(a)  After notice and hearing as provided in § 5-1-13.1, the director may: (1) Suspend, revoke, annul, or take other permitted action with respect to any certificate of registration; and/or (2) Suspend, revoke, annul, or take other permitted action with respect to any certificate of authorization; and/or (3) Publicly censure, reprimand, or censure in writing; and/or (4) Limit the scope of practice of; and/or (5) Impose an administrative fine upon (not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each violation); and/or (6) Place on probation; and/or (7) For good cause shown, order a reimbursement of the department for all fees, expenses, costs, and attorney’s fees in connection with the proceedings (which amounts shall be deposited as general revenues), all with or without terms, conditions, or limitations, holders of a certificate of registration or a certificate of authorization (subsequently referred to as a licensee or licensees) for any one or more of the causes set out in subsection (b) of this section.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 5-1-13

  • Embezzlement: In most states, embezzlement is defined as theft/larceny of assets (money or property) by a person in a position of trust or responsibility over those assets. Embezzlement typically occurs in the employment and corporate settings. Source: OCC
  • Forgery: The fraudulent signing or alteration of another's name to an instrument such as a deed, mortgage, or check. The intent of the forgery is to deceive or defraud. Source: OCC
  • Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
  • in writing: include printing, engraving, lithographing, and photo-lithographing, and all other representations of words in letters of the usual form. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-16
  • 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.
  • Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.

(b)  The director may take actions specified in subsection (a) of this section for any of the following causes:

(1)  Bribery, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation in obtaining a certificate of registration or certificate of authorization;

(2)  Practicing architecture in another state, country, or jurisdiction in violation of the laws of that state, country, or jurisdiction;

(3)  Practicing architecture in this state in violation of the standards of professional conduct established by the board and approved by the director;

(4)  Fraud, deceit, recklessness, gross negligence, misconduct, or incompetence in the practice of architecture;

(5)  Use of an architect’s stamp in violation of § 5-1-12;

(6)  Violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or chapter 84 of this title;

(7)  Suspension or revocation of the right to practice architecture before any state or before any other country or jurisdiction;

(8)  Conviction of or pleading guilty or nolo contendere to any felony, or to any crime of, or act constituting a crime of, forgery, embezzlement, obtaining money under false pretenses, bribery, larceny, extortion, conspiracy to defraud, or any other similar offense, in a court of competent jurisdiction of this state or any other state or of the federal government;

(9)  Failure to furnish to the department, board, or any person acting on behalf of the department and/or board, within sixty (60) days of notification, any information that may be legally requested by the department and/or board;

(10)  In conjunction with any violation of subsections (b)(1) — (b)(9), any conduct reflecting adversely upon the licensee’s fitness to engage in the practice of architecture; and

(11)  In conjunction with any violation of subsections (b)(1) — (b)(9), any other conduct injurious to the reputation of the architectural profession.

History of Section.
P.L. 1977, ch. 232, § 2; P.L. 1997, ch. 30, art. 25, § 2; P.L. 1999, ch. 319, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 354, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 406, § 1; P.L. 2013, ch. 298, § 1; P.L. 2013, ch. 378, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 308, art. 1, § 2.