§57. Hearing; review

No person shall be dismissed or expelled under the provisions of this Part unless found guilty after a hearing, and review, as provided hereinafter. No person shall be tried under the provisions of this Part unless the administrative head of the public educational institution or public body concerned shall have made a complete investigation of the accusation, shall have found that probable cause exists for such a hearing, and shall prefer in writing a charge specifying the act or acts alleged to have been committed by the person accused. Every such hearing shall be had before a committee of not less than three nor more than seven citizens, some or all of whom might be employees of the public educational institution or public body, appointed by the administrative head thereof.

Not less than ten nor more than twenty days prior to such hearing, a written statement specifying the charges, and setting out the time and place of the hearing, shall be served personally or by registered mail upon the person charged. Such hearing shall be conducted by the committee appointed therefor, and shall not be public unless the person charged so requests in writing. Both the accused and the public educational institution or public body may be represented by counsel, and shall have the right to subpoena, examine, and cross-examine witnesses, all of whom shall be sworn by the chairman of the committee before testifying. A stenographic record of all proceedings at the hearing shall be provided by the administrative officer preferring the charges.

If the committee finds the charge proved, it shall transmit a copy of the proceedings at the hearing to the administrative officer preferring the charges, and shall recommend the dismissal or the expulsion, as the case may be, of the person charged. The governing authority (if any) of the department, board, commission, or agency, and if none, the administrative head thereof, shall review all proceedings at any hearing where the committee conducting it has found the charges proven. If the reviewing authority disagrees with such finding, it shall set it aside, dismiss the proceedings, and notify the person charged accordingly. If the reviewing authority agrees with such finding, it shall approve the proceedings, find the person charged guilty, and dismiss or expel, as the case may be, the person so found guilty.

Any committee conducting such a hearing shall have the same authority to subpoena witnesses, or to order the taking of testimony by deposition, as is now enjoyed by the district courts. Failure to appear at a committee hearing, or to appear to have testimony taken by deposition, or refusal to answer any proper question propounded, shall be deemed contempt of the committee, and certified as such by the committee to the district court having jurisdiction over the parish in which the offender is domiciled. If such person is found guilty thereof by such court, he may be punished in the same manner, and to the same extent, as if he had been guilty of contempt of such court. Perjury committed by persons testifying at such hearing shall be punished in the same manner, and to the same extent, as perjury committed in the district courts of the state.

The written record of all proceedings at all hearings at which the committee found the charges not proved, and in all cases where the reviewing authority sets aside the committee's finding that the charges had been proved, shall be kept confidential, and shall not be deemed public records, except at the written request of the person charged.

Acts 1950, No. 284, §6.