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Title 08. Business And Professions


Published: 2015

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Title 08. BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS
Chapter 08.01. CENTRALIZED LICENSING

Sec. 08.01.010. Applicability of chapter.

This chapter applies to the

 (1) Board of Public Accountancy (AS 08.04.010 );

 (2) regulation of acupuncturists under AS 08.06;

 (3) State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers and Land Surveyors (AS 08.48.011 );

 (4) Athletic Commission (AS 05.05 and AS 05.10);

 (5) regulation of audiologists under AS 08.11;

 (6) Board of Barbers and Hairdressers (AS 08.13.010 );

 (7) regulation of big game guides and transporters under AS 08.54;

 (8) regulation of business licenses under AS 43.70;

 (9) Board of Chiropractic Examiners (AS 08.20.010 );

 (10) [See delayed amendment note]. Board of Social Work Examiners (AS 08.95.010);

 (11) regulation of collection agencies under AS 08.24;

 (12) regulation of concert promoters under AS 08.92;

 (13) regulation of construction contractors under AS 08.18;

 (14) Board of Dental Examiners (AS 08.36.010 );

 (15) Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives (AS 08.65.010 );

 (16) Board of Dispensing Opticians (AS 08.71.010 );

 (17) regulation of electrical and mechanical administrators under AS 08.40;

 (18) regulation of professional geologists under AS 08.02.011 ;

 (19) regulation of hearing aid dealers under AS 08.55;

 (20) Board of Marine Pilots (AS 08.62.010 );

 (21) Board of Marital and Family Therapy (AS 08.63.010 );

 (22) State Medical Board (AS 08.64.010 );

 (23) regulation of mobile home dealers under AS 08.67;

 (24) regulation of morticians under AS 08.42;

 (25) regulation of the practice of naturopathy under AS 08.45;

 (26) Board of Nursing (AS 08.68.010 );

 (27) regulation of nursing home administrators under AS 08.70;

 (28) Board of Examiners in Optometry (AS 08.72.010 );

 (29) Board of Pharmacy (AS 08.80.010 );

 (30) State Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Board (AS 08.84.010);

 (31) Board of Professional Counselors (AS 08.29.010 );

 (32) Board of Psychologist and Psychological Associate Examiners (AS 08.86.010);

 (33) Real Estate Commission (AS 08.88.011 );

 (34) Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers (AS 08.87.010 );

 (35) Board of Veterinary Examiners (AS 08.98.010 ).

Sec. 08.01.020. Board organization.

Board members are appointed by the governor and serve at the pleasure of the governor. Unless otherwise provided, the governor may designate the chair of a board, and all other officers shall be elected by the board members. Unless otherwise provided, officers of a board are the chair and the secretary. A board may provide by regulation that three or more unexcused absences from meetings are cause for removal.

Sec. 08.01.025. Public members.

A public member of a board may not

 (1) be engaged in the occupation that the board regulates;

 (2) be associated by legal contract with a member of the occupation that the board regulates except as a consumer of the services provided by a practitioner of the occupation; or

 (3) have a direct financial interest in the occupation that the board regulates.

Sec. 08.01.030. Quorum.

A majority of the membership of a board constitutes a quorum unless otherwise provided.

Sec. 08.01.035. Appointments and terms.

Members of boards subject to this chapter are appointed for staggered terms of four years. Except as provided in AS 39.05.080 (4), a member of a board serves until a successor is appointed. Except as provided in AS 39.05.080(4), an appointment to fill a vacancy on a board is for the remainder of the unexpired term. A member who has served all or part of two successive terms on a board may not be reappointed to that board unless four years have elapsed since the person has last served on the board.

Sec. 08.01.040. Transportation and per diem.

A board member is entitled to transportation expenses and per diem as set out in AS 39.20.180 .

Sec. 08.01.050. Administrative duties of department.

 (a) The department shall perform the following administrative and budgetary services when appropriate:

 (1) collect and record fees;

 (2) maintain records and files;

 (3) issue and receive application forms;

 (4) notify applicants of acceptance or rejection as determined by the board or, for occupations or activities listed in AS 08.01.010 that are regulated directly by the department, as determined by the department under applicable law;

 (5) designate dates examinations are to be held and notify applicants;

 (6) publish notice of examinations and proceedings;

 (7) arrange space for holding examinations and proceedings;

 (8) notify applicants of results of examinations;

 (9) issue licenses or temporary licenses as authorized by the board or, for occupations or activities listed in AS 08.01.010 that are regulated directly by the department, as authorized by the department under applicable law;

 (10) issue duplicate licenses upon submission of a written request by the licensee attesting to loss of or the failure to receive the original and payment by the licensee of a fee established by regulation adopted by the department;

 (11) notify licensees of renewal dates at least 30 days before the expiration date of their licenses;

 (12) compile and maintain a current register of licensees;

 (13) answer routine inquiries;

 (14) maintain files relating to individual licensees;

 (15) arrange for printing and advertising;

 (16) purchase supplies;

 (17) employ additional help when needed;

 (18) perform other services that may be requested by the board;

 (19) provide inspection, enforcement, and investigative services to the boards and for the occupations listed in AS 08.01.010 regarding all licenses issued by or through the department;

 (20) retain and safeguard the official seal of a board and prepare, sign, and affix a board seal, as appropriate, for licenses approved by a board;

 (21) issue business licenses under AS 43.70.

