Indiana Code 22-15-5-16. Sanctions; disciplinary proceedings; license denial, suspension, and revocation; appeals; costs
(1) engaged in or knowingly cooperated in fraud or material deception in order to obtain a license to practice, including cheating on a licensing examination;
Attorney's Note
Under the Indiana Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Level 6 felony | between 6 mos. and 2 1/2 years | up to $10,000 |
Terms Used In Indiana Code 22-15-5-16
- Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
- Attorney: includes a counselor or other person authorized to appear and represent a party in an action or special proceeding. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
- Property: includes personal and real property. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
- Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
- Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
(3) advertised services or goods in a false or misleading manner;
(4) falsified or knowingly allowed another person to falsify attendance records or certificates of completion of continuing education courses provided under this chapter;
(5) been convicted of a crime that has a direct bearing on the practitioner’s ability to continue to practice competently;
(6) knowingly violated a state statute or rule or federal statute or regulation regulating the profession for which the practitioner is licensed;
(7) continued to practice although the practitioner has become unfit to practice due to:
(A) professional incompetence;
(B) failure to keep abreast of current professional theory or practice;
(C) physical or mental disability; or
(D) addiction to, abuse of, or severe dependency on alcohol or other drugs that endanger the public by impairing a practitioner’s ability to practice safely;
(8) engaged in a course of lewd or immoral conduct in connection with the delivery of services to the public;
(9) allowed the practitioner’s name or a license issued under this chapter to be used in connection with an individual or business who renders services beyond the scope of that individual’s or business’s training, experience, or competence;
(10) had disciplinary action taken against the practitioner or the practitioner’s license to practice in another state or jurisdiction on grounds similar to those under this chapter;
(11) assisted another person in committing an act that would constitute a ground for disciplinary sanction under this chapter; or
(12) allowed a license issued by the department to be:
(A) used by another person; or
(B) displayed to the public when the license has expired, is inactive, is invalid, or has been revoked or suspended.
For purposes of subdivision (10), a certified copy of a record of disciplinary action constitutes prima facie evidence of a disciplinary action in another jurisdiction.
(b) The department may impose one (1) or more of the following sanctions if the department finds that a practitioner is subject to disciplinary sanctions under subsection (a):
(1) Permanent revocation of a practitioner’s license.
(2) Suspension of a practitioner’s license.
(3) Censure of a practitioner.
(4) Issuance of a letter of reprimand.
(5) Assessment of a civil penalty against the practitioner in accordance with the following:
(A) The civil penalty may not be more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each violation listed in subsection (a), except for a finding of incompetency due to a physical or mental disability.
(B) When imposing a civil penalty, the department shall consider a practitioner’s ability to pay the amount assessed. If the practitioner fails to pay the civil penalty within the time specified by the department, the department may suspend the practitioner’s license without additional proceedings. However, a suspension may not be imposed if the sole basis for the suspension is the practitioner’s inability to pay a civil penalty.
(6) Placement of a practitioner on probation status and requirement of the practitioner to:
(A) report regularly to the department upon the matters that are the basis of probation;
(B) limit practice to those areas prescribed by the department;
(C) continue or renew professional education approved by the department until a satisfactory degree of skill has been attained in those areas that are the basis of the probation; or
(D) perform or refrain from performing any acts, including community restitution or service without compensation, that the department considers appropriate to the public interest or to the rehabilitation or treatment of the practitioner.
The department may withdraw or modify this probation if the department finds after a hearing that the deficiency that required disciplinary action has been remedied or that changed circumstances warrant a modification of the order.
(c) If an applicant or a practitioner has engaged in or knowingly cooperated in fraud or material deception to obtain a license to practice, including cheating on the licensing examination, the department may rescind the license if it has been granted, void the examination or other fraudulent or deceptive material, and prohibit the applicant from reapplying for the license for a length of time established by the department.
(d) The department may deny licensure to an applicant who has had disciplinary action taken against the applicant or the applicant’s license to practice in another state or jurisdiction or who has practiced without a license in violation of the law. A certified copy of the record of disciplinary action is conclusive evidence of the other jurisdiction’s disciplinary action.
(e) The department may order a practitioner to submit to a reasonable physical or mental examination if the practitioner’s physical or mental capacity to practice safely and competently is at issue in a disciplinary proceeding. Failure to comply with a department order to submit to a physical or mental examination makes a practitioner liable to temporary suspension under subsection (j).
(f) Except as provided under subsection (g) or (h), a license may not be denied, revoked, or suspended because the applicant or holder has been convicted of an offense. The acts from which the applicant’s or holder’s conviction resulted may, however, be considered as to whether the applicant or holder should be entrusted to serve the public in a specific capacity.
(g) The department may deny, suspend, or revoke a license issued under this chapter if the individual who holds the license is convicted of any of the following:
(1) Possession of cocaine or a narcotic drug under IC 35-48-4-6.
(2) Possession of methamphetamine under IC 35-48-4-6.1.
(3) Possession of a controlled substance under IC 35-48-4-7(a).
(4) Fraudulently obtaining a controlled substance under IC 35-48-4-7(b) (for a crime committed before July 1, 2014) or IC 35-48-4-7(c) (for a crime committed after June 30, 2014).
(5) Manufacture of paraphernalia as a Class D felony (for a crime committed before July 1, 2014) or a Level 6 felony (for a crime committed after June 30, 2014) under IC 35-48-4-8.1(b).
(6) Dealing in paraphernalia as a Class D felony (for a crime committed before July 1, 2014) or a Level 6 felony (for a crime committed after June 30, 2014) under IC 35-48-4-8.5(b).
