(1) The following acts constitute grounds for which the disciplinary actions in subsection (3) may be taken:

(a) Violation of any provision of s. 492.112 or any other provision of this chapter.

(b) Attempting to procure a license to practice professional geology by bribery or fraudulent misrepresentations.

(c) Having a license to practice professional geology revoked, suspended, or otherwise acted against, including the denial of licensure by the licensing authority of another state, territory, or country.

(d) Being convicted or found guilty of, or entering a plea of nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a crime in any jurisdiction which directly relates to the practice of professional geology or the ability to practice professional geology.

(e) Making or filing a report or record that the licensee knows to be false, willfully failing to file a report or record required by state or federal law, willfully impeding or obstructing such filing, or inducing another person to impede or obstruct such filing. Such reports or records include only those that are signed in the capacity of a licensed professional geologist.

(f) Advertising goods or services in a manner that is fraudulent, false, deceptive, or misleading in form or content.

(g) Committing an act of fraud or deceit, negligence, incompetence, or misconduct in the practice of professional geology.

(h) Violation of chapter 455.

(i) Practicing on a revoked, suspended, inactive, or delinquent license.

(j) Affixing or permitting to be affixed her or his name to geological papers, reports, or documents that were not prepared by her or him or under her or his responsible supervision, direction, or control.

(k) Violating a rule of the department or board or any order of the department or board previously entered in a disciplinary hearing.

(2) The board shall specify, by rule, what acts or omissions constitute a violation of subsection (1).

(3) When the board finds any person guilty of any of the grounds set forth in subsection (1), it may enter an order imposing one or more of the following penalties:

(a) Denial of an application for licensure.

(b) Revocation or suspension of a license.

(c) Imposition of an administrative fine not to exceed $1,000 for each count or separate offense.

(d) Issuance of a reprimand.

(e) Placement of the licensee on probation for a period of time and subject to such conditions as the board may specify.

(f) Restriction of the authorized scope of practice by the licensee.

(4) The department shall reissue the license of a disciplined professional geologist or business upon certification by the board that the disciplined person has complied with all of the terms and conditions set forth in the final order.

History.—ss. 13, 19, ch. 87-403; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 293, ch. 94-119; s. 524, ch. 97-103; s. 157, ch. 98-166; s. 218, ch. 2000-160; s. 63, ch. 2000-356; s. 3, ch. 2004-294.