CHAPTER 416
DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER PROTECTION

      Sec. 21a-8. (Formerly Sec. 19-171g). Department's and commissioner's powers and duties re boards and commissions. (a) The Department of Consumer Protection shall have the following powers and duties with regard to each board or commission transferred to the Department of Consumer Protection under section 21a-6:

      (1) The department shall control the allocation, disbursement and budgeting of funds appropriated to the department for the operation of each board or commission transferred to said department.

      (2) The department shall employ and assign such personnel as the commissioner deems necessary for the performance of each board's or commission's functions.

      (3) The department shall perform all management functions, including purchasing, bookkeeping, accounting, payroll, secretarial, clerical, record-keeping and routine housekeeping functions.

      (4) The department shall conduct any necessary review, inspection or investigation regarding qualifications of applicants for licenses or certificates, possible violations of statutes or regulations, accreditation of schools, disciplinary matters and the establishment of regulatory policy, and make recommendations to the appropriate board or commission. In connection with any such investigation, the Commissioner of Consumer Protection, or the commissioner's authorized agent, may administer oaths, issue subpoenas, compel testimony and order the production of books, records and documents. If any person refuses to appear, to testify or to produce any book, record or document when so ordered, a judge of the Superior Court may make such order as may be appropriate to aid in the enforcement of this section.

      (5) The department shall administer any examinations necessary to ascertain the qualifications of applicants for licenses or certificates and shall issue licenses or certificates to qualified applicants. The department shall maintain rosters of licensees or registrants and update such rosters annually, and may provide copies of such rosters to the public for an appropriate fee.

      (6) The department shall conduct any necessary investigation and follow-up in connection with complaints regarding persons subject to regulation or licensing by the board or commission.

      (7) The department shall perform any other function necessary to the effective operation of the board or commission and not specifically vested by statute in the board or commission.

      (8) The department shall receive complaints concerning the work and practices of persons licensed, registered or certified by such boards or commissions and shall receive complaints concerning unauthorized work and practice by persons not licensed, registered or certified by such boards or commissions. The department shall distribute monthly a list of all complaints received within the previous month to the chairperson of the appropriate board or commission. The department shall screen all complaints and dismiss any in which the allegation, if substantiated, would not constitute a violation of any statute or regulation. The department shall distribute notice of all such dismissals monthly to the chairperson of the appropriate board or commission. The department shall investigate any complaint in which the allegation, if substantiated, would constitute a violation of a statute or regulation under its jurisdiction. In conducting the investigation, the commissioner may seek the assistance of a member of the appropriate board, an employee of any state agency with expertise in the area, or if no such member or employee is available, a person from outside state service licensed to perform the work involved in the complaint. Board or commission members involved in an investigation shall not participate in disciplinary proceedings resulting from such investigation. The Commissioner of Consumer Protection may dismiss a complaint following an investigation if the commissioner determines that such complaint lacks probable cause. Notice of such dismissal shall be given only after approval by the chairperson of the appropriate board or commission. The commissioner may authorize a settlement if the settlement is approved by the complainant, the practitioner, and the board or commission. The commissioner may bring a complaint before the appropriate board or commission for a formal hearing if the commissioner determines that there is probable cause to believe that the offense alleged in the complaint has been committed and that the practitioner named in the complaint was responsible. The commissioner, or the commissioner's authorized agent, shall have the power to issue subpoenas to require the attendance of witnesses or the production of records, correspondence, documents or other evidence in connection with any hearing of a board or commission. All dispositions and final decisions by the Department of Consumer Protection after an investigation into a complaint has begun shall be forwarded to the chairperson of the appropriate board or commission on a monthly basis.

      (9) The department may contract with a third party, if the commissioner deems it necessary and if the appropriate board or commission consents, to administer licensing examinations and perform all attendant administrative functions in connection with such examination and to monitor continuing professional education requirements, and may require the payment of a fee to such third party.

      (b) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection shall have the following powers and duties with regard to each board or commission transferred to the Department of Consumer Protection under section 21a-6:

      (1) The commissioner may, in the commissioner's discretion, issue an appropriate order to any person found to be violating any statute or regulation within the jurisdiction of such board or commission providing for the immediate discontinuance of the violation or requiring the violator to make restitution for any damage caused by the violation, or both. The commissioner may, through the Attorney General, petition the superior court for the judicial district in which the violation occurred, or in which the person committing the violation resides or transacts business, for the enforcement of any order issued by the commissioner under this subdivision and for appropriate temporary relief or a restraining order. The commissioner shall certify and file in the court a transcript of the entire record of the hearing or hearings, including all testimony upon which such order was made and the findings and orders made by the commissioner. The court may grant such relief by injunction or otherwise, including temporary relief, as the court deems equitable and may make and enter a decree enforcing, modifying and enforcing as so modified, or setting aside, in whole or in part, any order of the commissioner issued under this subdivision.

