The Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners proposes an amendment to 22 TAC §575.25, concerning Recommended Schedule of Sanctions. The amendment concerns the schedule of sanctions available to the Board with regard to licensees who have committed Class A, B or C violations of the Veterinary Licensing Act and/or Board Rules.

The proposed amendment will allow the Board to impose, as a sanction for a licensee's commission of a Class A, B or C violation of the Veterinary Licensing Act and/or Board Rules, that the licensee sit for, and pass, the Texas State Board Licensing Exam, otherwise known as the SBE.

Dewey E. Helmcamp III, Executive Director, has determined that for each year of the first five years that the rule is in effect there will be no fiscal implication for the state and no fiscal implication for local government as a result of enforcing or administering the rule as proposed. Mr. Helmcamp has also determined that the rule will have no local employment impact.

Mr. Helmcamp has determined that, for each of the first five years the amendment is in effect, the anticipated public benefit will be that licensees who have been found in violation of the Licensing Act and/or the Rules, will thereafter make more informed decisions with regard to their veterinary practices, by virtue of sitting for the SBE, which tests the licensee's knowledge of the rules of professional conduct and veterinary jurisprudence matters.

Mr. Helmcamp has also determined there will be no direct adverse effect on small businesses or micro-businesses.

Mr. Helmcamp has further determined that there may be minimal economic costs to persons required to comply with the proposed rule, as the SBE currently is only offered at the Board's offices in Austin, Texas.

The Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners invites comments on the proposed rule from any member of the public. A written statement should be mailed or delivered to Loris Jones, Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, 333 Guadalupe, Suite 3-810, Austin, Texas 78701-3942, by facsimile (FAX) to (512) 305-7556, or by e-mail vet.board@tbvme.state.tx.us. Comments will be accepted for 30 days following publication in the Texas Register.

The amendment is proposed under the authority of the Veterinary Licensing Act, Texas Occupations Code, §801.151(a) which states that "the Board may adopt rules as necessary to administer this chapter".

Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 801, is affected by this proposal.