Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0260-05-.14

Current through October 22, 2024

Section 0260-05-.14 - DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS AND CIVIL PENALTIES

(1) Upon a finding by the board that a chiropractic therapy assistant has violated any provision of the T.C.A. § 63-4-123 or the rules promulgated thereto, the board may impose any of the following actions separately or in any combination deemed appropriate to the offense.

(a) Advisory Censure - This is a written action issued to the chiropractic therapy assistant for minor or near infractions. It is informal and advisory in nature and does not constitute a formal disciplinary action.

(b) Formal Censure or Reprimand - This is a written action issued to a chiropractic therapy assistant for one time and less severe violations. It is a formal disciplinary action.

(c) Probation - This is a formal disciplinary action which places a chiropractic therapy assistant on close scrutiny for a fixed period of time. This action may be combined with conditions which must be met before probation will be lifted and/or which restricts the individual's activities during the probationary period.

(d) Certification Suspension - This is a formal disciplinary action which suspends an individual's right to work under certification for a fixed period of time. It contemplates the reentry of the individual into the certification previously issued.

(e) Certification Revocation - This is the most severe form of disciplinary action which removes an individual from working under certification by terminating the certification previously issued. If revoked, it relegates the violator to the status he possessed prior to application for certification. However, the board may in its discretion allow the reinstatement of a revoked certificate upon conditions and after a period of time which it deems appropriate. No petition for reinstatement and no new application for certification from a person whose certification was revoked shall be considered prior to the expiration of at least one (1) year from of the date of certificate revocation unless otherwise stated in the board's revocation order.

(f) Conditions - Any action deemed appropriate by the Board to be required of a disciplined certificate holder in any of the following circumstances:

1. During any period of probation, suspension; or

2. During any period of revocation after which the certificate holder may petition for an order of compliance to reinstate the revoked certificate; or

3. As a prerequisite to the lifting of probation or suspension or as a prerequisite to the reinstatement of a revoked certificate; or

4. As a stand-alone requirement(s) in any disciplinary order.

(g) Civil Penalty - A monetary disciplinary action assessed by the Board pursuant to paragraph (4) of this rule.

(h) Once ordered, probation, suspension, revocation, assessment of a civil penalty, or any other condition of any type of disciplinary action may not be lifted unless and until the certificate holder petitions, pursuant to paragraph (2) of this rule, and appears before the Board after the period of initial probation, suspension, revocation, or other conditioning has run and all conditions placed on the probation, suspension, revocation, have been met, and after any civil penalties assessed have been paid.

(2) Order of Compliance - This procedure is a necessary adjunct to previously issued disciplinary orders and is available only when a petitioner has completely complied with the provisions of a previously issued disciplinary order, including an uncertified practice civil penalty order, and wishes or is required to obtain an order reflecting that compliance.

(a) The Board will entertain petitions for an Order of Compliance as a supplement to a previously issued order upon strict compliance with the procedures set forth in subparagraph (b) in only the following three (3) circumstances:

1. When the petitioner can prove compliance with all the terms of the previously issued order and is seeking to have an order issued reflecting that compliance; or

2. When the petitioner can prove compliance with all the terms of the previously issued order and is seeking to have an order issued lifting a previously ordered suspension or probation; or

3. When the petitioner can prove compliance with all the terms of the previously issued order and is seeking to have an order issued reinstating a certificate previously revoked.

(b) Procedures

1. The petitioner shall submit a Petition for Order of Compliance, as contained in subparagraph (c), to the Board's Administrative Office that shall contain all of the following:

(i) A copy of the previously issued order; and

(ii) A statement of which provision of subparagraph (a) the petitioner is relying upon as a basis for the requested order; and

(iii) A copy of all documents that prove compliance with all the terms or conditions of the previously issued order. If proof of compliance requires testimony of an individual(s), including that of the petitioner, the petitioner must submit signed statements from every individual the petitioner intends to rely upon attesting, under oath, to the compliance. The Board's consultant and administrative staff, in their discretion, may require such signed statements to be notarized. No documentation or testimony other than that submitted will be considered in making an initial determination on, or a final order in response to, the petition.

2. The Board authorizes its consultant and administrative staff to make an initial determination on the petition and take one of the following actions:

(i) Certify compliance and have the matter scheduled for presentation to the Board as an uncontested matter; or

(ii) Deny the petition, after consultation with legal staff, if compliance with all of the provisions of the previous order is not proven and notify the petitioner of what provisions remain to be fulfilled and/or what proof of compliance was either not sufficient or not submitted.

