(a) The commissioner may take any of the actions authorized under subsection (b) of this section if the youth camp licensee: (1) Is convicted of any offense involving moral turpitude, the record of conviction being conclusive evidence thereof; (2) is legally adjudicated insane or mentally incompetent, the record of such adjudication being conclusive evidence thereof; (3) uses any narcotic or any controlled drug, as defined in section 21a-240, to an extent or in a manner that such use impairs the licensee's ability to properly care for children; (4) fails to comply with the statutes and regulations for licensing youth camps; (5) furnishes or makes any misleading or any false statement or report to the office; (6) refuses to submit to the office any reports or refuses to make available to the office any records required by it in investigating the facility for licensing purposes; (7) fails or refuses to submit to an investigation or inspection by the office or to admit authorized representatives of the office at any reasonable time for the purpose of investigation, inspection or licensing; (8) fails to provide, maintain, equip and keep in safe and sanitary condition premises established for or used by the campers pursuant to minimum standards prescribed by the office or by ordinances or regulations applicable to the location of such facility; or (9) wilfully or deliberately violates any of the provisions of this chapter.

(b) The commissioner, after a contested case hearing held in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, may take any of the following actions, singly or in combination, in any case in which the commissioner finds that there has been a substantial failure to comply with the requirements established under sections 19a-420 to 19a-428, inclusive, the Public Health Code or regulations adopted pursuant to section 19a-428: (1) Revoke a license; (2) suspend a license; (3) impose a civil penalty of not more than one hundred dollars per violation for each day of occurrence; (4) place a licensee on probationary status and require such licensee to report regularly to the office on the matters that are the basis of the probation; (5) restrict the acquisition of other facilities for a period of time set by the commissioner; or (6) impose limitations on a license.

(c) The commissioner shall notify the licensee, in writing, of the commissioner's intention to suspend or revoke the license or to impose a licensure action. The licensee may, if aggrieved by such intended action, make application for a hearing, in writing, over the licensee's signature to the commissioner. The licensee shall state in the application in plain language the reasons why the licensee claims to be aggrieved. The application shall be delivered to the commissioner not later than thirty days after the licensee's receipt of notification of the intended action.

(d) The commissioner shall hold a hearing not later than sixty days after receipt of such application and shall, at least ten days prior to the date of such hearing, mail a notice, giving the time and place of the hearing, to the licensee. The hearing may be conducted by the commissioner or by a hearing officer appointed by the commissioner, in writing. The licensee and the commissioner or hearing officer may issue subpoenas requiring the attendance of witnesses. The licensee shall be entitled to be represented by counsel and a transcript of the hearing shall be made. If the hearing is conducted by a hearing officer, the hearing officer shall state the hearing officer's findings and make a recommendation to the commissioner on the issue of revocation or suspension or the intended licensure action.

(e) The commissioner, based upon the findings and recommendation of the hearing officer, or after a hearing conducted by the commissioner, shall render the commissioner's decision, in writing, suspending, revoking or continuing the license or regarding the intended licensure action. A copy of the decision shall be sent by certified mail to the licensee. The decision revoking or suspending the license or a decision imposing a licensure action shall become effective thirty days after it is mailed by registered or certified mail to the licensee. A licensee aggrieved by the decision of the commissioner may appeal in the same manner as provided in section 19a-85.

(f) The provisions of subsections (c) to (e), inclusive, of this section shall not apply to the denial of an initial application for a license under section 19a-421, provided the commissioner notifies the applicant of any such denial and the reasons for such denial by mailing written notice to the applicant at the applicant's address shown on the license application.

(g) If the office determines that the health, safety or welfare of a child or staff person at a youth camp requires imperative emergency action by the office to halt an activity being provided at the camp, the office may issue a cease and desist order limiting the license and requiring the immediate cessation of the activity. The office shall provide the licensee with an opportunity for a hearing regarding the issuance of a cease and desist order. Such hearing shall be held not later than ten business days after the date of issuance of the order. Upon receipt of such order, the licensee shall cease providing the activity and provide immediate notification to staff and the parents of all children attending the camp that such activity has ceased at the camp until such time as the cease and desist order is dissolved by the office.

(h) In addition to the authority provided to the commissioner in subsection (a) of this section, the commissioner may resolve any disciplinary action with respect to the voluntary surrender of a youth camp license.

(1969, P.A. 820, S. 4; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-4, S. 16; P.A. 06-195, S. 9; P.A. 09-232, S. 100; P.A. 14-39, S. 78; P.A. 15-227, S. 18.)

History: P.A. 77-614 replaced department of health with department of health services, effective January 1, 1979; Sec. 19-542 transferred to Sec. 19a-423 in 1983; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-4 deleted provision re appeal of denial in Subsec. (a) and made technical changes in Subsecs. (a) and (b); P.A. 06-195 deleted former Subsec. (a) re denial of applications for original youth camp license, redesignated existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (a) and amended same by replacing provision authorizing department to suspend, revoke or refuse to renew youth camp licenses with provision authorizing department to take any actions authorized under Subsec. (b) and by rewording Subdiv. (4) to authorize department to take disciplinary action against licensees that fail to comply with statutes and regulations for licensing youth camps, added new Subsec. (b) to authorize specific disciplinary actions following contested case hearings, added Subsecs. (c) to (e) re due process and appeal procedures and added Subsec. (f) to exempt denials of initial applications for youth camp licenses from due process and appeal procedures; P.A. 09-232 added Subsec. (b)(6) re imposition of limitations on a license and added Subsec. (g) re issuance of cease and desist orders to halt youth camp activities that imperil health, safety or welfare of children or camp staff; P.A. 14-39 replaced “Commissioner of Public Health” with “commissioner” and replaced “department” with “office”, effective July 1, 2014; P.A. 15-227 added Subsec. (h) re resolution of disciplinary action with respect to voluntary surrender of youth camp license, effective July 1, 2015.