LAC 46:LXXXV.101. Information, Agency Office, Request for Rules or Action

A. Principal Office. The board shall maintain its principal office in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where the records of the board shall be maintained for public inspection by any interested parties during regular office hours. B. Requests for Copies of Public Records. Persons who wish to receive notices of meetings, copies of meeting minutes, copies of the Notice of Intent for a rule change, or any other public information from the board office must submit a written request. The board shall charge the fee set by the Division of Administration for providing copies and mailing documents so requested. Payment may be requested in advance of mailing or otherwise providing documents. Any person indebted to the board may be denied further services until such time as the indebtedness has been cleared. The board may provide copies free of charge to other governmental agencies or when the total charges are less than $1. C. Requests to Review Public Records. Persons who wish to obtain information concerning board activities or to review any public documents on file at the offices of the board, may do so at the principal office of the board during regular business hours. Notices of board meetings, proposed rules, and all other information concerning the activities, functions and actions of the board which are public records shall be available for public inspection at the principal office of the board during regular business hours. D. Submission of Rulemaking Petition. In accordance with R.S. 49:953(C)(l), any interested person may petition the board to adopt a new rule, or to amend or repeal an existing rule. 1. To petition the board for changes to an existing rule or for the adoption of a new rule, an interested person shall submit a written letter to the board. The petition shall include: a. petitioner’s name and address; b. the specific text or a description of the proposed language desired for the adoption or amendment of a rule in the LA Veterinary Practice Act, or the specific rule and language in the LA Veterinary Practice Act identified for repeal; c. justification for the proposed action; and, d. the petitioner’s signature. 2. The rulemaking petition shall be mailed to the board by certified mail and addressed to: LA Board of Veterinary Medicine ATTN: Executive Director 5825 Florida Blvd Baton Rouge, LA 70806 3. Upon receipt, a rulemaking petition shall be reviewed by the full board at its next available meeting date. Within 90 days of receipt of the rulemaking petition, the board shall either: a. initiate rulemaking procedures to adopt a new rule, or to amend or repeal an existing rule; or b. notify the petitioner in writing of the denial to proceed with rulemaking, stating the reason(s) therefore. E. Reports to Licensees. The board shall provide a regular report, which shall include, but not be limited to, notices of changes in policy, procedure, regulations, and/or statutes by the board or other governmental entities and dispositions of disciplinary cases. Other information deemed by the board to be pertinent in its mission of protecting the public health, safety, and welfare in the practice of veterinary medicine shall be printed and mailed to all licensees and other interested parties who have requested in writing to receive this report. The report shall be published not less than one time per fiscal year and may be published more frequently as the president of the board shall order.