3. If the petition is presented to the Board the petitioner may not submit any additional documentation or testimony other than that contained in the petition as originally submitted.

4. If the Board finds that the petitioner has complied with all the terms of the previous order an Order of Compliance shall be issued.

5. If the petition is denied either initially by staff or after presentation to the Board and the petitioner believes compliance with the order has been sufficiently proven the petitioner may, as authorized by law, file a petition for a declaratory order pursuant to the provisions of T.C.A. § 4-5-223 and rule 1200-10-1-.11.

(c) Form Petition

Petition for Order of Compliance

Board of Chiropractic Examiners

Petitioner's Name: _________________________

Petitioner's Mailing Address: _________________

Petitioner's E-Mail Address: __________________

Telephone Number: ________________________

Attorney for Petitioner: ______________________

Attorney's Mailing Address: __________________

Attorney's E-Mail Address: ___________________

Telephone Number: ________________________

The petitioner respectfully represents, as substantiated by the attached documentation, that all provisions of the attached disciplinary order have been complied with and I am respectfully requesting: (circle one)

1. An order issued reflecting that compliance; or

2. An order issued reflecting that compliance and lifting a previously ordered suspension or probation; or

3. An order issued reflecting that compliance and reinstating a certificate previously revoked.

Note - You must enclose all documents necessary to prove your request including a copy of the original order. If any of the proof you are relying upon to show compliance is the testimony of any individual, including yourself, you must enclose signed statements from every individual you intend to rely upon attesting, under oath, to the compliance. The Board's consultant and administrative staff, in their discretion, may require such signed statements to be notarized. No documentation or testimony other than that submitted will be considered in making an initial determination on, or a final order in response to, this petition.

Respectfully submitted this the ___ day of ______, 20 _____.

_________________________

Petitioner's Signature

(3) Order Modifications - This procedure is not intended to allow anyone under a previously issued disciplinary order, including an uncertified practice civil penalty order, to modify any findings of fact, conclusions of law, or the reasons for the decision contained in the order. It is also not intended to allow a petition for a lesser disciplinary action, or civil penalty other than the one(s) previously ordered. All such provisions of Board orders were subject to reconsideration and appeal under the provisions of the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act (T.C.A. §§ 4-5-301, et seq.). This procedure is not available as a substitute for reconsideration and/or appeal and is only available after all reconsideration and appeal rights have been either exhausted or not timely pursued. It is also not available for those who have accepted and been issued a reprimand.

(a) The Board will entertain petitions for modification of the disciplinary portion of previously issued orders upon strict compliance with the procedures set forth in subparagraph (b) only when the petitioner can prove that compliance with any one or more of the conditions or terms of the discipline previously ordered is impossible. For purposes of this rule the term "impossible" does not mean that compliance is inconvenient or impractical for personal, financial, scheduling or other reasons.

(b) Procedures

1. The petitioner shall submit a written and signed Petition for Order Modification on the form contained in subparagraph (c) to the Board's Administrative Office that shall contain all of the following:

(i) A copy of the previously issued order; and

(ii) A statement of why the petitioner believes it is impossible to comply with the order as issued; and

(iii) A copy of all documents that proves that compliance is impossible. If proof of impossibility of compliance requires testimony of an individual(s), including that of the petitioner, the petitioner must submit signed and notarized statements from every individual the petitioner intends to rely upon attesting, under oath, to the reasons why compliance is impossible. No documentation or testimony other than that submitted will be considered in making an initial determination on, or a final order in response to, the petition.

2. The Board authorizes its consultant and administrative staff to make an initial determination on the petition and take one of the following actions:

(i) Certify impossibility of compliance and forward the petition to the Office of General Counsel for presentation to the Board as an uncontested matter; or

(ii) Deny the petition, after consultation with legal staff, if impossibility of compliance with the provisions of the previous order is not proven and notify the petitioner of what proof of impossibility of compliance was either not sufficient or not submitted.

3. If the petition is presented to the Board the petitioner may not submit any additional documentation or testimony other than that contained in the petition as originally submitted.

4. If the petition is granted a new order shall be issued reflecting the modifications authorized by the Board that it deemed appropriate and necessary in relation to the violations found in the previous order.

