(a) All veterinary premises shall be registered with the board. The certificate of registration shall be on a form prescribed in accordance with Section 164.

(b) “Premises” for the purpose of this chapter shall mean the location of operation where veterinary medicine, veterinary dentistry, veterinary surgery, and the various branches thereof is being practiced and shall include a building, kennel, mobile unit, or vehicle. Mobile units and vehicles shall be exempted from independent registration with the board if they are operated from a building or facility that is the licensee manager’s principal place of business and the building is registered with the board, and the registration identifies and declares the use of the mobile unit or vehicle.

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(c) The owner or operator of a veterinary premises shall submit a premises registration application to the board. The application shall set forth the name of each owner or operator of the premises, including the type of corporate entity, if applicable, the name of the premises, and the name of the responsible licensee manager who is to act for and on behalf of the registered premises. Substitution of the responsible licensee manager may be accomplished by application to the board if the following conditions are met:

(1) The person substituted qualifies by presenting satisfactory evidence that the person possesses a valid, unexpired, and unrevoked license as provided by this chapter and that the license is not currently under suspension.

(2) No circumvention of the law is contemplated by the substitution.

(d) If the owner or operator of a veterinary premises is a veterinary corporation practicing pursuant to Article 6 (commencing with Section 4910), the application shall set forth the names and titles of each officer, director, or shareholder. Any changes in the officers, directors, or shareholders shall be reported to the board within 30 days.

(e) If the owner or operator of a veterinary premises is a corporation or other artificial legal entity other than a veterinary corporation as provided under subdivision (d), the application shall set forth the names and titles of all owners, officers, general partners, if any, and the agent for service of process. Any changes in the owners, officers, general partners, or agent for service of process shall be reported to the board within 30 days.

(f) The premises registration is nontransferable. In the event of change of an owner or operator of the premises, the premises registration holder shall notify the board of the change within 30 days after the change.

(g) This section does not authorize any person, corporation, or artificial legal entity, other than a California-licensed veterinarian or a veterinary corporation practicing pursuant to Article 6 (commencing with Section 4910) and the Moscone-Knox Professional Corporation Act (Part 4 (commencing with Section 13400) of Division 3 of Title 1 of the Corporations Code), to furnish to any person or animal patient any veterinary services, diagnosis, or treatment within the scope of California veterinarian licensure under this chapter. This section does not authorize any person, other than a California-licensed veterinarian within the scope of their license, to engage directly or indirectly in the practice of veterinary medicine, veterinary surgery, veterinary dentistry, and the various branches thereof in accordance with Section 4826. This section does not regulate, govern, or affect in any manner the practice of veterinary medicine, veterinary surgery, or veterinary dentistry by any person duly licensed to engage in such practice.

(h) The location where a veterinarian practices telehealth shall be exempt from the requirement that it be registered pursuant to this section if all of the following requirements are satisfied:

(1) The veterinarian does not perform in-person examination or treatment of animal patients at the location.

(2) No veterinary drug, medicine, appliance, or medical equipment is kept at the location.

(3) The veterinary medical records required pursuant to Sections 4855 and 4856 are created, maintained, and stored so as to protect the veterinary medical records from access by unauthorized individuals, damage, or loss.

(4) The following information shall be provided on any electronic publication, including any internet website, through which the veterinarian provides or offers to provide veterinary medical services:

(A) The veterinarian’s name, contact information, and California veterinarian license number, prominently displayed.

(B) Contact information and instruction for obtaining a copy of the animal patient’s medical records.

(C) A statement that a client may contact the Veterinary Medical Board if the client has any questions or complaints regarding the veterinarian.

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 475, Sec. 5. (AB 1399) Effective January 1, 2024.)