Section 2-304 - Powers and duties of Board generally. - Maryland Statutes

§ 2-304. Powers and duties of Board generally.
 

(a)  Rules and regulations; additional employees; subpoenas.- The Board may: 

(1) Adopt rules and regulations to effectuate this subtitle; 

(2) Engage additional employees for professional, clerical, and special work as necessary and as provided in the State budget; 

(3) Subpoena any witness to take his testimony; 

(4) Require production of books, papers, records, and other documentary evidence, and examine them in relation to any matter which the Board may investigate or hear; and 

(5) Establish reasonable standards for the practice of veterinary medicine, including conduct and ethics. 

(b)  Right of entry.- Members or their designated inspectors may enter veterinary facilities at any reasonable hour to enforce the Board rules and regulations. 

(c)  Maintenance of office; telephone number.- The Board shall maintain an office within the State and a telephone number listed for use by the general public. 

(d)  Inspection of veterinary hospitals.- The Board shall inspect every veterinary hospital facility in the State at least once every 2 years. 

(e)  Authorization to practice; requirements.-  

(1) The Board may authorize the practice of a health occupation on an animal by a health care practitioner licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized under the Health Occupations Article. 

(2) If the Board authorizes the practice of a health occupation on an animal under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Board may: 

(i) Impose requirements for education, training, and supervision by a veterinary practitioner; and 

(ii) Require the registration of each health care practitioner authorized to practice a health occupation on an animal in accordance with this subsection. 

(f)  Report of suspected instances of animal cruelty; immunity from civil liability.-  

(1) The Board shall adopt regulations encouraging a veterinary practitioner to report suspected instances of animal cruelty, including suspected animal fighting, to a local law enforcement or county animal control agency. 

(2) A veterinary practitioner shall be immune from any civil liability that results from a report in good faith to a local law enforcement or county animal control agency under this subsection. 
 

[An. Code 1957, art. 43, §§ 150, 152; 1973, 1st Sp. Sess., ch. 6, § 1; 1997, ch. 226; 2002, ch. 193; 2008, ch. 58.]