A.  The board may revoke, rescind, or suspend the certificate of registration of any interior designer after a hearing by and under the rules of the board and finding that the interior designer is in the opinion of the board guilty of any of the following:

(1)  Gross incompetence, dishonesty, or gross negligence in the practice of interior design.

(2)  Affixing his seal or stamp or name to any specification, drawing, or other related document which was not prepared by him or under his responsible supervision and control, or permitting his seal, stamp, or name to be affixed to any such document.

(3)  Conviction of a felony, in which case the record of conviction is conclusive evidence of such conviction.

(4)  Willfully misleading or defrauding any person employing him as an interior designer.

(5)  Willfully violating the provisions of this Chapter or any lawful rule or regulation adopted by the board pursuant to law.

(6)  Attempting to obtain, obtaining, or renewing, by bribery, by fraudulent misrepresentation, or through an error of the board, a certificate of registration to practice interior design.

(7)  Having a certificate of registration to practice interior design revoked, suspended, or otherwise acted against, including the denial of licensure or registration, by the licensing or registering authority of another jurisdiction for any act which would constitute a violation of this Chapter.

(8)  Being convicted or found guilty of a crime in any jurisdiction which directly relates to the provision of interior design services or to the ability to provide interior design services.  A plea of nolo contendere shall create a rebuttable presumption of guilt to the underlying criminal charge.  However, the board shall allow the person being disciplined to present any evidence relevant to the underlying charge and the circumstances surrounding such plea.

(9)  False, deceptive, or misleading advertising.

(10)  Aiding, assisting, procuring, or advising any unregistered person to use the title “registered interior designer” or to practice interior design contrary to this Chapter or to a rule of the board.

(11)  Failing to perform any statutory or legal obligation placed upon a registered interior designer.

(12)(a)(i)  Making or filing a report which the registrant knows to be false;

(ii)  Intentionally or negligently failing to file a report or record required by state or federal law; or

(iii)  Willfully impeding or obstructing such filing or inducing another person to do so.

(b)  Such reports or records shall include only those which are signed in the capacity as an interior designer.

(13)  Making deceptive, untrue, or fraudulent representations in the provision of interior design services.

(14)  Accepting and performing professional responsibilities which the registrant knows or has reason to know that he is not competent or registered to perform.

(15)  Rendering or offering to render architectural services.

B.  Proceedings to revoke, rescind, or suspend the registration of an interior designer shall commence by any person filing a sworn affidavit with the board against the interior designer.  A time and place for the hearing of the charges shall be fixed by the board.  The board, upon its own motion, may investigate the actions of any interior designer and file a complaint against him.

C.  A copy of the complaint shall be sent by the board to the interior designer against whom a complaint has been filed at his last known address by registered and certified mail at least twenty days prior to the hearing together with a notice of the time and place of the meeting of the board at which the complaint shall be heard.

D.  At the hearing the interior designer against whom a complaint has been filed shall have the right to cross-examine witnesses against him, to produce witnesses in his defense, and to appear personally or by counsel.

E.  No action shall be taken to rescind, revoke, or suspend the certificate of registration of any interior designer unless a quorum of the board is present at the hearing and then only by an affirmative vote of at least four of the members of the board present.

F.  If the board determines upon the suspension of the certificate of registration of any interior designer, it shall fix the duration of the period of the suspension.

G.  If the board revokes, rescinds, or suspends the certificate of registration of any interior designer, the secretary of the board shall give written notice of its action by registered or certified mail to the person against whom the complaint was filed at the last known address.

H.  Any interior designer who has been found guilty by the board of the charges filed against him and whose certificate of registration has been revoked, rescinded, or suspended, shall have the right to appeal to the district court of the parish in which the hearing was held.  The appeal shall be governed by the Administrative Procedure Act.

I.  The board shall have the power to issue a new certificate of registration, change a revocation to a suspension, or shorten the period of suspension, upon satisfactory evidence that proper reasons for such action exist, presented by any person whose certificate of registration as an interior designer has been revoked, rescinded or suspended.  Any person whose registration has been suspended shall have his certificate of registration automatically reinstated by the board at the end of his period of suspension upon payment of the renewal fee.  No delinquent fee shall be charged for reinstatement of registration under the provisions of this Chapter.

Acts 1990, No. 846, §1; Acts 1995, No. 496, §1; Acts 1997, No. 877, §1; Acts 1999, No. 426, §1.