201 Ky. Admin. Regs. 16:560

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 6, December 1, 2024

Section 201 KAR 16:560 - Certification as an animal euthanasia specialist

RELATES TO: KRS 257.160, 321.207, 321.351, Chapter 335B

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 321.207(3) requires the Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners to issue a certificate to a person who meets the qualifications of an animal euthanasia specialist and is approved by the board for a certificate. KRS 321.235(1)(a), (b), and (2)(b) 3. authorize the board to promulgate administrative regulations to implement KRS Chapter 321. This administrative regulation establishes the qualifications for certification as an animal euthanasia specialist, renewal, and reinstatement requirements, and the required course contents for the euthanasia by injection training each applicant is required to receive.

Section 1. To be eligible for certification as a board-certified animal euthanasia specialist an applicant shall:

(1) Be at least twenty-one (21) years of age;

(2) Be of good moral character;

(3) Not have been convicted of, or entered an "Alford" plea or plea of nolo contendere to, irrespective of an order granting probation or suspending imposition of any sentence imposed following the conviction or entry of the plea, one (1) or more or the following in the last ten (10) years, subject to the provisions of KRS Chapter 335B:

(a) A felony;

(b) An act involving moral turpitude or gross immorality; or

(c) A violation of any law, rule, or administrative regulation of this state, any other state, or the United States government that involves the use or trafficking of illegal substances;

(4) Have a high school diploma or general equivalency degree (GED);

(5) Pay the certification fee as specified in 201 KAR 16:514;

(6) Be employed by a board-certified animal control agency; and

(7) Have successfully completed a board approved sixteen (16) hour euthanasia by injection (EBI) course as established in Section 2 of this administrative regulation within twelve (12) months prior to application.

Section 2. Euthanasia by Injection (EBI) Training Course Curriculum.

(1) The curriculum for the sixteen (16) hour EBI course shall provide information on the following subjects:

(a) Pharmacology, proper administration, and storage of euthanasia solutions that shall consist of a minimum of eight (8) hours;

(b) Federal and state laws regulating the procurement, management, and disposal for euthanasia drugs and sedation drugs used to assist in euthanasia;

(c) Euthanasia specialist stress management and compassion fatigue;

(d) Proper animal handling with emphasis on easing the trauma and stress to the animal; and

(e) Disposal of euthanized animals.

(2) An EBI training course shall be reviewed and approved by the board prior to presentation. A provider of an EBI training shall submit the following information to the board for consideration of approval:

(a) A published course or similar description;

(b) Names and qualifications of current instructors;

(c) A copy of the program agenda indicating hours of education, refreshment, and lunch breaks;

(d) A copy of the full program curriculum;

(e) A copy of an official certificate of completion from the sponsoring agency; and

(f) Upon completion of the instruction of a sixteen (16)-hour euthanasia course, a complete attendee list to the board, including the following:

1. The dates and locations of the course;

2. Each attendee's full name and address; and

3. Notation by an individual's name if the course was not completed, or more than fifteen (15) consecutive minutes of any portion of the course was missed.

Section 3. An application to the board for certification as an animal euthanasia specialist shall include the following:

(1) A completed application on an Application for Certification as an Animal Euthanasia Specialist form or online equivalent form, including all required attachments;

(2) An official copy of final transcripts or a copy of the applicant's diploma from high school, or GED certificate, or other highest level of education attained;

(3) A copy of a certificate of completion from a board approved sixteen (16)-hour euthanasia by injection training course; and

(4) Payment for the application fee pursuant to 201 KAR 16:514.

Section 4. Renewal Requirements for a Certified Animal Euthanasia Specialist.

(1) A board-certified animal euthanasia specialist shall renew the board certification annually in accordance with 201 KAR 16:572.

(2) Failure to renew the certificate for an animal euthanasia specialist shall result in expiration of the certificate.

Section 5. An individual with an expired animal euthanasia specialist certificate may reinstate their certificate if not more than five (5) years have elapsed since the last date of certificate expiration. Reinstatement applications seeking board approval for certification as an animal euthanasia specialist shall include the following:

(1) A completed application on a Reinstatement Application for Animal Euthanasia Specialists form or online equivalent form, including all required attachments;

(2) Payment for the application fee pursuant to 201 KAR 16:514; and

(3) Proof of certification in the 16-hour euthanasia by injection training course pursuant to Section 1(7).

Section 6. An application to the board for approval for a change in certification status shall be made in accordance with 201 KAR 16:580.

Section 7. Background Checks. Pursuant to KRS 321.189, the board may:

(1) Conduct a national or jurisdictional level background check on each applicant for certification. The check shall be processed by a board approved background check provider, and may include a copy of the applicant's fingerprints captured at a board approved location;

(2) Accept the results of a state-wide employment background check in lieu of a state or federal background check if the background check results are not more than six (6) months old from the date of application;

(3) Reject background checks that do not have an official seal or watermark, or that are more than ninety (90) days old; and

(4) Impose additional administrative or safety requirements as a condition of certification or deny certification following the board's review of findings from a background check.

Section 8. Employment and Termination.

(1) A person may function as a certified animal euthanasia specialist only while the person remains employed by a board-certified animal control agency in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

(2) Upon termination of employment with a certified animal control agency, a certified animal euthanasia specialist's certificate status shall automatically be moved by the board from an active to inactive status. The inactive certified individual shall not perform animal euthanasia until the person has obtained employment with a certified animal control agency with a certificate in active status, and applied to the board and been approved to move the animal euthanasia specialist certificate back into active status in accordance with 201 KAR 16:580.

Section 9. Disciplinary Action. A certified animal euthanasia specialist shall be subject to disciplinary action pursuant to KRS 321.235 and 321.351 for a violation of state or federal statutes or administrative regulations.

Section 10. Incorporation by Reference.

(1) The following material is incorporated by reference:

(a) "Application for Certification as an Animal Euthanasia Specialist", 07/2023; and

(b) "Reinstatement Application for Animal Euthanasia Specialists", 07/2023.

(2) This material may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subjected to applicable copyright law, at the Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners, 107 Corporate Drive, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This material may also be obtained at www.kybve.com.

201 KAR 16:560

46 Ky.R. 1736, 2470, 2612; eff. 6-30-2020; 49 Ky.R. 1475, 1907; eff. 7/5/2023; 50 Ky.R. 419, 1307, 1478; eff. 4/2/2024.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 321.207(4)-(7), 321.235(1)(a), (b), (2)(b)3