(A) The board may receive complaints by any person against a licensee and may require the complaints to be submitted in writing specifying the exact charge or charges and to be signed by the complainant. Upon receipt of a complaint, the board administrator shall refer the complaint to a designated investigator of the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, who shall investigate the allegations in the complaint and make a report to the board concerning the investigation. If the board desires to proceed further, it may file a formal accusation charging the licensee with a violation of this chapter or a regulation promulgated pursuant to this chapter. The accusation must be signed by the president or vice president on behalf of the board. When the accusation is filed and the board has set a date and a place for a hearing on the accusation, the administrator shall notify the accused in writing not less than thirty days prior to the hearing and a copy of the accusation must be attached to the notice. The notice must be served personally or sent to the accused by registered mail, return receipt requested, directed to the last mailing address furnished to the board. The post office registration receipt signed by the accused, his agent, or a responsible member of his household or office staff, or, if not accepted by the person to whom addressed, the postal authority stamp showing the notice refused, is prima facie evidence of service of the notice.

(B) The accused has the right to be present and present evidence and argument on all issues involved, to present and to cross-examine witnesses, and to be represented by counsel, at the accused's expense. For the purpose of these hearings, the board may require by subpoena the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents and other evidence and may administer oaths and hear testimony, either oral or documentary, for and against the accused. All investigations, inquiries, and proceedings undertaken under this chapter must be confidential, except as hereinafter provided.

(C) Every communication, whether oral or written, made by or on behalf of any complainant to the board or its agents or any member of the board, pursuant to this chapter, whether by way of complaint or testimony, is privileged and no action or proceeding, civil or criminal, may lie against any person by whom or on whose behalf the communication is made, except upon proof that the communication was made with malice.

(D) No person connected with any complaint, investigation, or other proceeding before the board, including, but not limited to, any witness, counsel, counsel's secretary, board member, board employee, court reporter, or investigator may mention the existence of the complaint, investigation, or other proceeding or disclose any information pertaining to the complaint, investigation, or proceeding, except to persons involved and having a direct interest in the complaint, investigation, or other proceeding and then only to the extent necessary for the proper disposition of the complaint, investigation, or other proceeding. However, if the board receives information in any complaint, investigation, or other proceeding before it indicating a violation of a state or federal law, the board may provide that information, to the extent the board considers necessary, to the appropriate state or federal law enforcement agency or regulatory body. Nothing contained in this section may be construed so as to prevent the board from making public a copy of its final order in any proceeding, as authorized or required by law.

HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 396, Section 8.

Editor's Note

Prior Laws:1985 Act No. 191, Section 1; 1976 Code Section 40-75-160.