New Mexico
Register / Volume XXXV, Issue 19 / October 8, 2024
NOTICE OF PUBLIC RULE HEARING AND BOARD MEETING
The New Mexico Board of Veterinary Medicine (“NMBVM”)
will hold a public rule hearing on November 20, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. to
consider any public comment of the proposed rules listed below. A regular board meeting will immediately
follow the public rule hearing.
1. Enactment of
rules related to disbursements from the Animal Care and Facility Fund;
2. Amendment of
existing rules to adjust certain licensing fees (Parts 2, 6, 7 and 8 of Title
16, Chapter 25 NMAC, and Part 4 of Title 16, Chapter 24 NMAC)
3. Amendment of
Subsection B of 16.25.9.9 NMAC (“Minimum Standards”) to change requirements
related to emergency services.
Public participation is welcomed, and comments may be
submitted in writing during the public comment period, or in person during the
public rule hearing. The hearing and subsequent board meeting will take place
at the Regulation and Licensing Department, Toney Anaya Building, 2550
Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, NM 87505.
Copies of the proposed rule may be obtained through
the board website at www.bvm.nm.gov or by contacting the
Board Office through the information below:
www.bvm.nm.gov
Deborah Schenk, Executive Assistant/CPO
(575) 748-2042
deborah.schenk@bvm.nm.gov
Written comments will be accepted during the public
comment period, up until 5 pm on November 19, 2024, and may be submitted either
by email or by postal mail to the following addresses:
deborah.schenk@bvm.nm.gov
Attn: New Mexico Board of Veterinary Medicine
7301 Jefferson Street
NE, Suite H
Albuquerque, NM 87109
Written comments received during the public comment period
prior to the public rule hearing will be posted to the board website page
linked above. Public comment will also be accepted during the rule hearing and
may be submitted in writing or presented orally by those attending. The board
will not enter into substantive discussion of public
comments during the rule hearing but will consider and deliberate any public
comment during the board meeting immediately following the conclusion of the
public rule hearing.
The agenda for the board meeting, which will begin
immediately after the public rule hearing, will be available no less than 72
hours prior to the meeting, and be available on the NMBVM website linked above
or by contacting the NMBVM staff.
An individual with a disability who is
in need of a reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter, or
other form of auxiliary aid or service to attend or participate in the hearing,
please contact the Board Chair.
Statutory Authority:
For
the proposed rule related to the Animal Care and Facility Fund, Section
61-14-7.1 NMSA 1978 directs the Animal Sheltering Committee of the NMBVM to
develop criteria for individuals, nonprofit organizations, animal shelters and
euthanasia agencies to receive monetary assistance for dog and cat spaying and
neutering from the Animal Care and Facility Fund; and recommend to the NMBVM
the disbursements of money from the Animal Care and Facility Fund to eligible
individuals, nonprofit organizations, animal shelters and euthanasia agencies.
For
the other proposed rules, Subsection F of Section 61-14-5 NMSA 1978, the NMBVM
has authority to promulgate rules necessary to establish recognized standards
for the practice of veterinary medicine and to carry out the provisions of the
Veterinary Practice Act.
Purpose of Proposed Rules:
The
purpose of the proposed rule related to the Animal Care and Facility Fund is to
establish criteria and procedures for the disbursement of funds from the Animal
Care and Facility Fund to eligible recipients for providing spay and neuter
services to dogs and cats.
The
purpose of the proposed rule amendments related to fees is to adjust certain
licensing fees to ensure the NMBVM can meet its financial requirements and to
lower two fees to comply with statutory maximums.
The
purpose of the proposed amendment to the emergency services requirement in
Subsection B of 16.25.9.9 NMAC is to lessen the burden on veterinary facilities
while ensuring the public’s awareness of available emergency services.
Summary of
Proposed Rules:
The proposed rule related
to the Animal Care and Facility Fund determines the eligibility of all
organizations and individuals seeking disbursements from the Animal Care and
Facility Fund, outlines the obligations of successful applicants, describes the
qualifications for individuals seeking disbursements from the Fund, details
possible loss of eligibility for applicants, and provides the procedure for
NMBVM approval of disbursements from the Fund.
The proposed rule amendments related to fees increase
most licensing fees for NMBVM-regulated licensees by twenty-five percent. This includes fees for licensing of
veterinarians, veterinarian technicians, veterinary facilities, and bovine artificial insemination and
pregnancy diagnosis technicians. The proposed rule amendments also lower two
fees for euthanasia technician licensure to the statutory cap.
The proposed rule amendment related to emergency
services requires veterinary facilities to make information about the nearest
emergency services available to the public and eliminates the requirement that
veterinary facilities provide emergency services or have a pre-arranged
referral to another veterinarian for emergency services.