LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AGENCY
OFFICE OF FISCAL AND MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS
200 W. Washington St., Suite 301
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 233-0696
iga.in.gov
FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
LS 6749 NOTE PREPARED: Dec 27, 2021
BILL NUMBER: SB 177 BILL AMENDED:
SUBJECT: Veterinary Medicine.
FIRST AUTHOR: Sen. Leising BILL STATUS: As Introduced
FIRST SPONSOR:
FUNDS AFFECTED:XGENERAL IMPACT: State
XDEDICATED
FEDERAL
Summary of Legislation: Indiana Board of Veterinary Medicine: The bill changes the name of the Indiana
Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners to the Indiana Board of Veterinary Medicine (IBVM).
State Veterinarian: The bill provides that the State Veterinarian:
(1) serves as the chief administrative officer of the IBVM;
(2) performs the duties delegated by the IBVM to the State Veterinarian; and
(3) provides technical advice and assistance to the IBVM.
The bill also establishes the Indiana Center for Animal Policy to facilitate the coordination of regulatory
duties of the Board of Animal Health (BOAH) and the IBVM. It provides that the State Veterinarian is the
chief administrative officer of the center and the BOAH.
BOAH: The bill requires that the BOAH (not the Professional Licensing Agency (PLA)) perform certain
administrative functions for the IBVM.
Veterinary Investigations: The bill provides that the IBVM (not the Division of Consumer Protection, Office
of the Attorney General (AG)) shall investigate complaints against individuals regulated by the IBVM. It
allows the IBVM to adopt emergency rules. It provides that the IBVM, and the State Veterinarian if
authorized by the IBVM, may subpoena witnesses and compel the production of certain documents as part
of an investigation.
Veterinary Medicine Fund: The bill changes the name of the Veterinary Investigative Fund to the Veterinary
Medicine Fund. It makes various changes to the fund. It provides for transition and makes conforming
SB 177 1 changes.
Effective Date: July 1, 2022.
Explanation of State Expenditures: Administrative Support of the IBVM: The PLA currently provides
staffing and administrative support for the IBVM, which the bill transfers to the BOAH, the State
Veterinarian, and to the IBVM itself (see Additional Information). Transferring administration of the IBVM
to the other entities is expected to result in the shifting of an estimated $51,000 in staff salary and
administrative costs from the PLA. These costs include the approximate salary and benefits for one customer
service representative, as well as board member travel reimbursements for meetings. Actual costs could vary
to the extent current staff of the other entities are able to perform administrative duties for the IBVM within
the entities’ existing levels of resources. Current PLA administrative expenditures are paid from General
Fund appropriations; however, the bill requires expenditures for administering the IBVM to be paid from
the renamed Veterinary Medicine Fund.
Veterinary Investigations: Workload will shift from the AG’s Division of Consumer Protection to the IBVM
to investigate complaints regarding the practice of veterinary medicine with an expired license or registration
or other veterinary practice violations. If the complaint includes a violation in addition to these, the bill
provides that the AG is to investigate. The bill provides that the IBVM, and the State Veterinarian if
authorized by the IBVM, may subpoena witnesses and compel the production of certain documents as part
of an investigation. Under a memorandum of understanding by the AG, the BOAH, and the IBVM, the IBVM
may refer a complaint to and provide funds to the AG for investigation and enforcement.
The AG’s office reports the following number of veterinary investigative files opened in calendar years 2019
to 2021.
Veterinary Investigative Files Opened
by Year and Type
Calendar Year License or
Registration
Conduct
2019 6 58
2020 6 66
2021 12 60
The bill also grants authority to the IBVM to adopt emergency rules if they determine that an emergency
presents a risk to the delivery of competent, honest, and principled veterinary services.
Additional Information:
State Veterinarian: The bill transfers duties regarding the IBVM from the PLA to the State Veterinarian (as
well as any other duties delegated by the IBVM), such as corresponding for the IBVM, permanent record
keeping of all board proceedings, financial record keeping, administering the Veterinary Medicine Fund,
record keeping of all license and registration applications, and maintaining a register of all persons currently
licensed (veterinarians) or registered (veterinary technicians).
SB 177 2 Additionally, the bill provides that the State Veterinarian is the chief administrative officer of the BOAH,
the IBVM, and the new Indiana Center for Animal Policy. The center is composed of the BOAH and the
IBVM and is to facilitate the coordination of regulatory duties of the two entities through a memorandum
of understanding.
Personnel of the two entities may be jointly used with allocation of costs between the two as set by the
applicable administrative standards. The center is to engage in joint outreach and education activities to
support the needs of veterinary practitioners, animal owners, and other stakeholders. To the extent that
activities are streamlined, workload and expenditures could be reduced. However, if joint activities provide
difficulties or reveal increased opportunities for statewide efforts regarding animal health, workload and
expenditures could increase. The State Veterinarian is authorized by the bill to contract for additional
technology, research, or human resources on behalf of either entity with approval of funds.
IBVM: The bill transfers duties from the PLA to the IBVM including the holding of annual examinations for
veterinary licensing and veterinary technician registrations, notifying examinees of results, issuing licenses
and registrations, mailing notices regarding license and registration renewals, and issuing the renewals.
BOAH: The bill transfers duties from the PLA to the BOAH regarding the IBVM including the collection
of fees for veterinary licensing and veterinary technician registrations, providing professional and clerical
staffing and supplies, and administering the Impaired Veterinary Health Care Provider Fund.
Explanation of State Revenues: Veterinary Medicine Fund: Currently, revenues raised from licensing fees
are deposited in the General Fund. A total of $355,600 in General Fund revenue was collected from biennial
licensing fees in FY 2020 and FY 2021. All funds collected for veterinary licensing and registration are to
be deposited into the Veterinary Medicine Fund, which would be nonreverting until the fund reaches
$750,000. Assuming annual administrative costs of $51,000 for the IBVM and license fee collections
consistent with recent years, between $259,000 and $272,000 in revenue in excess of costs per biennium
would be deposited in the Veterinary Medicine Fund, rather than the General Fund, until a $750,000 balance
is reached. The fund would be expected to exceed a $750,000 balance and begin reverting to the General
Fund after FY 2028.
Explanation of Local Expenditures:
Explanation of Local Revenues:
State Agencies Affected: Board of Animal Health; Division of Consumer Protection, Office of the Attorney
General; Indiana Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners; Professional Licensing Agency; State
Veterinarian.
Local Agencies Affected:
Information Sources: Auditor’s Data; Jared Bond, Office of Attorney General; Professional Licensing
Agency; State Staffing Tables;
https://www.in.gov/pla/professions/indiana-board-of-veterinary-medical-examiners/
https://www.in.gov/pla/file-a-complaint/
Fiscal Analyst: Heather Puletz, 317-234-9484; Adam White, 317-234-1360.
SB 177 3