Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

The board discussed licensure and continuing education requirements, including individual requests for waivers and clarifications on renewal processes. Reports were provided regarding financial status and avian influenza detections. The board reviewed and approved documentation procedures for licensure applications and discussed records retention for continuing education forms. Additionally, the board reviewed and acted upon various continuing education event applications and conducted a closed session to review confidential complaint files and disciplinary investigations.

The meeting includes an executive secretary report, chairperson report, AAG report, and board member report. Key business items involve a veterinary lab inquiry, miscellaneous discussions regarding continuing education credits for instruction and the appointment of a temporary chair for the subsequent meeting, and updates on rulemaking and civil penalty rules. Furthermore, the board will address closed session dockets, probationary and disciplinary actions, and evaluate continuing education applications.

The board meeting addressed various administrative and regulatory matters, including the review of continuing education applications, correspondence regarding the scope of practice for veterinary assistants, and policy updates concerning licensing and electronic record transitions. The board also approved a rulemaking process to increase civil penalty amounts, reviewed financial reports, authorized the renewal of a memorandum of understanding with the American Association of Veterinary State Boards, approved member board dues, and discussed the acceptance of USDA Veterinary Accreditation modules as continuing education. Additionally, the board conducted a closed session to review complaint files and disciplinary proceedings before reconvening to act on session sanctions.

The meeting agenda was approved. Public comment included discussions between the Iowa Farm Bureau and the Veterinary/Client/Patient/Relationship concerning Foreign Animal Disease outbreaks and biosecurity. The Executive Secretary reported on the Board's FY25 financial status and potential spending areas, such as expert witnesses or staffing. The Chairperson reported on the passing of Colorado's 129 Midlevel Practitioners legislation and a Texas court ruling regarding a veterinarian's emailed clinical advice being constitutionally protected speech. A report noted infections of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza in Canadian and Californian children who had no direct animal contact. The Board unanimously approved a Memorandum of Understanding for the Veterinary Technician National Examination. Following a closed session to review confidential complaint files and potential disciplinary investigations, the Board voted to close several complaint cases (24-010, 24-018, 24-020, 24-023, 024-027, 24-028, and 24-035). Continuing education applications for several veterinarians were reviewed and approved.

Key discussions during the meeting included public comment regarding continuing education rules for veterinary technicians, specifically the reversion of online/distance education hours. The Board approved the renewal of the Examination Proctor Service Agreement for one additional year, set to expire on October 4, 2024. The Board reviewed and accepted the Veterinary Technician National Examination scores for the testing window of April 15 through June 15, 2023. Significant time was dedicated to reviewing regulatory analysis for Administrative Rules, specifically noting changes in Chapters 9, 11, and 14, and allowing additional information for PAVE applicants under Chapter 6. Following a closed session to review confidential complaint files and potential disciplinary investigations, the Board voted to close case 23-016. Finally, the Board did not approve two continuing education applications submitted by Dr. Randall Larson related to the Alpaca Research Foundation Board Meetings and the Nunoa Project trip to Peru.