(7) Possession of paraphernalia as a Class D felony (for a crime committed before July 1, 2014) or a Level 6 felony (for a crime committed after June 30, 2014) under IC 35-48-4-8.3(b) (before its amendment on July 1, 2015).
(8) Possession of marijuana, hash oil, hashish, or salvia as a Class D felony (for a crime committed before July 1, 2014) or a Level 6 felony (for a crime committed after June 30, 2014) under IC 35-48-4-11.
(9) A felony offense under IC 35-48-4 involving possession of a synthetic drug (as defined in IC 35-31.5-2-321), possession of a controlled substance analog (as defined in IC 35-48-1-9.3), or possession of a synthetic drug lookalike substance (as defined in IC 35-31.5-2-321.5 (before its repeal on July 1, 2019)) as a:
(A) Class D felony for a crime committed before July 1, 2014; or
(B) Level 6 felony for a crime committed after June 30, 2014;
under IC 35-48-4-11.5 (before its repeal on July 1, 2019).
(10) Maintaining a common nuisance under IC 35-48-4-13 (repealed) or IC 35-45-1-5, if the common nuisance involves a controlled substance.
(11) An offense relating to registration, labeling, and prescription forms under IC 35-48-4-14.
(h) The department shall deny, revoke, or suspend a license issued under this chapter if the individual who holds the license is convicted of any of the following:
(1) Dealing in a controlled substance resulting in death under IC 35-42-1-1.5.
(2) Dealing in cocaine or a narcotic drug under IC 35-48-4-1.
(3) Dealing in methamphetamine under IC 35-48-4-1.1.
(4) Manufacturing methamphetamine under IC 35-48-4-1.2.
(5) Dealing in a schedule I, II, or III controlled substance under IC 35-48-4-2.
(6) Dealing in a schedule IV controlled substance under IC 35-48-4-3.
(7) Dealing in a schedule V controlled substance under IC 35-48-4-4.
(8) Dealing in a substance represented to be a controlled substance under IC 35-48-4-4.5 (repealed).
(9) Knowingly or intentionally manufacturing, advertising, distributing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, advertise, or distribute a substance represented to be a controlled substance under IC 35-48-4-4.6.
(10) Dealing in a counterfeit substance under IC 35-48-4-5.
(11) Dealing in marijuana, hash oil, hashish, or salvia as a felony under IC 35-48-4-10.
(12) An offense under IC 35-48-4 involving the manufacture or sale of a synthetic drug (as defined in IC 35-31.5-2-321), a synthetic drug lookalike substance (as defined in IC 35-31.5-2-321.5 (before its repeal on July 1, 2019)) under IC 35-48-4-10.5 (before its repeal on July 1, 2019), a controlled substance analog (as defined in IC 35-48-1-9.3), or a substance represented to be a controlled substance (as described in IC 35-48-4-4.6).
(13) A violation of any federal or state drug law or rule related to wholesale legend drug distributors licensed under IC 25-26-14.
(i) A decision of the department under subsections (b) through (h) may be appealed to the commission under IC 4-21.5-3-7.
(j) The department may temporarily suspend a practitioner’s license under IC 4-21.5-4 before a final adjudication or during the appeals process if the department finds that a practitioner represents a clear and immediate danger to the public’s health, safety, or property if the practitioner is allowed to continue to practice.
(k) On receipt of a complaint or an information alleging that a person licensed under this chapter has engaged in or is engaging in a practice that jeopardizes the public health, safety, or welfare, the department shall initiate an investigation against the person.
(l) Any complaint filed with the office of the attorney general alleging a violation of this licensing program shall be referred to the department for summary review and for its general information and any authorized action at the time of the filing.
(m) The department shall conduct a fact finding investigation as the department considers proper in relation to the complaint.
(n) The department may reinstate a license that has been suspended under this section if, after a hearing, the department is satisfied that the applicant is able to practice with reasonable skill, safety, and competency to the public. As a condition of reinstatement, the department may impose disciplinary or corrective measures authorized under this chapter.
(o) The department may not reinstate a license that has been revoked under this chapter. An individual whose license has been revoked under this chapter may not apply for a new license until seven (7) years after the date of revocation.
(p) The department shall seek to achieve consistency in the application of sanctions authorized in this chapter. Significant departures from prior decisions involving similar conduct must be explained in the department’s findings or orders.
(q) A practitioner may petition the department to accept the surrender of the practitioner’s license instead of having a hearing before the commission. The practitioner may not surrender the practitioner’s license without the written approval of the department, and the department may impose any conditions appropriate to the surrender or reinstatement of a surrendered license.
(r) A practitioner who has been subjected to disciplinary sanctions may be required by the commission to pay the costs of the proceeding. The practitioner’s ability to pay shall be considered when costs are assessed. If the practitioner fails to pay the costs, a suspension may not be imposed solely upon the practitioner’s inability to pay the amount assessed. The costs are limited to costs for the following:
(1) Court reporters.
(2) Transcripts.
(3) Certification of documents.
(4) Photo duplication.
(5) Witness attendance and mileage fees.
(6) Postage.
(7) Expert witnesses.
(8) Depositions.
(9) Notarizations.
As added by P.L.119-2002, SEC.28. Amended by P.L.151-2006, SEC.9; P.L.1-2007, SEC.161; P.L.138-2011, SEC.5; P.L.182-2011, SEC.5; P.L.78-2012, SEC.6; P.L.196-2013, SEC.7; P.L.158-2013, SEC.261; P.L.168-2014, SEC.33; P.L.238-2015, SEC.5; P.L.59-2016, SEC.5; P.L.85-2017, SEC.90; P.L.252-2017, SEC.3; P.L.198-2018, SEC.3; P.L.80-2019, SEC.7; P.L.142-2020, SEC.23.