HB 15-1187 Summary

• State Board of Veterinary Medicine may require licensed veterinarians to submit to mental health and substance abuse evaluations if there is reasonable cause to believe they cannot practice safely due to mental illness, alcohol use, or drug use.

• A qualified professional from a board-designated veterinarian peer health assistance program must conduct the required evaluation examining the existence of the condition and its impact on the veterinarian's ability to practice safely.

• Licensed veterinarians who fail to submit to a required examination may have their license suspended until they comply, unless the failure is due to circumstances beyond their control.

• The board may enter into confidential agreements allowing veterinarians deemed able to provide limited services to continue practicing with restrictions, subject to periodic reevaluations.

• Failure to comply with terms of a confidential practice limitation agreement constitutes grounds for disciplinary action, and examination results are kept confidential and not available to the public.