Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, March 1, 2024
RELATES TO:
KRS
257.160,
321.207,
321.235(7),
321.351, Chapter 335B
NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY:
KRS
321.207(3) requires the
Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners to issue a certificate to a person who
meets the qualifications of an animal euthanasia specialist and is approved by
the board for a certificate.
KRS
321.235(3) and
321.240(5)
authorize the board to promulgate administrative regulations to implement KRS
Chapter 321. This administrative regulation establishes the qualifications for
certification as an animal euthanasia specialist and reinstatement
requirements.
Section 1. To be
eligible for certification as a board-certified animal euthanasia specialist an
applicant shall:
(1) Be at least twenty-one
(21) years of age;
(2) Be of good
moral character;
(3) Not have been
convicted of, or entered an "Alford" plea or plea of nolo contendere to,
irrespective of an order granting probation or suspending imposition of any
sentence imposed following the conviction or entry of the plea, one (1) or more
or the following in the last ten (10) years, subject to the provisions of KRS
Chapter 335B:
(a) A felony;
(b) An act involving moral turpitude or gross
immorality; or
(c) A violation of
any law, rule, or administrative regulation of this state, any other state, or
the United States government that involves the use or trafficking of illegal
substances;
(4) Have a
high school diploma or general equivalency degree (GED);
(5) Pay the initial certification fee as
specified in
201 KAR 16:514;
(6) Be employed by a board-certified animal
control agency; and
(7) Have
successfully completed a board approved sixteen (16) hour euthanasia by
injection course as established in Section 2 of this administrative regulation
within twelve (12) months prior to application.
Section 2. Euthanasia by Injection (EBI)
Training Course Curriculum.
(1) The
curriculum for the sixteen (16) hour EBI course shall provide information on
the following subjects:
(a) Pharmacology,
proper administration, and storage of euthanasia solutions that shall consist
of a minimum of eight (8) hours;
(b) Federal and state laws regulating the
storage and accountability for euthanasia solutions and drugs used to assist in
euthanasia;
(c) Euthanasia
specialist stress management and compassion fatigue;
(d) Proper animal handling with emphasis on
easing the trauma and stress to the animal; and
(e) Disposal of euthanized animals.
(2) An EBI training course shall
be reviewed and approved by the board prior to presentation. A provider of an
EBI training shall submit the following information to the board for
consideration of approval:
(a) A published
course or similar description;
(b)
Names and qualifications of current instructors;
(c) A copy of the program agenda indicating
hours of education, refreshment, and lunch breaks;
(d) A copy of the full program
curriculum;
(e) A copy of an
official certificate of completion from the sponsoring agency; and
(f) Upon completion of the instruction of a
sixteen (16)-hour euthanasia course, a complete attendee list to the board,
including the following:
1. The dates and
locations of the course;
2. Each
attendee's full name and address; and
3. Notation by an individual's name if the
course was not completed, or more than fifteen (15) consecutive minutes of any
portion of the course was missed.
Section 3. An application to the board for
certification as an animal euthanasia specialist shall include the following
components:
(1) A completed application on an
Application for Certification as an Animal Euthanasia Specialist form or online
equivalent form, including all required attachments;
(2) An official copy of final transcripts or
a copy of the applicant's diploma from high school, or GED certificate, or
highest level of education attained;
(3) A copy of a certificate of completion
from a board approved sixteen (16)-hour euthanasia by injection training
course; and
(4) Payment for the
application fee pursuant to
201 KAR 16:514.
Section 4. An individual with an
expired animal euthanasia specialist certificate may reinstate their
certificate if not more than five (5) years have elapsed since the last date of
certificate expiration. Reinstatement applications seeking board approval for
certification as an animal euthanasia specialist shall include the following
components:
(1) A completed application on a
Reinstatement Application for Animal Euthanasia Specialists form or online
equivalent form, including all required attachments; and
(2) Payment for the application fee pursuant
to 201 KAR 16:514.
Section 5. An application to the
board for approval for a change in licensure status shall be made in accordance
with 201 KAR 16:580.
Section 6. Background Checks. The board may
conduct a national or jurisdictional level background check on each applicant
for certification. The check shall be processed by a board approved background
check provider, and may include a copy of the applicant's fingerprints captured
at a board approved location. The board may accept the results of an employment
background check from the county office in lieu of a state or federal
background check if the background check results are not more than six (6)
months old from the date of application. The board may reject background checks
that do not have an official seal or watermark, or that are more than ninety
(90) days old. The board may impose additional requirements as a condition of
certification or deny certification following the board's review of findings
from a background check.
Section 7.
Employment and Termination.
(1) A person may
function as a certified animal euthanasia specialist only while the person
remains employed by a board-certified animal control agency in the Commonwealth
of Kentucky.
(2) Upon termination
of employment with a certified animal control agency or upon expiration of the
certified animal control agency's certificate, a certified animal euthanasia
specialist's certificate status shall automatically be moved by the board from
an active to inactive status. The inactive certified individual shall not
perform animal euthanasia until the person has obtained employment with a
certified animal control agency with a certificate in active status, and
applied to the board and been approved to move the animal euthanasia specialist
certificate back into active status in accordance with
201 KAR 16:580.
Section 8. Disciplinary Action. A
certified animal euthanasia specialist shall be subject to disciplinary action
pursuant to KRS
321.235 and
321.351 for a violation of state
or federal statutes or administrative regulations.
Section 9. Incorporation by Reference.
(1) The following material is incorporated by
reference:
(a) "Application for Certification
as an Animal Euthanasia Specialist", 3/2023; and
(b) "Reinstatement Application for Animal
Euthanasia Specialists", 12/2022.
(2) This material may be inspected, copied,
or obtained, subjected to applicable copyright law, at the Kentucky Board of
Veterinary Examiners, 107 Corporate Drive, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, Monday
through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This material may also be obtained at
www.kybve.com.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY:
KRS
321.207(3),
321.235(3),
321.240(5)