§ 22-15-5-16 — Disciplinary proceedings; license denial; suspension and revocation; appeals; costs

(a) A practitioner shall comply with the
standards established under this licensing program. A practitioner is
subject to the exercise of the disciplinary sanctions under IC 22-12-7-7
if the department finds that a practitioner has:
(1) engaged in or knowingly cooperated in fraud or material
deception in order to obtain a license to practice, including
cheating on a licensing examination;
(2) engaged in fraud or material deception in the course of
professional services or activities;
(3) advertised services or goods in a false or misleading manner;
(4) falsified or knowingly allowed another person to falsify
attendance records or certificates of completion of continuing
education courses provided under this chapter;
(5) been convicted of a crime that has a direct bearing on the
practitioner's ability to continue to practice competently;
(6) knowingly violated a state statute or rule or federal statute or
regulation regulating the profession for which the practitioner is
licensed;
(7) continued to practice although the practitioner has become
unfit to practice due to:
(A) professional incompetence;
(B) failure to keep abreast of current professional theory or
practice;
(C) physical or mental disability; or
(D) addiction to, abuse of, or severe dependency on alcohol or
other drugs that endanger the public by impairing a
practitioner's ability to practice safely;
(8) engaged in a course of lewd or immoral conduct in connection
with the delivery of services to the public;
(9) allowed the practitioner's name or a license issued under this
chapter to be used in connection with an individual or business
who renders services beyond the scope of that individual's or
business's training, experience, or competence;
(10) had disciplinary action taken against the practitioner or the
practitioner's license to practice in another state or jurisdiction on
grounds similar to those under this chapter;
(11) assisted another person in committing an act that would
constitute a ground for disciplinary sanction under this chapter;
or
(12) allowed a license issued by the department to be:
(A) used by another person; or
(B) displayed to the public when the license has expired, is
inactive, is invalid, or has been revoked or suspended.
For purposes of subdivision (10), a certified copy of a record of
disciplinary action constitutes prima facie evidence of a disciplinary
action in another jurisdiction.
(b) If an applicant or a practitioner has engaged in or knowingly
cooperated in fraud or material deception to obtain a license to
practice, including cheating on the licensing examination, the
department may rescind the license if it has been granted, void the
examination or other fraudulent or deceptive material, and prohibit the
applicant from reapplying for the license for a length of time
established by the department.
(c) The department may deny licensure to an applicant who has had
disciplinary action taken against the applicant or the applicant's license
to practice in another state or jurisdiction or who has practiced without
a license in violation of the law. A certified copy of the record of
disciplinary action is conclusive evidence of the other jurisdiction's
disciplinary action.
(d) The department may order a practitioner to submit to a
reasonable physical or mental examination if the practitioner's physical
or mental capacity to practice safely and competently is at issue in a
disciplinary proceeding. Failure to comply with a department order to
submit to a physical or mental examination makes a practitioner liable
to temporary suspension under subsection (h).
(e) Except as provided under subsection (f) or (g), a license may not
be denied, revoked, or suspended because the applicant or holder has
been convicted of an offense. The acts from which the applicant's or
holder's conviction resulted may, however, be considered as to whether
the applicant or holder should be entrusted to serve the public in a
specific capacity.
(f) The department may deny, suspend, or revoke a license issued
under this chapter if the individual who holds the license is convicted
of any of the following:
(1) Possession of cocaine or a narcotic drug under IC 35-48-4-6.
(2) Possession of methamphetamine under IC 35-48-4-6.1.
(3) Possession of a controlled substance under IC 35-48-4-7(a).
(4) Fraudulently obtaining a controlled substance under IC 35-48-4-7(b) (for a crime committed before July 1, 2014) or IC 35-48-4-7(c) (for a crime committed after June 30, 2014).
(5) Manufacture of paraphernalia as a Class D felony (for a crime
committed before July 1, 2014) or a Level 6 felony (for a crime
committed after June 30, 2014) under IC 35-48-4-8.1(c).
(6) Dealing in paraphernalia as a Class D felony (for a crime
committed before July 1, 2014) or a Level 6 felony (for a crime
committed after June 30, 2014) under IC 35-48-4-8.5(b).
(7) Possession of paraphernalia as a Class D felony (for a crime
committed before July 1, 2014) or a Level 6 felony (for a crime
