Proposed bill would increase state board's power

Honolulu

-- Hawaiian lawmakers are working toward giving the state Board of Veterinary Medicine more power, such as increasing the penalty the board can levy for practicing veterinary medicine without a license.

The bill would increase the penalty the veterinary board could issue from a misdemeanor to a class C felony, which carries a jail term of up to 6 months and fines up to $500. It is under consideration by several state House committees.