{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-321.175","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 321.175","heading":"Purpose of chapter.","body":"(1) This chapter shall be known as the Kentucky Veterinary Medicine Practice Act.\n(2) It is hereby declared that:\n(a) The practices of veterinary medicine, veterinary technology, animal\neuthanasia, and allied animal health professionals and the operation of\nveterinary facilities, AAHP facilities, and board -certified animal control\nagencies are privileges which are granted by legislative authority and are\nsubject to regulation and control in the interest of public health, safety, and\nwelfare to protect the public from:\n1. Being misled by incompetent, unscrupulous, and unauthorized\npractitioners;\n2. Unprofessional or illegal practices by persons licensed to practice\nveterinary medicine, veterinary technology, animal euthanasia, and the\nallied animal health professions;\n3. Substandard care; and\n4. Unlicensed persons;\n(b) It is a matter of public interest and concern that the practices of veterinary\nmedicine, veterinary technology, animal euthanasia, and allied animal health\nprofessions working on animals merit and receive the confidence of the public\nand that only qualified individuals be permitted to practice these professions\nin the Commonwealth. This chapter shall be liberally construed to carry out\nthese objectives and purposes;\n(c) The intent of this chapter is to regulate the professions of veterinary medicine,\nveterinary technology, animal euthanasia, and allied animal health\nprofessional work on animals and to establish standards for veterinary\npremises and AAHP premises, both fix ed and mobile, and shall result in\ndisplacing competition by restricting licensure, permitting, certification, and\nregistration to practice these professions, as this practice is defined and\ninterpreted by the board, to persons and premises determined by t he board to\nbe qualified under this chapter; and\n(d) Any resulting restriction on competition is outweighed by the broader interest\nin protection of the public health, safety, and welfare. It is understood that the\nregulatory structure calls for veterinari ans, veterinary technicians, AAHPs,\nand citizens at large to serve on the board and this chapter recognizes the need\nfor professional expertise provided by veterinarians and veterinary technicians\nserving the public interest.\n(3) This chapter is intended t o provide active oversight and supervision through its\nlegislative enactment, the promulgation of administrative regulations, the\nappointment of board members by the Governor, legal representation of the board\nby competent counsel, legislative appropriatio n of moneys and spending authority\nto support the board, and engagement in the administrative regulation review\nprocess under the auspices of the Legislative Research Commission.\n(4) It is the purpose of this chapter to promote, preserve, and protect the p ublic health,\nsafety, and welfare by and through the licensure, permitting, certification,\nregistration, and regulation of individuals, whether physically located within or\noutside of the Commonwealth, who practice veterinary medicine, veterinary\ntechnology, animal euthanasia, and AAHP services within Kentucky, and the\nregistration of veterinary facility locations, AAHP facility locations, and mobile\nfacilities where veterinary medicine or AAHP activities are being practiced. In\nfurtherance of this purpose,  the Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners is\ncreated, and its members, functions, and procedures shall be established in\naccordance with this chapter.\n(5) The purpose of this chapter is to establish a comprehensive scheme to fully occupy\nthe fields of ve terinary medicine, veterinary technology, AAHP work on animals,\nand animal euthanasia, and provide a uniform regulatory scheme to be enforced by\nthe Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners as defined in the scopes of practice.","path":["KRS Chapter 321"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=53921","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T20:58:16Z","sha256":"3b988936f1bc017b5a891e94c5fff18c451e234a234a216f366f88cf11f5caf8","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-321.170","next":"us-ky/krs-321.180"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}