Court Opinion

ID: 9796890
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 04:07:46.796613+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:51:37.639247
License: Public Domain

PICKARD, Judge.  {41} We concur in all of Judge Kennedy’s opinion with the exception of the discussion of the Board’s per diem and mileage. This opinion represents the majority opinion on the issue of the Board members’ per diem and mileage. As we understand the dissent’s discussion of this issue, it is that the legislature did not intend a recovery of costs to pay Board members’ per diem and mileage to attend disciplinary hearings, because their per diem and mileage is intended to be paid from the license fees of all veterinarians regulated by the Board. Opinion, ¶¶ 33-38. We cannot agree, either as a legal matter or a practical matter. {42} As a legal matter, we agree with the dissent that two of the pertinent, governing statutes are Section 61-14-4(E) of the VPA and Section 61-1^4(G) of the ULA. Section 61-14-4(E) states: Members of the board shall receive per diem and mileage as provided in the Per Diem and Mileage Act ... and shall receive no other compensation, perquisite or allowance. This reimbursement and all other expenses involved in carrying out the Veterinary Practice Act ... shall be paid exclusively from fees received pursuant to provisions of the Veterinary Practice Act. The board shall deposit all fees received pursuant to provisions of the Veterinary Practice Act with the state treasurer for the exclusive use of the board, and money shall be expended only upon vouchers certified by a majority of the board. Id. (emphasis added). Section 61-1-4(G) states: “Licensees shall bear all costs of disciplinary proceedings unless they are excused by the board from paying all or part of th efees or if they prevail at the hearing....” (Emphasis added.) However, Section 61-14-13(A) of the VPA incorporates the ULA into the VPA when it authorizes disciplinary action to be taken against licensees “[i]n accordance with the procedures contained in the [ULA].” {43} It can be seen from this statutory framework that among the “fees” received pursuant to the VPA are the “fees” designated as “costs” collected pursuant to the ULA. Because the word “fees” is used both in the ULA and in the VPA, it appears to us that the legislature intended that the costs assessed in disciplinary proceedings may be considered fees received pursuant to the VPA. {44} As a practical matter, we believe that this result is also well supported. The dissent appears to indicate that the Board members’ per diem and mileage, whether for regular Board meetings or the extraordinary meetings concerned with disciplining members, should come from the members’ regular fees, and not from the disciplined members’ fees that are charged as costs. From a practical standpoint, it appears to us that the Board could well establish its regular schedule of fees pursuant to Section 61-14-5(0 based on its regularly anticipated duties of meeting in the ordinary course, holding examinations, and the like. See § 61-14-5 (establishing Board duties). Pursuant to this view, the extra meetings that are the result of unanticipated disciplinary proceedings are more appropriately charged to the disciplined veterinarian. I CONCUR: JONATHAN B. SUTIN, Judge.