La. Admin. Code tit. 46 § LX-3909

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section LX-3909 - Formal Hearing

A. The board upon recommendation of the disciplinary committee has the authority, granted by R.S. 37:1101 et seq., to bring administrative proceedings against persons to whom it has issued a license or provisional license upon recommendation of the advisory committee to practice as a licensed marriage and family therapist, provisional licensed marriage and family therapist, or any applicant requesting a license or provisional license. The person has the right to:

1. appear and be heard, either appearing alone or with counsel;

2. the right of notice;

3. a statement of what accusations have been made;

4. the right to present evidence and to cross-examine; and

5. the right to have witnesses subpoenaed.

B. If the person does not appear, either in person or through counsel, after proper notice has been given, the person may be considered to have waived these rights and the board may proceed with the hearing without the presence of the person.

C. The process of administrative action shall include certain steps and may include other steps as follows.

1. The disciplinary committee receives a complaint alleging that a person has acted in violation of the Louisiana Mental Health Counselor Licensing Act, the rules and regulations and ethical standards for licensed marriage and family therapists promulgated by the board for the advisory committee. Communications from the complaining party shall not be revealed to any person until and unless a formal complaint is filed except those documents being subpoenaed by a court.

a. The disciplinary counsel investigates the complaint to determine if there is sufficient evidence to warrant disciplinary proceedings. No board member, other than disciplinary committee members may communicate with any party to a proceeding or his/her representative concerning any issue of fact or law involved in this stage of the proceeding.

b. A decision to initiate a formal complaint or charge may be made by the board if one or more of the following conditions exists.

i. The complaint is sufficiently serious.

ii. The person fails to respond to the Ad Hoc Disciplinary Affairs Committee's correspondence concerning the complaint.

iii. The person's response to the Ad Hoc Disciplinary Affairs Committee letter or investigation demand is not convincing that no action is necessary.

iv. An informal approach is used, but fails to resolve all of the issues.

3. A notice of hearing is issued pursuant to R.S. 49:955, charging the violation of one or more of the provisions of the Louisiana Mental Health Counselor Licensing Act, the rules and regulations and ethical standards for licensed marriage and family therapists and provisional licensed marriage and family therapists promulgated by the board for the advisory committee thereto, or prior final decisions and/or consent orders involving the person.

4. The board chair or disciplinary counsel sets a time and place for a hearing.

a. At least 20 days prior to the date set for the hearing, a copy of the charges and a notice of the time and place of the hearing are sent by certified mail to the last known address of the person accused. If the mailing is not returned to the board, it is assumed to have been received. It is the person's obligation to keep the board informed of his whereabouts. The board will conduct the hearing, with the accused person in absentia, in the event that certified mail at the last known address is unsuccessful.

b. The content of the charges limits the scope of the hearing and the evidence that may be introduced. The charges may be amended at any time up to 10 days prior to the date set for the hearing.

c. If the disciplinary committee is unable to describe the matters involved in detail at the time the sworn complaint is filed, this complaint may be limited to a general statement of the issues involved. Thereafter, upon the person's request, the board shall supply a more definite and detailed statement to the person.

6. Except for extreme emergencies, motions requesting a continuance of a hearing shall be filed at least five days prior to the time set for the hearing. The motion shall contain the reason for the request, which reason must have relevance to due process. The decision to grant or deny a motion to continue shall be left to the discretion of the board chair and may only be granted for compelling reasons.

a. The board chair or disciplinary counsel issues subpoenas for the board for disciplinary proceedings, and when requested to do so, may issue subpoenas for any other party. Subpoenas include:

i. a subpoena requiring a person to appear and give testimony; and

ii. a subpoena dues tecum, which requires that a person produce books, records, correspondence, or other materials over which he/she has custody.

b. A motion to limit or quash a subpoena may be filed with the board, but not less than 72 hours prior to the hearing.

a. The hearing is held, at which time the board's primary role is to hear evidence and argument and to reach a decision. Any board member, who, because of bias, interest, or other conflict is unable to participate in the hearing, shall be recused from the particular proceeding. The reasons for the recusal are made part of the record. The board shall be assisted and advised at the hearing by its general counsel, who shall not participate in any other manner in the investigation or prosecution of charges. The general counsel shall also attend the board's deliberations, advise the board at such deliberations, and assist the board with development and drafting of its findings.

b. The disciplinary counsel who conducted the investigation represents the board and presents evidence that disciplinary action should be taken against the person. The person may present evidence personally or through an attorney, and witnesses may testify on behalf of the person.

c. Evidence includes the following:

i. oral testimony given by witnesses at the hearing, except that, for good cause, testimony may be taken by deposition (cost of the deposition is borne by the requesting party);

ii. documentary evidence, i.e., written or printed materials including public, business, institutional records, books and reports;

iii. visual, physical and illustrative evidence;

iv. admissions, which are written or oral statements of a party made either before or during the hearing;

v. facts officially noted into the record, usually readily determined facts making proof of such unnecessary.

d. All testimony is given under oath. If the witness objects to swearing, an affirmation may be substituted.