      (2) The commissioner may conduct hearings on any matter within the statutory jurisdiction of such board or commission. Such hearings shall be conducted in accordance with chapter 54 and the regulations established pursuant to subsection (a) of section 21a-9. In connection with any such hearing, the commissioner may administer oaths, issue subpoenas, compel testimony and order the production of books, records and documents. If any person refuses to appear, testify or produce any book, record or document when so ordered, a judge of the Superior Court may make such order as may be appropriate to aid in the enforcement of this subdivision.

      (3) In addition to any other action permitted under the general statutes, the commissioner may, upon a finding of any cause specified in subsection (c) of section 21a-9: (A) Revoke or suspend a license, registration or certificate; (B) issue a letter of reprimand to a practitioner and send a copy of such letter to a complainant or to a state or local official; (C) place a practitioner on probationary status and require the practitioner to (i) report regularly to the commissioner on the matter which is the basis for probation, (ii) limit the practitioner's practice to areas prescribed by the commissioner, or (iii) continue or renew the practitioner's education until the practitioner has attained a satisfactory level of competence in any area which is the basis for probation. The commissioner may discontinue, suspend or rescind any action taken under this subdivision.

      (P.A. 77-614, S. 168, 610; P.A. 82-61, S. 1, 2; 82-370, S. 2, 16; 82-419, S. 2, 47; 82-422, S. 2, 14; P.A. 83-487, S. 18, 33; P.A. 88-359, S. 10, 12; P.A. 89-57; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-12, S. 33, 55; P.A. 02-142, S. 3; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(c), (d); P.A. 04-169, S. 17; 04-189, S. 1; P.A. 07-188, S. 3.)

      History: P.A. 82-61 amended Subdiv. (e) to require department to issue licenses and certificates and to maintain rosters and provide copies of them upon payment of fee; P.A. 82-370, 82-419 and 82-422 all amended section to include reference to commissions within the department and added Subdiv. (h) establishing uniform complaint procedure; Sec. 19-171g transferred to Sec. 21a-8 in 1983 and alphabetic Subdiv. indicators replaced editorially by the Revisors with numeric indicators; P.A. 83-487 added Subdiv. (9) allowing department to contract with third parties for administration of licensing examinations and to require applicants to pay an examination fee to the third party; P.A. 88-359 amended Subdiv. (5) to require department to annually update rosters of licensees and registrants; P.A. 89-57 amended Subdiv. (8) to provide for subpoena power for the commissioner or the commissioner's authorized agent; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-12 amended Subdiv. (5) eliminating the authority of the board and commissions to supervise the department in administering license examination; P.A. 02-142 amended Subdiv. (8) to make a technical change for purposes of gender neutrality and amended Subdiv. (9) to permit department to contract with third party to monitor continuing professional education requirements and to permit department to require payment of a fee to third party, effective June 14, 2002; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 and P.A. 04-169 replaced Commissioner and Department of Consumer Protection with Commissioner and Department of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-189 repealed Sec. 146 of June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby reversing the merger of the Departments of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective June 1, 2004; P.A. 07-188 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a), made technical changes therein and added Subsec. (b) re commissioner's powers and duties re boards and commissions.

      Sec. 21a-9. (Formerly Sec. 19-171h). Uniform rules of procedure. Regulations re subjects within jurisdiction of boards and commissions within Department of Consumer Protection. Prohibited acts by practitioners. Definitions. (a) With regard to the boards and commissions within the Department of Consumer Protection, the Commissioner of Consumer Protection (1) shall adopt uniform rules of procedure, consistent with chapter 54, for hearings and other proceedings to be conducted by the boards or commissions or by the commissioner and for the giving of notice to persons affected by such proceedings, and (2) may, where authorized by statute, adopt regulations regarding any subject within the jurisdiction of a board or commission.

      (b) Any rules of procedure and regulations adopted pursuant to this section shall be adopted in accordance with chapter 54. No regulation shall be adopted pursuant to this section until the appropriate board or commission has had reasonable opportunity to review the proposed regulation and to offer comments thereon.

