1. If a committee designated by the Board to conduct an investigation of a complaint decides to proceed with disciplinary action, it shall bring charges against the licensee by filing a formal complaint. The formal complaint must include a written statement setting forth the charges alleged and setting forth in concise and plain language each act or omission of the respondent upon which the charges are based. The formal complaint must be prepared with sufficient clarity to ensure that the respondent is able to prepare a defense. The formal complaint must specify any applicable law or regulation that the respondent is alleged to have violated. The formal complaint may be signed by the chair of the investigative committee or the legal counsel for the Board.

2. The respondent may file an answer to the formal complaint within 20 days after service of the complaint upon the respondent. An answer must state in concise and plain language the respondent’s defenses to each charge set forth in the complaint and must admit or deny the averments stated in the complaint. If a party fails to file an answer within the time prescribed, the party shall be deemed to have denied generally the allegations of the formal complaint and the Board or an investigative committee of the Board may proceed pursuant to this section in the same manner as if the answer were timely filed.

3. Within 20 days after the filing of an answer or 20 days after the date on which an answer is due, whichever is earlier, the parties shall hold an early case conference at which the parties and a hearing officer appointed by the Board or a member of the Board must preside. At the early case conference, the parties shall in good faith:

(a) Set the earliest possible hearing date agreeable to the parties and the hearing officer, panel of the Board or the Board, including the estimated duration of the hearing;

(b) Set dates:

(1) By which all documents must be exchanged;

(2) By which all prehearing motions and responses thereto must be filed;

(3) On which to hold the prehearing conference; and

(4) For any other foreseeable actions that may be required for the matter;

(c) Discuss or attempt to resolve all or any portion of the evidentiary or legal issues in the matter;

(d) Discuss the potential for settlement of the matter on terms agreeable to the parties; and

(e) Discuss and deliberate any other issues that may facilitate the timely and fair conduct of the matter.

4. If the Board receives a report pursuant to subsection 5 of NRS 228.420, such a hearing must be held within 30 days after receiving the report. The Board shall notify the licensee of the charges brought against him or her, the time and place set for the hearing, and the possible sanctions authorized in NRS 630.352.

5. A formal hearing must be held at the time and date set at the early case conference by:

(a) The Board;

(b) A hearing officer;

(c) A member of the Board designated by the Board or an investigative committee of the Board;

(d) A panel of members of the Board designated by an investigative committee of the Board or the Board;

(e) A hearing officer together with not more than one member of the Board designated by an investigative committee of the Board or the Board; or

(f) A hearing officer together with a panel of members of the Board designated by an investigative committee of the Board or the Board. If the hearing is before a panel, at least one member of the panel must not be a physician.

6. At any hearing at which at least one member of the Board presides, whether in combination with a hearing officer or other members of the Board, the final determinations regarding credibility, weight of evidence and whether the charges have been proven must be made by the members of the Board. If a hearing officer presides together with one or more members of the Board, the hearing officer shall:

(a) Conduct the hearing;

(b) In consultation with each member of the Board, make rulings upon any objections raised at the hearing;

(c) In consultation with each member of the Board, make rulings concerning any motions made during or after the hearing; and

(d) Within 30 days after the conclusion of the hearing, prepare and file with the Board written findings of fact and conclusions of law in accordance with the determinations made by each member of the Board.

(Added to NRS by 1977, 826; A 1983, 306; 1985, 2242; 1987, 202; 1993, 783, 2303; 2009, 2968; 2015, 497)