 (b) The form and content of a license, authorized by a board listed in AS 08.01.010 , including any document evidencing renewal of a license, shall be determined by the department after consultation with and consideration of the views of the board concerned.

 (c) [Repealed, Sec. 49 ch 94 SLA 1987].

 (d) At the request of one of the following boards, the department may contract with public agencies and private professional organizations to provide assistance and treatment to persons licensed by the board who abuse alcohol, other drugs, or other substances:

 (1) Board of Social Work Examiners;

 (2) Board of Dental Examiners;

 (3) Board of Dispensing Opticians;

 (4) State Medical Board;

 (5) Board of Nursing;

 (6) Board of Examiners in Optometry;

 (7) Board of Pharmacy;

 (8) State Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Board;

 (9) Board of Professional Counselors;

 (10) Board of Psychologist and Psychological Associate Examiners; and

 (11) Board of Veterinary Examiners.

Sec. 08.01.060. Application for license.

 (a) All applications for examination or licensing to engage in the business or profession covered by this chapter shall be made in writing to the department.

 (b) If the applicant is a natural person, the application must require that the applicant submit the applicant's social security number to the department. Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, a license to engage in a profession may not be issued by the department to a natural person unless the social security number has been provided to the department.

Sec. 08.01.062. Courtesy licenses.

 (a) A board established under this title and the Department of Commerce and Economic Development, with respect to an occupation that it regulates under this title, may by regulation establish criteria for issuing a temporary courtesy license to nonresidents who enter the state so that, on a temporary basis, they may practice the occupation regulated by the board or the department.

 (b) The regulations adopted under (a) of this section may include limitations relating to the

 (1) duration of the license's validity;

 (2) scope of practice allowed under the license; and

 (3) other matters considered important by the board or the department.

Sec. 08.01.065. Establishment of fees.

 (a) Except for business licenses, the department shall adopt regulations that establish the amount and manner of payment of application fees, examination fees, license fees, registration fees, permit fees, investigation fees, and all other fees as appropriate for the occupations covered by this chapter.

 (b) [Repealed, Sec. 4 ch 34 SLA 1992].

 (c) Except as provided in (f) of this section, the department shall establish fee levels under (a) of this section so that the total amount of fees collected for an occupation approximately equals the actual regulatory costs for the occupation. The department shall annually review each fee level to determine whether the regulatory costs of each occupation are approximately equal to fee collections related to that occupation. If the review indicates that an occupation's fee collections and regulatory costs are not approximately equal, the department shall calculate fee adjustments and adopt regulations under (a) of this section to implement the adjustments. In January of each year, the department shall report on all fee levels and revisions for the previous year under this subsection to the office of management and budget. If a board regulates an occupation covered by this chapter, the department shall consider the board's recommendations concerning the occupation's fee levels and regulatory costs before revising fee schedules to comply with this subsection. In this subsection, "regulatory costs" means costs of the department that are attributable to regulation of an occupation plus

 (1) all expenses of the board that regulates the occupation if the board regulates only one occupation;

 (2) the expenses of a board that are attributable to the occupation if the board regulates more than one occupation.

 (d) The license fee for a business license is set by AS 43.70.030 (a). The department shall adopt regulations that establish the manner of payment of the license fee.

 (e) [Repealed, Sec. 28 ch 90 SLA 1991].

 (f) Notwithstanding (c) of this section, the department shall establish fee levels under (a) of this section so that the total amount of fees collected by the State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors approximately equals the total regulatory costs of the department and the board for all occupations regulated by the board. The department shall set the fee levels for the issuance and renewal of a certificate of registration issued under AS 08.48.211 so that the fee levels are the same for all occupations regulated by the board.

Sec. 08.01.070. Administrative duties of boards.

Each board shall perform the following duties in addition to those provided in its respective law:

 (1) take minutes and records of all proceedings;

 (2) hold a minimum of one meeting each year;

 (3) hold at least one examination each year;

 (4) request, through the department, investigation of violations of its laws and regulations;

 (5) prepare and grade board examinations;

 (6) set minimum qualifications for applicants for examination and license;

 (7) forward a draft of the minutes of proceedings to the department within 20 days after the proceedings;

 (8) forward results of board examinations to the department within 20 days after the examination is given;

 (9) notify the department of meeting dates and agenda items at least 15 days before meetings and other proceedings are held;

 (10) submit before the end of the fiscal year an annual performance report to the department stating the board's accomplishments, activities, and needs.

Sec. 08.01.075. Disciplinary powers of boards.

