The Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (Board) proposes an amendment to §575.25, concerning the Recommended Schedule of Sanctions.

The proposed amendment to §575.25 is intended to make the schedule of disciplinary sanctions apply to all licensees, veterinarians and equine dental providers alike. The proposed amendment is necessitated by House Bill (HB) 414, 82nd Legislative Session, which gave the Board the authority to license and regulate equine dental providers.

Nicole Oria, Executive Director, Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, has determined that for each year of the first five years that the proposed rule is in effect, there will be increased cost to state government required to enforce the rule for licensed equine dental providers, but those costs will be offset by the reduction in cost of the amounts the Board previously spent on enforcing the unlicensed practice of veterinary medicine by unlicensed equine dentists. Ms. Oria does not anticipate any fiscal implications for local government as a result of the proposed rule. Moreover, Ms. Oria has determined that there will be no local employment impact as a result of adoption of the proposed rule.

Ms. Oria has determined that some equine dental providers, including micro-businesses operating as equine dental provider practices, who are disciplined by the Board will experience economic cost increases associated with complying with the proposed rule for each year of the first five years that the rule is in effect, due to the costs associated with the Board's disciplinary process and disciplinary fines, but the legal employment and advertising opportunities that come with licensure should outweigh these costs. The Board estimates that there are approximately 30 equine dental provider micro-businesses in Texas. The proposed rules regarding equine dental providers are necessary to implement HB 414, which required that equine dental providers be licensed and regulated by the Board. In HB 414, the Texas Legislature itself set many of the parameters that are creating costs for equine dental providers under the proposed rule revisions including, but not limited to, the requirement that equine dental providers uphold the same standard of care as licensed veterinarians. Thus, the Board determined that there are no legal and feasible alternatives or other less expensive methods of regulating and disciplining licensed equine dental providers than through the Board's established disciplinary methods. The proposed amendments will not cause any increased costs for licensed veterinarians.

Ms. Oria has also determined that for each year of the first five years the rule is in effect, the anticipated public benefit will be that the public will be able to rely on the training and quality of service from the regulation of licensed equine dental providers, will have a venue and process through which to complain and seek discipline for a licensed equine dental provider who violates the Board's rules, and will be protected through the Board's disciplinary process from equine dental providers who violate the Board's rules.

The Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners invites comments on the proposed amendment 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, Ste. 3-810, Austin, Texas 78701-3942, by facsimile (FAX) to (512) 305-7574, 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, Occupations Code, §801.151(a) which states that the Board may adopt rules necessary to administer the chapter; §801.151(c)(1), which states that the Board shall adopt rules to protect the public; and §801.452(c), which states that the Board by rule shall develop a standardized penalty schedule.

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