committed after June 30, 2014) under IC 35-48-4-8.3(b) (before
its amendment on July 1, 2015).
(8) Possession of marijuana, hash oil, hashish, or salvia as a Class
D felony (for a crime committed before July 1, 2014) or a Level
6 felony (for a crime committed after June 30, 2014) under IC 35-48-4-11.
(9) A felony offense under IC 35-48-4 involving possession of a
synthetic drug (as defined in IC 35-31.5-2-321), possession of a
controlled substance analog (as defined in IC 35-48-1.1-8), or
possession of a synthetic drug lookalike substance (as defined in
IC 35-31.5-2-321.5 (before its repeal on July 1, 2019)) as a:
(A) Class D felony for a crime committed before July 1, 2014;
or
(B) Level 6 felony for a crime committed after June 30, 2014;
under IC 35-48-4-11.5 (before its repeal on July 1, 2019).
(10) Maintaining a common nuisance under IC 35-48-4-13
(repealed) or IC 35-45-1-5, if the common nuisance involves a
controlled substance.
(11) An offense relating to registration, labeling, and prescription
forms under IC 35-48-4-14.
(g) The department shall deny, revoke, or suspend a license issued
under this chapter if the individual who holds the license is convicted
of any of the following:
(1) Dealing in a controlled substance resulting in death under IC 35-42-1-1.5.
(2) Dealing in cocaine or a narcotic drug under IC 35-48-4-1.
(3) Dealing in methamphetamine under IC 35-48-4-1.1.
(4) Manufacturing methamphetamine under IC 35-48-4-1.2.
(5) Dealing in a schedule I, II, or III controlled substance under IC 35-48-4-2.
(6) Dealing in a schedule IV controlled substance under IC 35-48-4-3.
(7) Dealing in a schedule V controlled substance under IC 35-48-4-4.
(8) Dealing in a substance represented to be a controlled
substance under IC 35-48-4-4.5 (repealed).
(9) Knowingly or intentionally manufacturing, advertising,
distributing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, advertise,
or distribute a substance represented to be a controlled substance
under IC 35-48-4-4.6.
(10) Dealing in a counterfeit substance under IC 35-48-4-5.
(11) Dealing in marijuana, hash oil, hashish, or salvia as a felony
under IC 35-48-4-10.
(12) An offense under IC 35-48-4 involving the manufacture or
sale of a synthetic drug (as defined in IC 35-31.5-2-321), a
synthetic drug lookalike substance (as defined in IC 35-31.5-2-321.5 (before its repeal on July 1, 2019)) under IC 35-48-4-10.5 (before its repeal on July 1, 2019), a controlled
substance analog (as defined in IC 35-48-1.1-8), or a substance
represented to be a controlled substance (as described in IC 35-48-4-4.6).
(13) A violation of any federal or state drug law or rule related to
wholesale legend drug distributors licensed under IC 25-26-14.
(h) The department may temporarily suspend a practitioner's license
under IC 4-21.5-4 before a final adjudication or during the appeals
process if the department finds that a practitioner represents a clear and
immediate danger to the public's health, safety, or property if the
practitioner is allowed to continue to practice.
(i) On receipt of a complaint or an information alleging that a person
licensed under this chapter has engaged in or is engaging in a practice
that jeopardizes the public health, safety, or welfare, the department
shall initiate an investigation against the person.
(j) Any complaint filed with the office of the attorney general
alleging a violation of this licensing program shall be referred to the
department for summary review and for its general information and any
authorized action at the time of the filing.
(k) The department shall conduct a fact finding investigation as the
department considers proper in relation to the complaint.
(l) A practitioner may petition the department to accept the
surrender of the practitioner's license. The practitioner may not
surrender the practitioner's license without the written approval of the
department, and the department may impose any conditions appropriate
to the surrender or reinstatement of a surrendered license.
(m) A practitioner who has been subjected to disciplinary sanctions
may be required by the commission to pay the costs of the proceeding.
The practitioner's ability to pay shall be considered when costs are
assessed. If the practitioner fails to pay the costs, a suspension may not
be imposed solely upon the practitioner's inability to pay the amount
assessed. The costs are limited to costs for the following:
(1) Court reporters.
(2) Transcripts.
(3) Certification of documents.
(4) Photo duplication.
(5) Witness attendance and mileage fees.
(6) Postage.
(7) Expert witnesses.
(8) Depositions.
(9) Notarizations.

Legislative History

As added by P.L.119-2002, SEC.28. Amended by P.L.151-2006, SEC.9; P.L.1-2007, SEC.161; P.L.138-2011, SEC.5; P.L.182-2011, SEC.5; P.L.78-2012, SEC.6; P.L.196-2013, SEC.7; P.L.158-2013, SEC.261; P.L.168-2014, SEC.33; P.L.238-2015, SEC.5; P.L.59-2016, SEC.5; P.L.85-2017, SEC.90; P.L.252-2017, SEC.3; P.L.198-2018, SEC.3; P.L.80-2019, SEC.7; P.L.142-2020, SEC.23; P.L.53-2025, SEC.2; P.L.186-2025, SEC.123; P.L.238-2025, SEC.71.