§34-39-16. Complaints; notice and hearing; judicial review.

(a) Any person may file a complaint with the board against any licensed occupational therapist or licensed occupational therapy assistant in the state charging the person with having violated this chapter. The complaint shall set forth specifications of charges in sufficient detail so as to disclose to the accused fully and completely the alleged acts of misconduct for which he or she is charged. When a complaint is filed, the secretary of the board, or the executive director at the request of the secretary, shall mail a copy thereof to the accused by return receipt mail at his or her address of record, with a written notice of the time and place of hearing thereof, advising him or her that he or she may be present in person and by counsel if he or she so desires, to offer evidence and be heard in his or her defense.

(b) At the time and place fixed for the hearing, the board shall receive evidence upon the subject matter under consideration and shall accord the person against whom charges are preferred a full and fair opportunity to be heard in his or her defense. The board shall be bound by the rules of evidence in contested cases under Section 41-22-13 of the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act and all oral testimony considered by the board shall be under oath. If the board finds that the licensed occupational therapist or the licensed occupational therapy assistant has violated this chapter, the board may suspend or revoke his or her licensure, levy a reasonable fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) per violation, or restrict his or her license and require the licensee to report regularly to the board on matters related to the reasons for the restricted license, or any combination of these.

(c) The action of the board in suspending, revoking, or refusing to issue a license may be appealed to the Circuit Court of Montgomery County accompanied by a bond to be approved by the court. The notice of appeal shall be filed within 30 days from the receipt of such order or ruling. Appeals shall be governed by the judicial review provisions of Section 41-22-20 of the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act, except that the review procedure provided therein shall not suspend the action of the board nor stay the enforcement of any order in the suspension, revocation, or refusal of a license.

(Acts 1990, No. 90-383, p. 515, §16; Acts 1991, No. 91-165, p. 221, §3; Act 2013-309, p. 1041, §1.)