Effective 28 Aug 2002

190.531. Refusal to issue or denial of renewal of licenses permitted — complaint procedure — rules — immunity from liability, when — suspension of license, when. — 1. The department may refuse to issue or deny renewal of any license required pursuant to sections 190.525 to 190.537 for failure to comply with the provisions of sections 190.525 to 190.537 or any lawful regulations promulgated by the department to implement the provisions of sections 190.525 to 190.537. The department shall notify the applicant in writing of the reasons for the refusal and shall advise the applicant of his or her right to file a complaint with the administrative hearing commission as provided by chapter 621.

2. The department may cause a complaint to be filed with the administrative hearing commission as provided by chapter 621 against any holder of any license required by sections 190.525 to 190.537 or any person who has failed to renew or has surrendered his or her license for failure to comply with the provisions of sections 190.525 to 190.537 or any lawful regulations promulgated by the department to implement such sections. Those regulations shall be limited to the following:

(1) Use or unlawful possession of any controlled substance, as defined in chapter 195, or alcoholic beverage to an extent that such use impairs a person's ability to perform the work of any activity licensed or regulated by sections 190.525 to 190.537;

(2) Being finally adjudicated and found guilty, or having entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, in a criminal prosecution pursuant to the laws of any state or of the United States, for any offense reasonably related to the qualifications, functions or duties of any activity licensed or regulated pursuant to sections 190.525 to 190.537, for any offense an essential element of which is fraud, dishonesty or an act of violence, or for any offense involving moral turpitude, whether or not sentence is imposed;

(3) Use of fraud, deception, misrepresentation or bribery in securing any certificate, permit or license issued pursuant to sections 190.525 to 190.537 or in obtaining permission to take any examination given or required pursuant to sections 190.537 to 190.540;

(4) Obtaining or attempting to obtain any fee, charge, tuition or other compensation by fraud, deception or misrepresentation;

(5) Incompetency, misconduct, gross negligence, fraud, misrepresentation or dishonesty in the performance of the functions or duties of any activity licensed or regulated by sections 190.525 to 190.537;

(6) Violation of, or assisting or enabling any person to violate, any provision of sections 190.525 to 190.537, or of any lawful rule or regulation adopted by the department pursuant to sections 190.525 to 190.537;

(7) Impersonation of any person holding a license or allowing any person to use his or her license;

(8) Disciplinary action against the holder of a license or other right to practice any activity regulated by sections 190.525 to 190.537 granted by another state, territory, federal agency or country upon grounds for which revocation or suspension is authorized in this state;

(9) For an individual, being finally adjudged insane or incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction;

(10) Issuance of a license based upon a material mistake of fact;

(11) Violation of any professional trust or confidence;

(12) Use of any advertisement or solicitation which is false, misleading or deceptive to the general public or persons to whom the advertisement or solicitation is primarily directed;

(13) Violation of the drug laws or rules and regulations of this state, any other state or the federal government;

(14) Refusal of any applicant or licensee to cooperate with the department of health and senior services during any investigation;

(15) Any conduct or practice which is or might be harmful or dangerous to the mental or physical health of a patient or the public;

(16) Repeated negligence in the performance of the functions or duties of any activity licensed by this chapter.

3. After the filing of such complaint, the proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 621. Upon a finding by the administrative hearing commission that the grounds, as provided in subsection 2 of this section, for disciplinary action are met, the department may, singly or in combination, censure or place the person named in the complaint on probation on such terms and conditions as the department deems appropriate for a period not to exceed five years, or may suspend, for a period not to exceed three years, or revoke the license.

4. An individual whose license has been revoked shall wait one year from the date of revocation to apply for relicensure. Relicensure shall be at the discretion of the department after compliance with all the requirements of sections 190.525 to 190.537 relative to the licensing of an applicant for the first time.

5. The department may notify the proper licensing authority of any other state in which the person whose license was suspended or revoked was also licensed of the suspension or revocation.

6. Any person, organization, association or corporation who reports or provides information to the department pursuant to the provisions of sections 190.525 to 190.537 and who does so in good faith and without negligence shall not be subject to an action for civil damages as a result thereof.

7. The department of health and senior services may suspend any license required pursuant to sections 190.525 to 190.537 simultaneously with the filing of the complaint with the administrative hearing commission as set forth in subsection 2 of this section, if the department finds that there is an imminent threat to the public health. The notice of suspension shall include the basis of the suspension and notice of the right to appeal such suspension. The licensee may appeal the decision to suspend the license to the department. The appeal shall be filed within ten days from the date of the filing of the complaint. A hearing shall be conducted by the department within ten days from the date the appeal is filed. The suspension shall continue in effect until the conclusion of the proceedings, including review thereof, unless sooner withdrawn by the department, dissolved by a court of competent jurisdiction or stayed by the administrative hearing commission.

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(L. 2002 S.B. 1107)