§ 90-249.1.  Disciplinary actions.

(a) The Board may suspend, revoke, or refuse to issue, renew, or reinstate any license for any of the following:

(1) Offering to practice or practicing as a dispensing optician without a license.

(2) Aiding or abetting an unlicensed person in offering to practice or practicing as a dispensing optician.

(3) Selling, transferring, or assigning a license.

(4) Engaging in fraud or misrepresentation to obtain or renew a license.

(5) Engaging in false or misleading advertising.

(6) Advertising in any manner that conveys or intends to convey the impression that eyes are examined by persons licensed under this Article or optical places of business registered under this Article.

(7) Engaging in malpractice, unethical conduct, fraud, deceit, gross negligence, incompetence, or gross misconduct.

(8) Being convicted of a crime involving fraud or moral turpitude.

(9) Violating any provision of this Article or the rules adopted by the Board.

(b) In addition or as an alternative to taking any of the actions permitted in subsection (a) of this section, the Board may assess a licensee a civil penalty of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for the violation of any section of this Article. In any case in which the Board is authorized to take any of the actions permitted in subsection (a) of this section, the Board may instead accept an offer in compromise of the charges whereby the accused licensee shall pay to the Board a civil penalty of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000). All civil penalties collected by the Board shall be remitted to the school fund of the county in which the violation occurred.

(c) In determining the amount of a civil penalty, the Board may consider:

(1) The degree and extent of harm caused by the violation to public health and safety or the potential for harm.

(2) The duration and gravity of the violation.

(3) Whether the violation was willful or reflects a continuing pattern.

(4) Whether the violation involved elements of fraud or deception.

(5) Prior disciplinary actions against the licensee.

(6) Whether and to what extent the licensee profited from the violation.

(d) Any person, including the Board and its staff, may file a complaint with the Board alleging that a licensee committed acts in violation of subsection (a) of this section. The Board may, without holding a hearing, dismiss the complaint as unfounded or trivial. Any hearings held pursuant to this section shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 150B of the General Statutes. (1997-424, s. 6.)