 (a) A board may take the following disciplinary actions, singly or in combination:

 (1) permanently revoke a license;

 (2) suspend a license for a specified period;

 (3) censure or reprimand a licensee;

 (4) impose limitations or conditions on the professional practice of a licensee;

 (5) require a licensee to submit to peer review;

 (6) impose requirements for remedial professional education to correct deficiencies in the education, training, and skill of the licensee;

 (7) impose probation requiring a licensee to report regularly to the board on matters related to the grounds for probation;

 (8) impose a civil fine not to exceed $5,000.

 (b) A board may withdraw probationary status if the deficiencies that required the sanction are remedied.

 (c) A board may summarily suspend a licensee from the practice of the profession before a final hearing is held or during an appeal if the board finds that the licensee poses a clear and immediate danger to the public health and safety. A person is entitled to a hearing before the board to appeal the summary suspension within seven days after the order of suspension is issued. A person may appeal an adverse decision of the board on an appeal of a summary suspension to a court of competent jurisdiction.

 (d) A board may reinstate a suspended or revoked license if, after a hearing, the board finds that the applicant is able to practice the profession with skill and safety.

 (e) A board may accept the voluntary surrender of a license. A license may not be returned unless the board determines that the licensee is competent to resume practice and the licensee pays the appropriate renewal fee.

 (f) A board shall seek consistency in the application of disciplinary sanctions. A board shall explain a significant departure from prior decisions involving similar facts in the order imposing the sanction.

Sec. 08.01.077. Conviction as grounds for disciplinary action.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the conviction under AS 47.24.010 of a person licensed, certified, or regulated by the department or a board under this title may be considered by the department or board as grounds for disciplinary proceedings or sanctions.

Sec. 08.01.080. Department regulations.

The department shall adopt regulations to carry out the purposes of this chapter including but not limited to describing

 (1) how an examination is to be conducted;

 (2) what is contained in application forms;

 (3) how a person applies for an examination or license.

Sec. 08.01.087. Investigative and enforcement powers of department.

 (a) The department may, upon its own motion, conduct investigations to

 (1) determine whether a person has violated a provision of this chapter or a regulation adopted under it, or a provision of AS 43.70, or a provision of this title or regulation adopted under this title dealing with an occupation or board listed in AS 08.01.010 ; or

 (2) secure information useful in the administration of this chapter.

 (b) If it appears to the commissioner that a person has engaged in or is about to engage in an act or practice in violation of a provision of this chapter or a regulation adopted under it, or a provision of AS 43.70, or a provision of this title or regulation adopted under this title dealing with an occupation or board listed in AS 08.01.010 , the commissioner may, if the commissioner considers it in the public interest, and after notification of a proposed order or action by telephone, telegraph, or facsimile to all board members, if a board regulates the act or practice involved, unless a majority of the members of the board object within 10 days,

 (1) issue an order directing the person to stop the act or practice; however, reasonable notice of and an opportunity for a hearing must first be given to the person, except that the commissioner may issue a temporary order before a hearing is held; a temporary order remains in effect until a final order affirming, modifying, or reversing the temporary order is issued or until 15 days after the person receives the notice and has not requested a hearing by that time; a temporary order becomes final if the person to whom the notice is addressed does not request a hearing within 15 days after receiving the notice; the commissioner or the commissioner's designee shall be the hearing officer at the hearing and shall issue a final order within 10 days after the hearing;

 (2) bring an action in the superior court to enjoin the acts or practices and to enforce compliance with this chapter, a regulation adopted under it, an order issued under it, or with a provision of this title or regulation adopted under this title dealing with business licenses or an occupation or board listed in AS 08.01.010 ;

 (3) examine or have examined the books and records of a person whose business activities require a business license or licensure by a board listed in AS 08.01.010 , or whose occupation is listed in AS 08.01.010 ; the commissioner may require the person to pay the reasonable costs of the examination; and

 (4) issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses, and the production of books, records, and other documents.

 (c) Under procedures and standards of operation established by the department by regulation, and with the agreement of the appropriate agency, the department may designate appropriate state or municipal agencies to investigate reports of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property by certified nurse aides.

Sec. 08.01.088. [Renumbered as AS 08.01.077 ].

 Repealed or Renumbered

Sec. 08.01.089. Copies of records for child support purposes.

If a copy of a public record concerning an individual who owes or is owed child support that is prepared or maintained by the department is requested by the child support enforcement agency created in AS 25.27.010 or a child support enforcement agency of another state, the department shall provide the requesting agency with a certified copy of the public record, including the individual's social security number. If these records are prepared or maintained by the department in an electronic data base, the records may be supplied by providing the requesting agency with a copy of the electronic record and a statement certifying its contents. A requesting agency receiving information under this section may use it only for child support purposes authorized under law.

Sec. 08.01.090. Applicability of the Administrative Procedure Act.

The Administrative Procedure Act (AS 44.62) applies to regulations adopted and proceedings held under this chapter, except those under AS 08.01.087(b) and actions taken under AS 08.68.333 (c).