State Codes and Statutes
Statutes > West-virginia > 30 > 30-10-19§30-10-19. Same -- Rights and limitations generally; biennial registration; fee; when practice to cease; admissibility and effect of certificate signed by board; penalty.
(a) A veterinary medical corporation may practice veterinary medicine and surgery only through individual veterinarians duly licensed to practice veterinary medicine or surgery in the state of West Virginia, but such veterinarians may be employees rather than shareholders of such corporation, and nothing herein contained shall be construed to require a license for or other legal authorization of any individual employed by such corporation to perform services for which no license or other legal authorization is otherwise required. A corporation holding such certificate of authorization shall register biennially, on or before the thirtieth day of June, on a form prescribed by the board, and shall pay an annual registration fee of fifty dollars.
(b) A veterinary medical corporation holding a certificate of authorization shall cease to engage in the practice of veterinary medicine and surgery upon being notified by the board that any of its shareholders is no longer a duly licensed veterinarian, or when any shares of such corporation have been sold or disposed of to a person who is not a duly licensed veterinarian: Provided, That the personal representative of a deceased shareholder shall have a period, not to exceed twelve months from the date of such shareholder's death, to dispose of such shares; but nothing contained herein shall be construed as affecting the existence of such corporation or its right to continue to operate for all lawful purposes other than the practice of veterinary medicine and surgery.
(c) No corporation shall practice veterinary medicine or surgery, or any of its branches, or hold itself out as being capable of doing so, without a certificate from the board; nor shall any corporation practice veterinary medicine or surgery or any of its branches, or hold itself out as being capable of doing so, after its certificate has been revoked, or if suspended, during the term of such suspension. A certificate signed by the secretary of the board to which is affixed the official seal of the board to the effect that it appears from the records of the board that no such certificate to practice veterinary medicine or surgery or any of its branches in the state has been issued to any such corporation specified therein or that such certificate has been revoked or suspended shall be admissible in evidence in all courts of this state and shall be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.
(d) Any officer, shareholder or employee of such corporation who participates in a violation of any provision of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars.
