(A) The state cosmetology and barber board may take disciplinary action under this chapter for any of the following:

(1) Failure to comply with the safety, sanitation, and licensing requirements of this chapter or rules adopted under it;

(2) Continued practice by an individual knowingly having an infectious or contagious disease;

(3) Habitual drunkenness or addiction to any habit-forming drug;

(4) Willful false and fraudulent or deceptive advertising;

(5) Falsification of any record or application required to be filed with the board;

(6) Failure to pay a fine or abide by a suspension order issued by the board;

(7) Failure to cooperate with an investigation or inspection;

(8) Failure to respond to a subpoena;

(9) Conviction of or plea of guilty to a violation of section 2905.32 of the Revised Code;

(10) In the case of a salon, any individual's conviction of or plea of guilty to a violation of section 2905.32 of the Revised Code for an activity that took place on the premises of the salon.

(B) On determining that there is cause for disciplinary action, the board may do one or more of the following:

(1) Deny, revoke, or suspend a license, permit, or registration issued by the board under this chapter;

(2) Impose a fine;

(3) Require the holder of a license, permit, or registration issued under this chapter to take corrective action courses.

(C)

(1) Except as provided in divisions (C)(2) and (3) of this section, the board shall take disciplinary action pursuant to an adjudication under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

(2) The board may take disciplinary action without conducting an adjudication under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code against an individual or salon who violates division (A)(9) or (10) of this section. After the board takes such disciplinary action, the board shall give written notice to the subject of the disciplinary action of the right to request a hearing under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

(3) In lieu of an adjudication, the board may enter into a consent agreement with the holder of a license, permit, or registration issued under this chapter. A consent agreement that is ratified by a majority vote of a quorum of the board members is considered to constitute the findings and orders of the board with respect to the matter addressed in the agreement. If the board does not ratify a consent agreement, the admissions and findings contained in the agreement are of no effect, and the case shall be scheduled for adjudication under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

(D) The amount and content of corrective action courses and other relevant criteria shall be established by the board in rules adopted under section 4713.08 of the Revised Code.

(E)

(1) The board may impose a separate fine for each offense listed in division (A) of this section. The amount of the first fine issued for a violation as the result of an inspection shall be not more than two hundred fifty dollars if the violator has not previously been fined for that offense. Any fines issued for additional violations during such an inspection shall not be more than one hundred dollars for each additional violation. The fine shall be not more than five hundred dollars if the violator has been fined for the same offense once before. Any fines issued for additional violations during a second inspection shall not be more than two hundred dollars for each additional violation. The fine shall be not more than one thousand dollars if the violator has been fined for the same offense two or more times before. Any fines issued for additional violations during a third inspection shall not be more than three hundred dollars for each additional violation.

(2) The board shall issue an order notifying a violator of a fine imposed under division (E)(1) of this section. The notice shall specify the date by which the fine is to be paid. The date shall be less than forty-five days after the board issues the order.

(3) At the request of a violator who is temporarily unable to pay a fine, or upon its own motion, the board may extend the time period within which the violator shall pay the fine up to ninety days after the date the board issues the order.

(4) If a violator fails to pay a fine by the date specified in the board's order and does not request an extension within ten days after the date the board issues the order, or if the violator fails to pay the fine within the extended time period as described in division (E)(3) of this section, the board shall add to the fine an additional penalty equal to ten per cent of the fine.

(5) If a violator fails to pay a fine within ninety days after the board issues the order, the board shall add to the fine interest at a rate specified by the board in rules adopted under section 4713.08 of the Revised Code.

(6) If the fine, including any interest or additional penalty, remains unpaid on the ninety-first day after the board issues an order under division (E)(2) of this section, the amount of the fine and any interest or additional penalty shall be certified to the attorney general for collection in the form and manner prescribed by the attorney general. The attorney general may assess the collection cost to the amount certified in such a manner and amount as prescribed by the attorney general.

(F) In the case of an offense of failure to comply with division (A) or (B)(2) or (3) of section 4713.50 of the Revised Code, the board shall impose a fine of five hundred dollars if the violator has not previously been fined for that offense. If the violator has previously been fined for the offense, the board may impose a fine in accordance with this division or take another action in accordance with division (B) of this section.

(G) The board shall notify a licensee or registrant who is in violation of division (A) of this section and the owner of the salon in which the conditions constituting the violation were found. The individual receiving the notice of violation and the owner of the salon may request a hearing pursuant to section 119.07 of the Revised Code. If the individual or owner fails to request a hearing or enter into a consent agreement thirty days after the date the board, in accordance with section 119.07 of the Revised Code and division (J) of this section, notifies the individual or owner of the board's intent to act against the individual or owner under division (A) of this section, the board by a majority vote of a quorum of the board members may take the action against the individual or owner without holding an adjudication hearing.

(H) The board, after a hearing in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code or pursuant to a consent agreement, may suspend a license, permit, or registration if the licensee, permit holder, or registrant fails to correct an unsafe condition that exists in violation of the board's rules or fails to cooperate in an inspection. If a violation of this chapter or rules adopted under it has resulted in a condition reasonably believed by an inspector to create an immediate danger to the health and safety of any individual using the facility, the inspector may suspend the license or permit of the facility or the individual responsible for the violation without a prior hearing until the condition is corrected or until a hearing in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code is held or a consent agreement is entered into and the board either upholds the suspension or reinstates the license, permit, or registration.

(I) The board shall not take disciplinary action against an individual licensed to operate a salon or school of cosmetology for a violation of this chapter that was committed by an individual licensed to practice a branch of cosmetology, while practicing within the salon or school, when the individual's actions were beyond the control of the salon owner or school.

(J) In addition to the methods of notification required under section 119.07 of the Revised Code, the board may send the notices required under divisions (C)(2), (E)(2), and (G) of this section by any delivery method that is traceable and requires that the delivery person obtain a signature to verify that the notice has been delivered. The board also may send the notices by electronic mail, provided that the electronic mail delivery system certifies that a notice has been received.

Amended by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 49, §101.01, eff. 1/21/2018.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, SB 213, §1, eff. 9/13/2016.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 131, §1, eff. 6/20/2015.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.169, HB 247, §1, eff. 3/22/2013.

Amended by 128th General AssemblyFile No.9, HB 1, §101.01, eff. 10/16/2009.

Effective Date: 04-07-2003 .