36.58 Veterinary diagnostic laboratory.

(1) Duties of the veterinary diagnostic laboratory board. The veterinary diagnostic laboratory board shall do all of the following:

(a) Prescribe policies for the operation of the veterinary diagnostic laboratory.

(b) Develop biennial budget requests for the veterinary diagnostic laboratory.

(c) In accordance with sub. (3), set fees for services provided by the veterinary diagnostic laboratory.

(2) Duties of the veterinary diagnostic laboratory. The veterinary diagnostic laboratory shall do all of the following:

(a) Operate a laboratory that does all of the following:

1. Provides testing and diagnostic services for all types of animals, including fish, in this state, with emphasis on services for farm animals.

2. Provides the diagnostic services necessary to meet the requirements for accreditation by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians.

3. Provides the testing and diagnostic services needed by the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection to discharge the department's responsibilities related to disease control and animal health.

(b) Maintain a regional laboratory in the city of Barron.

(c) In cooperation with the school of veterinary medicine and the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection, participate in research and in the provision of field services, consultation services and education as determined to be appropriate by the veterinary diagnostic laboratory board.

(3) Fees.

(a) Except as provided in pars. (b) and (c), the veterinary diagnostic laboratory shall charge fees for testing and diagnostic services.

(b) The veterinary diagnostic laboratory may not charge a fee for any testing or diagnostic service conducted for the subunit of the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection that is responsible for animal health or for the subunit of the federal department of agriculture that is responsible for animal health.

(c) The veterinary diagnostic laboratory board may identify services that are necessary to protect human health and safety for which the veterinary diagnostic laboratory may not charge fees.

(3m) Appointment of director. After consultation with the veterinary diagnostic laboratory board, the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison shall appoint an individual who has received the degree of doctor of veterinary medicine as the director of the veterinary diagnostic laboratory.

(4) Submission of budget. Notwithstanding s. 15.03, the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System shall process and forward to the department of administration all personnel and biennial budget requests of the veterinary diagnostic laboratory board without change.

(6) Confidentiality of paratuberculosis records. Any information kept by the veterinary diagnostic laboratory that identifies the owners of livestock herds infected, or suspected of being infected, with paratuberculosis is not subject to inspection or copying under s. 19.35 except as the veterinary diagnostic laboratory determines is necessary to protect the public health, safety or welfare.

(7) Confidentiality of records relating to aquaculture. Any information kept by the veterinary diagnostic laboratory that identifies the owners of farm-raised fish, as defined in s. 95.001 (1) (ah), and that relates to testing results or diagnosis is not subject to inspection or copying under s. 19.35 except as the veterinary diagnostic laboratory determines is necessary to protect the public health, safety, or welfare.

History: 1999 a. 107; 2011 a. 32, 207; 2013 a. 20 ss. 2365m, 9448.