(1) The board shall have the authority to establish a veterinary wellness committee to undertake the functions and responsibilities of a veterinary wellness program. The functions and responsibilities may include any of the following:
(a) Receiving and evaluating reports of suspected impairment from any source; (b) Intervening in cases of verified impairment; or

Terms Used In Kentucky Statutes 321.237

  • Board: means the Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners. See Kentucky Statutes 321.181
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Testify: Answer questions in court.
  • Treatment: when used in a criminal justice context, means targeted interventions
    that focus on criminal risk factors in order to reduce the likelihood of criminal behavior. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010
  • Veterinary wellness committee: means a committee appointed by the board that shall be composed of individuals who have expertise in the areas of alcohol abuse, chemical dependence, drug abuse, or physical or mental condition designated by the board to perform activities related to the veterinary wellness program. See Kentucky Statutes 321.181

(c) Referring impaired veterinarians to treatment programs.
(2) Other provisions of law notwithstanding, all board and committee records pertaining to the veterinary wellness program shall be kept confidential. No person in attendance at any meeting of the committee shall be required to testify as to any committee discussions or proceedings.
(3) Other provisions of law notwithstanding, no member of the board or the veterinary wellness committee shall be liable for damages to any person for any acts, omissions, or recommendations made by the member in good faith while acting within the scope of the member’s responsibilities in accordance with this section.
Effective: July 15, 2016
History: Amended 2016 Ky. Acts ch. 116, sec. 13, effective July 15, 2016. — Created
1992 Ky. Acts ch. 299, sec. 10, effective July 14, 1992.