In lieu of filing or prosecuting a formal accusation against a licensee, the board may, upon stipulation or agreement by the licensee, issue a public letter of reprimand after it has conducted an investigation or inspection as provided for in this chapter. The public letter of reprimand may include a requirement for specified training or education, and cost recovery for investigative costs. The board shall notify the licensee of its intention to issue the letter 30 days before the intended issuance date of the letter. The licensee shall indicate in writing at least 15 days prior to the letter’s intended issuance date whether he or she agrees to the issuance of the letter. The board, at its option, may extend the time within which the licensee may respond to its notification. If the licensee does not agree to the issuance of the letter, the board shall not issue the letter and may proceed to file the accusation. The board may use a public letter of reprimand only for minor violations, as defined by the board, committed by the licensee. A public letter of reprimand issued pursuant to this section shall be disclosed by the board to an inquiring member of the public and shall be posted on the board’s Internet Web site.
(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 389, Sec. 56. (SB 198) Effective January 1, 2014.)