California Veterinary Medical Board.

The California Assembly Committee on Business and Professions proposes new oversight measures for veterinarians seeking license reinstatement through legislation that would require fingerprint-based criminal background checks and initiate a comprehensive review of the state's veterinary regulatory board.

The legislation modifies the petition process for veterinarians whose licenses have been revoked or who are serving probation. Under current law, these practitioners must wait between one and three years before requesting reinstatement or changes to disciplinary terms, depending on the severity of the original action. The new requirements maintain these waiting periods while adding mandatory fingerprinting for criminal history verification. Petitioners must also continue providing recommendations from two licensed veterinarians familiar with their post-disciplinary conduct.

The bill directs the Joint Sunset Review Committee to evaluate the California Veterinary Medical Board's operations and cost-effectiveness. This 10-member legislative committee examines state agencies to identify potential inefficiencies and determine whether they should continue operating. The review's findings will inform future legislative decisions about the board's structure and authority.

The board retains its existing discretion to consider factors such as rehabilitation efforts, professional ability, and post-disciplinary activities when evaluating petitions. It may still impose additional terms for reinstatement and requires a five-member majority vote to approve petition requests. The legislation preserves current prohibitions on considering petitions from individuals serving criminal sentences or court-ordered probation.