9. The board chair presides as chair of the board over all hearings for licensed marriage and family therapists and provisional licensed marriage and family therapists. The customary order of proceedings at a hearing is as follows.

a. The disciplinary counsel makes an opening statement of what he/she intends to prove, and what action, he/she wants the board to take.

b. The person, or his/her attorney, makes an opening statement, explaining why he/she believes that the charges against him/her are not legally founded.

c. The disciplinary counsel presents the case against the person.

d. The person, or his/her attorney, cross-examines.

e. The person presents evidence.

f. The disciplinary counsel cross-examines.

g. The rebuts the person's evidence.

10. Both parties make closing statements. The disciplinary counsel makes the initial closing statement and any final statement.

11. Motions may be made before, during, or after a hearing. All motions shall be made at an appropriate time according to the nature of the request. Motions made before or after the hearing shall be in writing. Those made during the course of the hearing may be made orally, and become part of the record of the proceeding.

12.

a. The record of the hearing shall include:

i. all papers filed and served in the proceeding;

b. all documents and/or other materials accepted as evidence at the hearing:

i. statements of matters officially noticed;

c. notices required by the statutes or rules; including notice of hearing;

d. affidavits of service or receipts for mailing or process or other evidence of service;

e. stipulations, settlement agreements or consent orders, if any:

i. records of matters agreed upon at a prehearing conference;

ii. orders of the board and its final decision;

iii. actions taken subsequent to the decision, including requests for reconsideration and rehearing;

iv. a transcript of the proceedings, if one has been made, or a tape recording or stenographic record;

f. the record of the proceeding shall be retained until the time for any appeal has expired, or until the appeal has been concluded. The record is not transcribed unless a party to the proceeding so requests, and the requesting party pays for the cost of the transcript.

13.

a. The decision of the board shall be reached according to the following process.

i. Determine the facts at issue on the basis of the evidence submitted at the hearing.

ii. Determine whether the facts in the case support the charges brought against the person.

iii. Determine whether charges brought are a violation of the Louisiana Mental Health Counselor Licensing Act or rules and regulations and ethical standards for marriage and family therapy promulgated by the board for the advisory committee.

b. Deliberation

i. The board will deliberate in closed session.

ii. The advisory committee shall make its recommendation as to each charge presented.

iii. The board will vote on each charge as to whether the charge has been supported by the evidence. (The standard will be preponderance of the evidence).

iv. After considering and voting on each charge, the board will vote on a resolution to dismiss the charges, withhold, deny, revoke or suspend any license or provisional license issued or applied for or otherwise discipline a licensed marriage and family therapist, provisional licensed marriage and family therapist, or applicant for licensure or provisional licensure.

v. The board by affirmative majority vote may vote to withhold, deny, revoke, or suspend any license or provisional license issued or applied for in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 37, Chapter 13, or otherwise discipline a licensed marriage and family therapist, provisional licensed marriage and family therapist, or applicant.

c. Sanctions against the person who is party to the proceedings are based upon findings of fact and conclusions of law determined as a result of the hearing. The party is notified by certified mail of the final decision of the board.

14. Every order of the board shall take effect immediately on its being rendered unless the board in such order fixes a probationary period for an applicant or licensee. Such order shall continue in effect until expiration of any specified time period or termination by a court of competent jurisdiction. The board shall notify all licensees of any action taken against a licensee and may make public its orders and judgment in such manner and form as it and the advisory committee deem proper if such orders and judgments are not consent orders or compromise judgments.

15.

a. The board may reconsider a matter that it has decided. This may involve rehearing the case, or it may involve reconsidering the case on the basis of the record. Such reconsideration may occur when a party who is dissatisfied with a decision of the board files a motion requesting that the board reconsider the decision.

b. The board shall reconsider a matter when ordered to do so by a higher administrative authority or when the case is remanded for reconsideration or rehearing by a court to which the board's decision has been appealed.

c. A motion by a party for reconsideration or rehearing must be in proper form and filed within 10 days after notification of the board's decision. The motion shall set forth the grounds for the rehearing, which include one or more of the following.

i. The board's decision is clearly contrary to the law and evidence.

ii. There is newly discovered evidence by the party since the hearing which is important to the issues and which the party could not have discovered with due diligence before or during the hearing.

iii. There is a showing that issues not previously considered ought to be examined in order to dispose of the case properly.

iv. It would be in the public interest to further consider the issues and the evidence.

La. Admin. Code tit. 46, § LX-3909

Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners, LR 29:163 (February 2003), Amended by LR 41753 (4/1/2015).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 37:1101-1123.