Sec. 205.3541. INFORMAL PROCEEDINGS. (a) The acupuncture board by rule shall adopt procedures governing:

(1) informal disposition of a contested case under Section 2001.056, Government Code; and

(2) informal proceedings held in compliance with Section 2001.054, Government Code.

(b) Rules adopted under this section must require that:

(1) an informal meeting in compliance with Section 2001.054, Government Code, be scheduled not later than the 180th day after the date the complaint is filed with the acupuncture board, unless good cause is shown by the acupuncture board for scheduling the informal meeting after that date;

(2) the acupuncture board give notice to the license holder of the time and place of the meeting not later than the 30th day before the date the meeting is held;

(3) the complainant and the license holder be provided an opportunity to be heard;

(4) at least one of the acupuncture board members participating in the informal meeting as a panelist be a member who represents the public;

(5) the acupuncture board's legal counsel or a representative of the attorney general be present to advise the acupuncture board or the medical board's staff; and

(6) an employee of the medical board be at the meeting to present to the acupuncture board's representative the facts the medical board staff reasonably believes it could prove by competent evidence or qualified witnesses at a hearing.

(c) An affected acupuncturist is entitled, orally or in writing, to:

(1) reply to the staff's presentation; and

(2) present the facts the acupuncturist reasonably believes the acupuncturist could prove by competent evidence or qualified witnesses at a hearing.

(d) After ample time is given for the presentations, the acupuncture board panel shall recommend that the investigation be closed or shall attempt to mediate the disputed matters and make a recommendation regarding the disposition of the case in the absence of a hearing under applicable law concerning contested cases.

(e) If the license holder has previously been the subject of disciplinary action by the acupuncture board, the acupuncture board shall schedule the informal meeting as soon as practicable but not later than the deadline prescribed by Subsection (b)(1).

Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 269 (S.B. 419), Sec. 3.21, eff. September 1, 2005.