Published: 2015-07-08
Key Benefits:
The board may refuse to issue, or issue subject to terms and conditions, a license on the grounds specified in Section 480, or may suspend, revoke, or impose terms and conditions upon the license of any licensee for any of the following:
(a) Conviction of a crime substantially related to the qualifications, functions, and duties of a speech-language pathologist or audiologist or hearing aid dispenser, as the case may be. The record of the conviction shall be conclusive evidence thereof.
(b) Securing a license by fraud or deceit.
(c) (1) The use or administering to himself or herself of any controlled substance.
(2) The use of any of the dangerous drugs specified in Section 4022, or of alcoholic beverages, to the extent or in a manner as to be dangerous or injurious to the licensee, to any other person, or to the public, or to the extent that the use impairs the ability of the licensee to practice speech-language pathology or audiology safely.
(3) More than one misdemeanor or any felony involving the use, consumption, or self-administration of any of the substances referred to in this section.
(4) Any combination of paragraph (1), (2), or (3).
The record of the conviction shall be conclusive evidence of unprofessional conduct.
(d) Advertising in violation of Section 17500. Advertising an academic degree that was not validly awarded or earned under the laws of this state or the applicable jurisdiction in which it was issued is deemed to constitute a violation of Section 17500.
(e) Committing a dishonest or fraudulent act that is substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of a licensee.
(f) Incompetence, gross negligence, or repeated negligent acts.
(g) Other acts that have endangered or are likely to endanger the health, welfare, and safety of the public.
(h) Use by a hearing aid dispenser of the term “doctor” or “physician” or “clinic” or “audiologist,” or any derivation thereof, except as authorized by law.
(i) The use, or causing the use, of any advertising or promotional literature in a manner that has the capacity or tendency to mislead or deceive purchasers or prospective purchasers.
(j) Any cause that would be grounds for denial of an application for a license.
(k) Violation of Section 1689.6 or 1793.02 of the Civil Code.
(l) Violation of a term or condition of a probationary order of a license issued by the board pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(m) Violation of a term or condition of a conditional license issued by the board pursuant to this section.
(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 516, Sec. 10. Effective January 1, 2014.)
A plea or verdict of guilty or a conviction following a plea of nolo contendere made to a charge substantially related to the qualifications, functions, and duties of a speech-language pathologist or audiologist is deemed to be a conviction within the meaning of this article. The board may order a licensee be disciplined or denied a license as provided in Section 2533 when the time for appeal has elapsed, or the judgment of conviction has been affirmed on appeal, or when an order granting probation is made suspending the imposition of sentence irrespective of a subsequent order under Section 1203.4 of the Penal Code allowing the person to withdraw his or her plea of guilty and to enter a plea of not guilty, or setting aside the verdict of guilty, or dismissing the accusation, information or indictment.
(Amended by Stats. 1990, Ch. 746, Sec. 13.)
Proceedings under this article shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(Amended by Stats. 1990, Ch. 746, Sec. 14.)
Except as provided in Section 2538.42, any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months, or by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both.
(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 449, Sec. 7. Effective January 1, 2012.)
Whenever any person other than a licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist has engaged in any act or practice which constitutes an offense against this chapter, a superior court of any county, on application of the board, may issue an injunction or other appropriate order restraining that conduct. Proceedings under this section shall be governed by Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 525) of Title 7 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The board may commence action in the superior court under this section on its own motion.
(Amended by Stats. 1997, Ch. 758, Sec. 24. Effective January 1, 1998.)