§34-5-8. Authority of Board of Barber Examiners; refusal to issue or renew license or certificate; appeals.

The board shall have the power to refuse, revoke, and suspend licenses and certificates strictly in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, upon proof of violation of any sections of this chapter. The members of the board shall have the power to administer oaths and shall have the power to require the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, records, and papers as it may desire at any hearing on any matter which the board has the authority to investigate, and for that purpose may require the secretary of the board to issue a subpoena duces tecum to compel the production of any books, records, or papers, directed to the sheriff of the county where such witness resides or may be found, which subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum shall be served and returned in the same manner as a subpoena in a criminal case is served and returned. The fees and mileage of the sheriff and witnesses shall be the same as allowed in the circuit court of this state. Such fees and mileage shall be paid from the fund of the board on deposit in the treasury for the use of the board in the same manner as other expenses of the board are paid. The board must subpoena all witnesses from whom subpoena is requested by the applicant, licensee, or holder of a certificate; provided, that such request shall be made in writing to the secretary of the board at least 10 days prior to the date set for the hearing. All fees and mileage of the sheriff and witnesses subpoenaed at the request of such applicant, licensee, or holder of a certificate shall be paid by the applicant, licensee, or holder of a certificate, and execution may issue therefor in civil cases in the circuit courts of this state.

The board may refuse to grant or may revoke or suspend any certificate or license issued in any case where the holder of or applicant for such license or certificate shall have been guilty of fraud or dishonest conduct in the taking of the examination herein provided for, or shall be guilty of grossly unprofessional or dishonest conduct, or shall be addicted to the excessive use of intoxicating liquors or to the use of drugs to such an extent as to render him or her unfit to practice in any of the practices or professions set forth in this chapter, or who shall advertise by means of knowingly false or deceptive statements, or who shall fail to display the license or certificate issued to him as provided for in this chapter. The board shall not on any of the grounds in this section stated, refuse to issue or renew any license or certificate nor shall it revoke or suspend any such license or certificate already issued, except after a hearing, of which the applicant or licensee or the holder of the certificate affected shall be given at least 20 days' notice in writing, specifying the reason or reasons for denying the applicant a license or certificate of registration or, in case of a suspension or revocation, the offense or offenses of which the licensee or the holder of the certificate of registration is charged. Such notice may be served by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail to the last known residence or business address of such applicant, licensee, or holder of a certificate. The hearing on such charges shall be at such time and place as the board may prescribe; provided, that such hearing must be held in the county in which such applicant, licensee, or holder of a certificate has his or her place of business.

Findings made by the board are deemed conclusive, unless within 30 days after notice of the decision of the board has been given an aggrieved party, the aggrieved person shall appeal the finding or ruling to the circuit court of the county of his or her residence, or to the Circuit Court of Montgomery County. In the event of such appeal, the circuit court shall hear the same de novo. Such appeal shall be taken by the filing with the board and the clerk of the circuit court of a petition stating the aggrieved person's desire to appeal the findings, and the petition shall specify whether the appeal is taken to the circuit court of the county of his or her residence or to the Circuit Court of Montgomery County. Such aggrieved person shall have a right to demand trial by jury by demanding same at the time of the filing with the board of the notice of appeal. The action of the board shall be stayed pending such appeal. The circuit court shall have the right to affirm, reverse, or affirm in part or reverse in part the finding of the board and shall render such final judgment as to the court may seem just and proper.

In the event the decision of the board is affirmed the cost of such appeal shall be taxed against the party taking such appeal. In the event the decision of the board is not affirmed in whole, the court shall in its discretion tax such cost of appeal against the board or against the person taking such appeal or partly against each; and the court in its discretion may award a reasonable attorney fee to the attorney for the party taking such appeal as part of such cost, in the event the decision of the board is not affirmed in whole.

(Acts 1971, No. 403, p. 689, §8.)