Bill Description: House Bill 64 eliminates a statute of limitations for alleged misconduct in the practice of veterinary medicine.

Rating: -1

Analyst Note: House Bill 64 is a complex 22-page bill that makes numerous changes to the Veterinary Practice Act. Some of these changes are minor while others are substantive. For example, existing law states that "all applicants for original licensure or certification" must "submit to a fingerprint based criminal history check." House Bill 64 strikes the word "original" from this statute. Advocates of the bill insist this change is only a technical correction and no additional criminal history checks will be required as a result. But it is not always clear or certain how changes to Idaho Code will be interpreted over time, so additional caution is warranted when lengthy bills with dozens (or even hundreds) of small changes are introduced. 

Does it directly or indirectly create or increase penalties for victimless crimes or non-restorative penalties for nonviolent crimes? Conversely, does it eliminate or decrease penalties for victimless crimes or non-restorative penalties for non-violent crimes?

House Bill 64 amends Section 54-2105, Idaho Code, to remove a statute of limitations for alleged misconduct relating to the practice of veterinary medicine. Current law states, "Complaints not filed within one (1) year after the alleged unlawful conduct occurs will not be investigated. ..." House Bill 64 removes this language entirely, allowing the government to investigate complaints regardless of how long ago the alleged misconduct occurred. 

This change includes no grandfather clause or exceptions, meaning that alleged misconduct that is already subject to the existing statute of limitations could be reopened for investigation. 

(-1)