This chapter establishes standards which determine the penalty for any licensed veterinarian who violates any statute or Board regulation governing the practice of veterinary medicine in this State. After a hearing, the Board may impose a penalty on a veterinarian: Instead of or in addition to suspending a veterinarian's license; or In addition to revoking a veterinarian's license. The Board may impose a penalty on a veterinarian who does any of the following: Fails to provide direct supervision for employees; Practices veterinary medicine without a current registration; Operates a veterinary hospital without a veterinary hospital license; Fails to conform to minimum sanitary standards for veterinary facilities; Conducts a veterinary practice in a manner which violates professional and ethical standards; Violates a Board regulation after receiving a license; Engages in false or misleading advertising; Obtains a license to practice veterinary medicine by fraud or misrepresentation; Employs or permits an unlicensed person to practice veterinary medicine; Employs or permits a veterinarian who does not possess a current veterinary registration to practice veterinary medicine; Practices veterinary medicine without a valid license issued by the Board; Conducts a veterinary practice incompetently; Violates any federal or State law relating to narcotic drugs; Is convicted of a felony, or of a crime involving moral turpitude; Is deliberately cruel to an animal; or Is grossly negligent in the practice of veterinary medicine. For a violation of Regulation .03A—F of this chapter, a penalty may be imposed by the Board considering the nature and gravity of each violation consistent with the following standards: For the first violation, a penalty of not less than $300 or more than $3,000; For the second violation, a penalty of not less than $600 or more than $6,000; For the third and any subsequent violation, a penalty of not less than $3,000 or more than $10,000. For a violation of Regulation .03G-J, a penalty may be imposed by the Board considering the nature and gravity of each violation consistent with the following standards: For the first violation, a penalty of not less than $600 or more than $5,000; For the second violation, a fine of not less than $3,000 or more than $10,000; For the third and any subsequent violation, a penalty of not less than $6,000 or more than $10,000. For a violation of Regulation .03K—P of this chapter, a penalty may be imposed by the Board considering the nature and gravity of each violation consistent with the following standards: For the first violation, a penalty of not less than $3,000 or more than $5,000; For the second violation, a penalty of not less than $6,000 or more than $10,000; For the third and any subsequent violation, a penalty of not less than $8,000 or more than $10,000. A veterinarian may appeal the Board's decision to impose a penalty as provided in Agriculture Article, § 2-405, Annotated Code of Maryland. A veterinarian shall be notified of this right to appeal. Unless a veterinarian appeals, the amount of a penalty shall be paid promptly to the Board. Agriculture Article, §2-310.1, Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: January 23, 1981 (8:2 Md. R. 117) Regulations .03 and .04 amended effective November 7, 1983 (10:22 Md. R. 1968) Regulation .03 amended effective September 12, 2005 (32:8 Md. R. 1521) Regulation .03 amended as an emergency provision effective May 26, 2010 (37:13 Md. R. 850) Regulation .04 amended effective June 29, 2009 (36:13 Md. R. 900); October 15, 2012 (39:20 Md. R. 1308) Regulation .04B, C amended as an emergency provision effective May 26, 2010 (37:13 Md. R. 850); adopted permanently effective October 18, 2010 (37:21 Md. R. 1437) Regulation .04C amended effective September 12, 2005 (32:18 Md. R. 1521)