(A)If, upon examining the results of an investigation, the superintendent of real estate and professional licensing determines that reasonable evidence exists that a licensed home inspector has violated this chapter or engaged in an activity described in divisions (A)(1) to (7) of section4764.14of the Revised Code, the superintendent shall proceed in accordance with the notice and hearing requirements prescribed in Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. After a hearing officer conducts a hearing and issues a report pursuant to division (D) of this section, the Ohio home inspector board shall review the report and shall order the disciplinary action the board considers appropriate, which may include any one or more of the following:
(2)A fine not exceeding one thousand dolla
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(A) If, upon examining the results of an investigation, the superintendent of real estate and professional licensing determines that reasonable evidence exists that a licensed home inspector has violated this chapter or engaged in an activity described in divisions (A)(1) to (7) of section4764.14of the Revised Code, the superintendent shall proceed in accordance with the notice and hearing requirements prescribed in Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. After a hearing officer conducts a hearing and issues a report pursuant to division (D) of this section, the Ohio home inspector board shall review the report and shall order the disciplinary action the board considers appropriate, which may include any one or more of the following:
(1) A reprimand;
(2) A fine not exceeding one thousand dollars per violation;
(3) Completion of hours of education in subjects related to the underlying cause of the violation in an amount determined by the board;
(4) Suspension of the license until the licensed home inspector complies with conditions the board establishes;
(5) Suspension of the license for a specific period of time;
(6) Revocation of the license;
(7) Surrender of the license in lieu of discipline.
(B) The superintendent shall not credit any hours of education a licensed home inspector completes in accordance with division (A)(3) of this section toward satisfying the requirements for continuing education specified in section4764.08of the Revised Code.
(C) At any time after the superintendent notifies a licensee in accordance with division (A) of this section that a hearing will be held, the licensee may apply to the superintendent to enter into a settlement agreement regarding the alleged violation. The superintendent and the licensed home inspector shall comply with the requirements for settlement agreements established in rules adopted by the board pursuant to division (A)(11) of section4764.05of the Revised Code. If the parties enter into the settlement agreement and comply with all of the requirements set forth in that agreement, the investigation regarding that alleged violation is considered closed. Notwithstanding division (C) of section4764.12of the Revised Code, the settlement agreement is a public record for purposes of section149.43of the Revised Code.
(D) The superintendent shall appoint a hearing officer to conduct adjudication hearings in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.
In accordance with section119.09of the Revised Code, after conducting a hearing, a hearing officer shall submit to the board a report of the hearing and a recommendation for the action to be taken against the licensed home inspector. All parties may file objections to the report and recommendations as permitted under that section, and the board shall issue an order in accordance with the procedures prescribed in that section.
(E) If the board assesses a licensee a fine for a violation of section4764.02of the Revised Code and the person fails to pay that fine within the time period prescribed by the board, the superintendent shall forward to the attorney general the name of the person and the amount of the fine for the purpose of collecting that fine. In addition to the fine assessed pursuant to this section, the person also shall pay any fee assessed by the attorney general for collection of the fine.
(F) The decision and order of the board is final, subject to review in the manner provided in Chapter 119. of the Revised Code and appeal to the court of common pleas of Franklin county.
Last updated October 9, 2021 at 5:13 AM