H.F. 92 Section 1. Section 169.14, subsection 1, Code 2011, is 1 amended to read as follows: 2 1. a. The board, upon its own motion or upon a verified 3 complaint in writing, may request the department of inspections 4 and appeals to conduct an investigation of the charges 5 contained in the complaint. The department of inspections and 6 appeals shall report its findings to the board, and the board 7 may issue an order fixing the time and place for hearing if a 8 hearing is deemed warranted. A written notice of the time and 9 place of the hearing, together with a statement of the charges, 10 shall be served upon the licensee at least ten days before the 11 hearing in the manner required for the service of notice of the 12 commencement of an ordinary action. 13 b. If the board receives a verified complaint in writing 14 and determines not to request an investigation, the board 15 shall promptly notify the person making such complaint of its 16 decision. The person making such complaint may petition the 17 board in writing to reconsider its decision within ten days of 18 receiving that notice. The board shall consider and respond to 19 a petition for reconsideration within twenty days. A decision 20 not to request an investigation following a petition for 21 reconsideration shall constitute final agency action. 22 EXPLANATION 23 This bill creates a review process when the board of 24 veterinary medicine decides not to investigate a veterinarian 25 after receiving a written complaint. Currently, animal 26 owners have no recourse with the board when it decides not 27 to investigate. Under this bill, aggrieved animal owners 28 may request reconsideration of the board’s decision not to 29 investigate a veterinarian. 30 -1- LSB 1752HH (1) 84 jr/nh 1/ 1