      (c) Each such board or commission may act in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (7) of section 21a-7, and the commissioner may act in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of section 21a-8, in the case of a practitioner who: (1) Engages in fraud or material deception in order to obtain a license, registration or certificate issued by the board or commission or to aid another in obtaining a license, registration or certificate issued by the board or commission; (2) performs work beyond the scope of the license, registration or certificate issued by the board or commission; (3) illegally uses or transfers a license, registration or certificate issued by the board or commission; (4) performs incompetent or negligent work; (5) makes false, misleading or deceptive representations to the public; (6) has been subject to disciplinary action similar to that specified in subdivision (7) of section 21a-7 or subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of section 21a-8 by a duly authorized professional agency of the United States, any state within the United States, the District of Columbia, a United States possession or territory or a foreign jurisdiction; or (7) violates any provision of the general statutes or any regulation established thereunder, relating to the practitioner's profession or occupation.

      (d) As used in chapters 390, 391, 392, 393, 394, 396, 400g, 400j, 482 and 400l:

      (1) "Certificate" includes the whole or part of any Department of Consumer Protection permit which the department issues under authority of the general statutes and which (A) authorizes practice of the profession by certified persons but does not prohibit the practice of the profession by others, not certified, (B) prohibits a person from falsely representing that such person is certified to practice the profession unless the person holds a certificate issued by the department, and (C) requires as a condition of certification that a person submit specified credentials to the department which attest to qualifications to practice the profession.

      (2) "License" includes the whole or part of any Department of Consumer Protection permit, approval, or similar form of permission which the department issues under authority of the general statutes and which requires (A) practice of the profession by licensed persons only, (B) demonstration of competence to practice by examination or other means and meeting of certain minimum standards, and (C) enforcement of standards by the department or regulatory board or commission.

      (3) "Registration" includes the whole or part of any Department of Consumer Protection permit which the department issues under authority of the general statutes and which (A) requires persons to place their names on a list maintained by the department before they can engage in the practice of a specified profession or occupation, (B) does not require a person to demonstrate competence by examination or other means, and (C) may be revoked or suspended by the commissioner for cause.

      (P.A. 77-614, S. 169, 610; P.A. 82-370, S. 3, 16; 82-419, S. 3, 47; 82-422, S. 3, 14; P.A. 83-487, S. 19, 33; P.A. 85-504, S. 13, 15; 85-613, S. 57, 154; P.A. 95-264, S. 52; P.A. 97-166, S. 9; P.A. 99-73, S. 9; 99-194, S. 6; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(c), (d); P.A. 04-169, S. 17; 04-189, S. 1; P.A. 07-188, S. 4.)

      History: P.A. 82-370, 82-419 and 82-422 all added references to commissions within the department and added Subsecs. (c) and (d) establishing uniform grounds for disciplinary action and defining "certificate", "license" and "registration"; Sec. 19-171h transferred to Sec. 21a-9 in 1983; P.A. 83-487 amended Subsec. (c) to permit disciplinary action for incompetent or negligent work where prior law required gross negligence or incompetence; P.A. 85-504 amended Subsec. (d) by removing chapter 389 from the list of chapters for which the definitions are applicable; P.A. 85-613 made technical change; P.A. 95-264 amended Subsec. (d) to make technical changes to conform section with other provisions of the Pharmacy Practice Act; P.A. 97-166 added reference to chapter 400l in Subsec. (d) and made technical changes; P.A. 99-73 amended Subsec. (c)(1) by adding reference to a practitioner who engages in fraud, etc., to obtain a license, registration or certificate issued by the board or commission or to aid another in obtaining such a license, registration or certificate, amended Subsec. (c)(6) by adding reference to a practitioner who has been subject to disciplinary action similar to that specified in Sec. 21a-7(7) by a professional agency of the United States, any state within the United States, the District of Columbia, a United States possession or territory or a foreign jurisdiction, designated former Subsec. (c)(6) as Subsec. (c)(7), and made various technical changes to Subsec. (c)(5), new Subsec. (c)(7), and Subsec. (d)(1); P.A. 99-194 amended Subsec. (d) to add reference to chapter 400g, delete reference to chapter 451 and make gender neutral change in Subdiv. (1); June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 and P.A. 04-169 replaced Commissioner and Department of Consumer Protection with Commissioner and Department of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-189 repealed Sec. 146 of June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby reversing the merger of the Departments of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective June 1, 2004; P.A. 07-188 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provision re hearings or proceedings conducted by commissioner, amended Subsec. (c) by adding provisions re action under Sec. 21a-8(b)(3) and made a technical change in Subsec. (d)(3).