La. Admin. Code tit. 46 § LIII-325

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section LIII-325 - Violations Committee

A. Purpose. Board-designated staff shall receive reports and complaints and review and evaluate findings to determine the nature and disposition of the alleged violation(s). The alleged violation(s) may then be directed to:

1. violations committee for informal hearing;

2. violations committee for interlocutory hearing; and/or

3. special counsel for institution of a formal administrative hearing.

B. Guidelines. If determined appropriate by board-designated staff, the violations committee shall receive and review complaints and determine the disposition of the pending matters based on the following.

1. Seriousness. The seriousness of the alleged offense.

2. Degree. The extent of the alleged violations.

3. History. The history of prior violations.

4. Record. Prior sanctions.

5. Cooperation. Willingness to obey the prescribed laws and regulations.

6. Deterrent. Consider the sanctions as a deterrent to future violations.

7. Remedy. The sanctions are sufficient to remedy the problem.

C. Informal Hearings. The violations committee may conduct an informal non-adversarial hearing with the respondent properly noticed of the inquiry regarding the issues to be discussed. The committee shall receive information and deliberate as to a cause of action regarding a potential violation. The committee may recommend a course of action to the full board or dismiss the allegations by an affirmative majority vote of the committee. Should the violations committee recommend a course of action to the full board, the following shall apply.

1. Disclosure. Respondent's testimony or the work product from the informal hearing of any staff or committee member may not be introduced at any subsequent formal hearing.

2. Recusal. Violations committee members shall not be permitted to participate in subsequent formal board hearings pertaining to complaints or alleged violations heard by the violations committee, unless respondent allows otherwise.

D. Interlocutory Hearings. By interlocutory (or summary) hearing, the violations committee may summarily suspend a license, permit, certification, and/or registration prior to a formal administrative board hearing wherein, based upon the committee's judgment and reflected by adequate evidence and an affirmative majority decision, a person poses a danger to the public's health, safety, and welfare, and the danger requires emergency action.

1. Summons Notice. A summary proceeding summons notice shall be served at least five days before the scheduled hearing to afford the respondent an opportunity to be heard with respect to a potential summary suspension action. The notice shall contain a time, place, nature, and the grounds asserted relative to the alleged conduct warranting summary suspension.

2. Burden of Proof. Legal counsel shall have the burden of proof to support the contention that the public's health, safety, or welfare is in danger and requires summary or emergency action.

3. Evidence. The respondent shall have the right to appear personally and/or be represented by counsel to submit affidavits, documentary evidence, or testimony in response to the cause of action asserted as the basis for the summary suspension.

4. Decision. The committee shall determine whether to grant or deny the summary suspension based upon adequate evidence with an affirmative majority vote substantiated by finding(s) of fact and conclusion(s) of law that the public's health, safety, or welfare is in danger and requires emergency or summary action.

5. Report. The committee shall submit their findings and interlocutory decree to the board when rendered.

6. Suspensive Duration. The summary suspension decree shall be followed by a formal administrative hearing within 30 days from receipt of notice by the respondent.

E. Probation Violation Hearings. Probation violation proceedings shall be initiated upon receipt of information indicating that a respondent is in violation of any of the terms or conditions of his probation.

1. Review. Board-designated staff shall receive and review the compliance officer's report and then determine whether a probation violation proceeding is warranted. Should a probation violation hearing be determined warranted, the violations committee shall proceed by interlocutory hearing or informal hearing as deemed appropriate.

2. Notice. Notice shall be afforded the respondent of the allegation(s) forming the basis of the alleged violation status, and the time and place of the appropriate hearing to be conducted.

3. Disposition. Disposition of the hearing shall be according to the appropriate procedures to informal hearings or interlocutory hearings.

La. Admin. Code tit. 46, § LIII-325

Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Board of Pharmacy, LR 14:708 (October 1988), effective January 1, 1989, amended LR 29:2078 (October 2003), effective January 1, 2004.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 37:1182.