Large veterinary premises corporations: consumer disclosures: additional premises purchases: audit.

Existing law, the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act, establishes the Veterinary Medical Board for the licensure and regulation of the practice of veterinary medicine, and makes a violation of its provisions a crime. The act requires all premises where veterinary medicine, veterinary dentistry, veterinary surgery, and the various branches thereof are being practiced to be registered with the board. This bill would require a large corporation, defined as a for-profit corporation that owns more than 60 veterinary premises in this state, to display on the premises and publish on its internet website its rates for specialized and traditional veterinary care, certain information regarding a price increase of more than 5% in a calendar year, and the percentage of a customer's payment for services rendered that is used for operation costs, patient care, and profits, as specified. The bill would prohibit a large corporation from purchasing an additional veterinary premises unless the board reviews and approves the purchase, as specified. The bill would require the board to conduct a full review and audit of a large corporation's licenses to operate veterinary premises if there are more than 100 complaints and health and safety citations against the corporation in a calendar year. By imposing additional requirements on corporations licensed under the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act, a violation of which is a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.