5. If the petition is denied either initially by staff or after presentation to the Board and the petitioner believes impossibility of compliance with the order has been sufficiently proven the petitioner may, as authorized by law, file a petition for a declaratory order pursuant to the provisions of T.C.A. § 4-5-223 and rule 1200-10-1-.11.

(c) Form Petition

Petition for Order Modification

Board of Chiropractic Examiners

Petitioner's Name: _______________________________

Petitioner's Mailing Address: ________________________

Petitioner's E-Mail Address: _________________________

Telephone Number: _______________________________

Attorney for Petitioner: _____________________________

Attorney's Mailing Address: _________________________

Attorney's E-Mail Address: __________________________

Telephone Number: _______________________________

The petitioner respectfully represents that for the following reasons, as substantiated by the attached documentation, the identified provisions of the attached disciplinary order are impossible for me to comply with:

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

Note - You must enclose all documents necessary to prove your request including a copy of the original order. If any of the proof you are relying upon to show impossibility is the testimony of any individual, including yourself, you must enclose signed and notarized statements from every individual you intend to rely upon attesting, under oath, to the reasons why compliance is impossible. No documentation or testimony other than that submitted will be considered in making an initial determination on, or a final order in response to, this petition.

Respectfully submitted this the ___ day of _____________, 20 ____.

_______________________________

Petitioner's Signature

(4) Civil Penalties

(a) Purpose - The purpose of this rule is to set out a schedule designating the minimum and maximum civil penalties which may be assessed pursuant to Public Chapter 389, Acts of 1989.

(b) Schedule of Civil Penalties

1. A Type A civil penalty may be imposed whenever the board finds the person who is required to be certified by the board is guilty of a willful and knowing violation of the Chiropractic Examiners Practice Act, or regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, to such an extent that there is, or is likely to be an imminent substantial threat to the health, safety and welfare of an individual client or the public. For the purposes of this section, a Type A penalty shall include, but not be limited to, a person who willfully and knowingly is or was practicing as a chiropractic therapy assistant without the required certification from the board.

2. A Type B civil penalty may be imposed whenever the board finds the person required to be certified by the board is guilty of a violation of the Chiropractic Examiners Practice Act or regulations promulgated pursuant thereto in such a manner as to impact directly on the care of clients or the public.

3. A Type C civil penalty may be imposed whenever the board finds the person required to be certified by the board is guilty of a violation of the Chiropractic Examiners Practice Act or regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, which are neither directly detrimental to the clients or public, nor directly impact their care, but have only an indirect relationship to client care or the public.

(c) Amount of Civil Penalties

1. Type A civil penalties shall be assessed in the amount of not less than $500 and not more than $1,000.

2. Type B civil penalties may be assessed in the amount of not less than $100 and not more than $500.

3. Type C civil penalties may be assessed in the amount of not less than $50 and not more than $100.

(d) Procedures for Assessing Civil Penalties

1. The Division of Health Related Boards may initiate a civil penalty assessment by filing a Memorandum of Assessment of Civil Penalty. The Division shall state in the memorandum the facts and law upon which it relies in alleging a violation, the proposed amount of the civil penalty and the basis for such penalty. The Division may incorporate the Memorandum of Assessment of Civil Penalty with a Notice of Charges which may be issued attendant thereto.

2. Civil Penalties may also be initiated and assessed by the board during consideration of any Notice of Charges. In addition, the board may, upon good cause shown, assess type and amount of civil penalty which was not recommended by the Division.

3. In assessing the civil penalties pursuant to these rules, the board may consider the following factors:

(i) Whether the amount imposed will be a substantial economic deterrent to the violator;

(ii) The circumstances leading to the violation;

(iii) The severity of the violation and the risk of harm to the public;

(iv) The economic benefit gained by the violator as a result of non-compliance; and,

(v) The interest of the public.

4. All proceedings for the assessment of civil penalties shall be governed by the contested case provisions of T.C.A. Title 4, Chapter 5.

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0260-05-.14

Original rule filed February 9, 2000; 60-day stay filed February 24, 2000; effective June 23, 2000. Repeal and new rule filed November 15, 2000; effective January 30, 2001. Amendment filed August 2, 2004; effective October 16, 2004. Amendment filed October 29, 2008; effective January 12, 2009. Amendments filed April 12, 2023; effective 7/11/2023.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 63-1-122, 63-1-132, 63-1-134, 63-4-106, 63-4-114, 63-4-115, and 63-4-123.