La. Admin. Code tit. 46 § XXV-905

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

Section XXV-905 - Investigation Procedures

A. When the board receives a written complaint, report, or other information which, if established as being true, would constitute just cause under the law for revocation, suspension, denial of license, or any other form of discipline specified in R.S. 37:2717(B), the board may refer the complaint, report or information to the board administrator and/or to the board's designated complaint investigation officer (hereinafter referred to as the CIO). The CIO may be an employee of the board or provide investigation services under contract with the board. The board will stipulate the protocol and manner of the investigator. The board's administrator and staff and/or the CIO shall conduct such investigation or inquiry as the board deems appropriate to determine whether there is probable cause to initiate formal administrative proceedings against the involved social worker. To assist in the investigation, the board is authorized to issue, as necessary or upon request, such investigative subpoenas as may be required to obtain documents, the appearance of witnesses, or sworn statements or testimony.

B. Except for the notice required by §911. B and §937 C, all other notices, correspondence or written communication relating to complaints, investigations, notices of investigations, conferences, decisions, orders, etc., may be served on or delivered to the involved social worker, complainant(s), or witnesses by regular mail or, when deemed appropriate or necessary by the board or its administrator, by personal delivery (service) or other available means. Notices shall be delivered with the designation "personal and confidential " clearly marked on the outside of the envelope.

C. Under normal circumstances, the involved social worker will receive prompt written notice from the board's administrator of the initiation or pendency of an investigation. The notice shall contain sufficient detail of the nature and the basis of the complaint or other information giving rise to the investigation, as well as a preliminary statement of the possible violations involved. The notice shall also provide the social worker with an opportunity to respond in writing to the complaint or to provide other information relating to the investigation. When such notice, in the judgment of the CIO and/or the board's administrator, is likely to prejudice the investigation, the notice may be delayed. Any delay in the notice to the involved social worker beyond the first 20 days of the investigation will require the board's administrator to obtain board approval for any additional delay.

D. Board members as members assigned by the agency to make findings of fact and conclusions of law will not and may not participate in the investigation. No board member shall accept contact or communicate with a social worker involved in an investigation, any person on behalf of the social worker, legal counsel for any party, the complainant, witness, or potential witness. If any of these persons attempt to contact a board member, the board member shall promptly refer the matter to the board's administrator and/or the board's legal counsel. This restriction conforms with R.S. 49:960(A) and is not intended to restrict those routine communications which are in no way related to a case under active investigation or adjudication.

E. The investigation and recommended action or report should be completed within 60 days following the date the investigator receives the board's written referral for investigation. If the board's administrator and/or CIO shows good cause, the board may extend the time for investigation for a reasonable time not to exceed an additional 60-day period.

La. Admin. Code tit. 46, § XXV-905

Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Board of Certified Social Work Examiners, LR 29:2391 (November 2003), amended LR 34:1405 (July 2008), LR 37:2621 (September 2011), amended by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Board of Social Work Examiners, LR 40:306 (February 2014).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 37:2705.C.