Bill Text: VA SB55 | 2018 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Professional and Occupational Regulation, Department of; disciplinary actions by regulatory boards.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2018-03-06 - Left in General Laws [SB55 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2018-SB55-Engrossed.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§54.1-201 and 54.1-307 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 54.1-202.1 as follows:
§54.1-201. Powers and duties of regulatory boards.
A. The powers and duties of regulatory boards shall be as follows:
1. To establish the qualifications of applicants for certification or licensure by any such board, provided that all qualifications shall be necessary to ensure either competence or integrity to engage in such profession or occupation.
2. To examine, or cause to be examined, the qualifications of each applicant for certification or licensure within its particular regulatory system, including when necessary the preparation, administration and grading of examinations.
3. To certify or license qualified applicants as practitioners of the particular profession or occupation regulated by such board.
4. To levy and collect fees for certification or licensure and renewal that are sufficient to cover all expenses for the administration and operation of the regulatory board and a proportionate share of the expenses of the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation and the Board for Professional and Occupational Regulation.
5. To promulgate regulations in accordance with the
Administrative Process Act (§2.2-4000 et seq.) necessary to assure continued
competency, to prevent deceptive or misleading practices by practitioners and
to effectively administer the regulatory system administered by the regulatory
board. The regulations shall not be in conflict with the purposes and intent of
this chapter or of Chapters 1 (§54.1-100 et seq.) and 3 (§54.1-300 et seq.)
of this title.
6. To ensure that inspections are conducted relating to the practice of each practitioner certified or licensed by the regulatory board to ensure that the practitioner is conducting his practice in a competent manner and within the lawful regulations promulgated by the board.
7. To place a regulant on probation or revoke, suspend or fail to renew a certificate or license for just causes as enumerated in regulations of the board. Conditions of probation may include, but not be limited to the successful completion of remedial education or examination.
8. To receive complaints concerning the conduct of any regulant and to take appropriate disciplinary action if warranted.
9. [ To provide a regulant subject to a disciplinary
action with a notice advising the regulant of his right to be heard at an
informal fact-finding conference pursuant to §2.2-4019 of the Administrative
Process Act. The notice shall state that if the regulant does not request an
informal fact-finding conference within 30 days of receipt of the notice, the
board may issue a case decision as defined in §2.2-4001, with judicial review
of the case decision in accordance with §2.2-4026. If the regulant asserts his
right to be heard prior to the board issuing its case decision, the board shall
remand the case to an informal fact-finding conference. The notice required by
this subdivision shall be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested or,
if agreed to by the parties, electronic means, provided that the board retains
sufficient proof of the electronic delivery, which may be an electronic receipt
of delivery, a confirmation that the notice was sent by facsimile, or a
certificate of service prepared by the sender confirming the electronic
delivery.
10.
10. ] To promulgate canons of ethics under which the professional activities of regulants shall be conducted.
B. A regulant shall furnish, upon the request of a person to whom the regulant is providing or offering to provide service, satisfactory proof that the regulant (i) is duly licensed, certified, or registered under this subtitle and (ii) has obtained any required bond or insurance to engage in his profession or occupation.
C. As used in this section, "regulant" means any person, firm, corporation, association, partnership, joint venture, or any other legal entity required by this subtitle to be licensed, certified, or registered.
§54.1-202.1. Disciplinary action by regulatory boards
A. A regulatory board shall ascertain the factual basis for its decisions through an informal fact-finding conference in accordance with § 2.2-4019, unless the regulant and the regulatory board agree to resolve the matter through a consent order or the regulant consents to waive such a conference to go directly to a formal hearing. If such a conference has been waived or the conference has failed to dispose of the case by consent, the regulatory board shall conduct a formal hearing pursuant to §2.2-4020. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the regulant without good cause fails to attend or appear at the informal fact-finding conference, the regulatory board may proceed with a default order pursuant to §2.2-4020.2.
B. Any formal hearing held in accordance with this subsection A shall be presided over by a hearing officer pursuant to § 2.2-4024, who shall recommend findings and an initial decision, which shall be subject to review and approval by the regulatory board. Any party aggrieved by the final decision shall be entitled to judicial review pursuant to Article 5 (§2.2-4025 et seq.) of the Administrative Process Act (§2.2-4000 et seq.).
C. This section shall not be construed to limit the authority of a regulatory board to delegate to an appropriately qualified agency subordinate, as defined in §2.2-4001, the authority to conduct informal fact-finding proceedings in accordance with §2.2-4019, upon receipt of information that a regulant may be subject to a disciplinary action.
§54.1-307. Subpoenas.
A. In addition to the authority granted in §2.2-4022
to issue subpoenas and the right to issue subpoenas granted the several
regulatory boards within the Department of Professional and Occupational
Regulation, the Director or a designated subordinate shall have the right to
make an ex parte application to the circuit court for the county or city
or county wherein evidence sought is kept or wherein a licensee does
business, for the issuance of a subpoena duces tecum in furtherance of the
investigation of a sworn complaint within the jurisdiction of the Department or
a regulatory board to request production of any relevant records, documents and
physical or other evidence of any person, partnership, association or
corporation licensed or regulated by the Department. The court shall be
authorized to issue and compel compliance with such a subpoena upon a showing
of reasonable cause. Upon determining that reasonable cause exists to believe
that evidence may be destroyed or altered, the court may issue a subpoena duces
tecum requiring the immediate production of evidence.
B. Any person, partnership, association, or corporation
licensed or regulated by the Department that [ has prevails
on ] a motion to quash a subpoena duces tecum issued
pursuant to subsection A shall be awarded reasonable costs and attorney fees or
$500, whichever is greater.
