relevant stakeholders as determined by the board.

(10) (a) The board may establish by rule an equivalent registration pathway for a veterinary technician specialist to register as a veterinary professional associate.

(b) In establishing the equivalent registration pathway, the board:

(I) May consider the experience, education, and training of a veterinary technician who is designated as a veterinary technician specialist pursuant to section 12-315-203 (4.5) to be equivalent to the education requirements for a veterinary professional associate required by section 12-315-203.7 (2)(a); and

(II) Shall require a veterinary technician specialist to pass the same national credentialing exam to demonstrate entry-level competency to practice as a veterinary professional associate, as approved by the board.

Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 1623, § 1, effective October 1. L. 2022: (1), (2), (5)(a), (5)(b), (5)(d), (5)(g), and (7) amended, (HB 22-1235), ch. 442, p. 3103, § 10, effective August 10; (1.5) added, (SB 22-162), ch. 469, p. 3398, § 138, effective August 10. L. 2024: (5)(a) and (5)(b) amended, (HB 24-1047), ch. 36, p. 131, § 5, effective August 7; (9) added, (HB 24-1048), ch. 110, p. 342, § 2, effective August 7. Initiated 2024: (5)(a), (5)(b), (5)(d), and (7) amended and (5)(j) added, Proposition 129, effective January 1, 2026. See L. 2025, p. 3620. L. 2025: (5)(j) amended and (10) added, (HB 25-1285), ch. 305, p. 1596, § 5, effective January 1, 2026.

Editor's note: (1) This section is similar to former § 12-64-105 as it existed prior to 2019.

(2) Provisions in this section were changed by Proposition 129, effective January 1, 2026. The measure was approved on November 5, 2024, and was proclaimed by the Governor on December 17, 2024, see L. 2025, p. 3620. The vote count for the measure was as follows:

FOR: 1,572,545

AGAINST: 1,407,814

Cross references: (1) For the short title (the "Debbie Haskins 'Administrative Organization Act of 1968' Modernization Act") in SB 22-162, see section 1 of chapter 469, Session Laws of Colorado 2022.

(2) For the legislative declaration in HB 24-1047, see section 1 of chapter 36, Session Laws of Colorado 2024. For the legislative declaration in HB 25-1285, see section 1 of chapter 305, Session Laws of Colorado 2025.