(a) Any person may file a complaint with the board that a person or firm subject to the provisions of this article has committed a fraud, been deceitful, been grossly negligent, incompetent, guilty of misconduct or has violated the "rules of professional responsibility for professional engineers".

(b) All complaints, unless dismissed by the board as unfounded, trivial or unless settled informally, shall be heard by the board within six months after the date each complaint was received by the board.

(c) The board shall fix the time and place for hearings on complaints and a copy of all charges, together with a notice of the time and place of hearing on the complaint the person or firm complained against or mailed to the last known address of the person or firm at least thirty days prior to the hearing. At the hearing, the person or firm shall have the right to appear in person or by counsel, or both, to cross-examine witnesses and to produce evidence and witnesses in his her or its defense. If the accused person or firm fails or refuses to appear, the board may proceed to hear the complaint and determine the validity of the charges.

(d) If after the hearing a majority of the board votes in favor of sustaining the charges, the board shall reprimand or assess a civil penalty against the person or firm complained against. The board may also suspend, revoke, refuse to issue or refuse to restore or renew an individual's certificate of registration or a firm's certificate of authorization. In addition, the board may place a registrant on probation.

(e) Any person or firm aggrieved by any action of the board in assessing a civil penalty, denying, suspending, refusing to issue, refusing to restore or renew or revoking a certificate of registration or a certificate of authorization, may appeal the board's decision to the circuit court.

(f) Any civil penalty assessed as a result of a hearing shall be paid within fifty days after the decision becomes final.

(g) The board may, upon petition of a person or firm, reissue a certificate of registration or authorization, provided that a majority of the members of the board votes in favor of such issuance.