32-2209. Substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation plan; private contract; funding

A. The board may establish a plan for the treatment and rehabilitation of licensees or certificate holders who are impaired by alcohol or drug abuse. The plan shall include education, intervention, therapeutic treatment and posttreatment monitoring and support.

B. The board may contract with other organizations to implement the plan established pursuant to subsection A of this section. A contract with a private organization shall require that the private organization do all of the following:

1. Make periodic reports to the board regarding treatment program activity.

2. Pursuant to a written request by the board or its executive director with direction from the chairman, release all treatment records.

3. Make quarterly reports to the board by case number regarding each participant's diagnosis and prognosis and recommendations for each participant's continuing care, treatment and supervision.

4. Immediately report to the board the name of an impaired licensee or certificate holder whom the organization believes to be a danger to the licensee or certificate holder or to others.

5. Immediately report to the board the name of a participant who refuses to submit to treatment or whose impairment is not substantially alleviated through treatment.

C. The board may allocate up to five per cent from each fee collected from renewal of licenses pursuant to section 32-2219 for implementation of the plan established by this section.

D. A licensee or certificate holder who is impaired by alcohol or drug abuse may enter into a stipulation order with the board, or the licensee or certificate holder may be placed on probation or be subject to other action as provided by law. A licensee or certificate holder who is impaired by alcohol or drug abuse and who self-refers before any board investigation or disciplinary action may enter into a nondisciplinary and confidential contract with the plan administrator for participation in the plan.

E. Participants in the plan are either confidential or known. Confidential participants are self-referred and may remain unidentified to the board, subject to maintaining compliance with their nondisciplinary and confidential contract with the plan administrator. Known participants are under a board order of discipline to complete a minimum tenure in the plan. After a known participant completes the minimum tenure, the board may terminate the board order and reinstate the participant's license to practice veterinary medicine or certification as a veterinary technician.