N.M. Admin. Code § 16.22.11.8

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 21, November 5, 2024

Section 16.22.11.8 - COMPLAINT PROCEDURES

A.Inquiries regarding filing of complaints.

(1) Inquiries made to the board or to a board member regarding a potential complaint will be referred to the board administrator or compliance liaison for a response.

(2) Upon receipt of an inquiry, the board administrator or compliance liaison shall forward to the potential complainant a complaint form with instructions on how to file the complaint. Complaints shall be submitted in writing on the prescribed form, signed, and state the facts upon which the complaint is based. Anonymous complaints will not be investigated, unless the board determines an exception is valid due to unusual circumstances.

(3) Once a complaint, is made, it will come under the provisions of this section and cannot be withdrawn.

B.Procedures for processing complaints. The board administrator or compliance liaison shall:

(1) log in the date the complaint is received;

(2) determine if the subject of the complaint is a licensed psychologist, psychologist associate or an applicant or person otherwise within the jurisdiction of the board;

(3) assign an individual file with a complaint number, which numbering sequence shall begin each new calendar year;

(4) send a letter to the complainant confirming receipt of the complaint;

(5) forward the complaint to respondent with a letter requesting a response to the allegations and any documents or materials relevant to the complaint, unless it will impede an investigation or interfere with the acquisition of documents or relevant papers or the development of the case; and

(6) forward the complaint file to the chair of the complaint committee.

C.Review by the complaint committee.

(1) The chair of the complaint committee is appointed by the board chair and shall consist of a board member and may include the board administrator and compliance liaison.

(2) The complaint committee shall review the entire complaint file to determine if the allegations in the complaint are substantiated and constitute grounds for disciplinary action.

(3) The complaint committee or its designee may employ experts, consultants, or private investigators to assist in investigations of complaints.

(4) The complaint committee, or its designee, on behalf of the board, may issue investigative subpoenas, pursuant to Subsection A of Section 61-1-4 NMSA 1978.

(5) Upon completion of an investigation and review, the complaint committee shall submit to the full board a case summary containing alleged violations of the code, board regulations or the act and recommendations for disposition. Throughout this process, confidentiality of interested parties will be maintained.

D.Review by the full board.

(1) Any board member or any member of the complaint committee who is partial or who believes he is not capable of judging a particular controversy fairly on the basis of it's own circumstances shall not participate in the decision whether to issue a notice of contemplated action and shall not participate in the hearing, deliberation, or decision of the board.

(2) The board shall review the case summary presented by the complaint committee, relevant documents, witness statements, and other pertinent information regarding the complaint. If the board has sufficient evidence that a violation may have occurred, the board shall forward the evidence to the administrative prosecutor for issuance of a notice of contemplated action.

(3) Following the issuance of a notice of contemplated action, the board may at its option authorize a board member, or the administrative prosecutor to confer with the applicant or the licensee for the purpose of settlement of the complaint. Such settlement must be approved by the board, must be with the consent of the applicant or licensee, and shall include a knowing and intentional waiver by the applicant or the licensee of his rights to hearing under the Uniform Licensing Act.

(4) The board may refer a complaint to the attorney general for injunctive proceedings or to the district attorney for criminal prosecution.

N.M. Admin. Code § 16.22.11.8

16.22.11.8 NMAC - Rp, 16.22.11.8 NMAC, 11/15/06; A, 02/22/13, Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXII, Issue 01, January 11, 2022, eff. 2/10/2022