A. It is a misdemeanor punishable pursuant to Section 31-19-1 NMSA 1978 for a person to practice veterinary medicine without complying with the provisions of the Veterinary Practice Act and without being the holder of a license entitling the person to practice veterinary medicine in New Mexico.

B. If the board finds that a person or entity has practiced veterinary medicine without a license, the board may:

1. (1) impose a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000);
2. (2) assess the person or entity for administrative costs, including investigative costs and the cost of conducting a hearing; and
3. (3) impose any other sanction as provided pursuant to board rules.

History: 1953 Comp., § 67-11-24, enacted by Laws 1967, ch. 62, § 13; 1999, ch. 243, § 4; 2017, ch. 44, § 6.

ANNOTATIONS

Delayed repeals. — For delayed repeal of this section, see 61-14-20 NMSA 1978.

The 2017 amendment, effective July 1, 2018, provided additional penalties for practicing veterinary medicine without a license; added new subsection designation "A."; in Subsection A, after "misdemeanor", added "punishable pursuant to Section 31-19-1 NMSA 1978", after "for", deleted "any" and added "a", and after "a license entitling", deleted "him" and added "the person"; and added Subsection B.

The 1999 amendment, effective June 18, 1999, rewrote the section which formerly read: "It is a misdemeanor for any person to engage in the practice of veterinary medicine in this state unless he is a licensed veterinarian".