2897-A - Proceedings for suspension or revocation.

§  2897-a.  Proceedings  for suspension or revocation. 1.  Proceedings  against any licensed or registered nursing home administrator under this  section shall be begun by filing with the  board  a  written  charge  or  charges  in  the form of a petition under oath against such nursing home  administrator. The charges may be preferred by any person,  corporation,  association  or  public  officer,  or  by the board or department in the  first instance. A report of such investigation as the  department  shall  deem proper shall be provided on request of the board.    2.  If  the  board decides that the charges should be heard, the board  shall designate a hearing officer to hear and report on the charges  and  shall  set  a  time  and  place  for the hearing. A copy of the charges,  together with a notice of the time and place of hearing, shall be served  on the accused at least fifteen days  before  the  date  fixed  for  the  hearing personally in the same manner as a summons in a civil action, or  by  certified  or registered mail addressed to the last known address of  the licensee.    3. The respondent in all such cases brought under this section  shall,  at least five days before the return date of the petition containing the  charges,  file  with  the  board a verified answer, in duplicate, to the  allegations set forth in said petition.   The  accused  shall  have  the  opportunity  at  such hearing to appear either personally or by counsel,  to cross-examine witnesses against  him  and  to  produce  evidence  and  witnesses in his defense.    4.  Upon the conclusion of the hearing, the hearing officer shall make  a written report of his findings and conclusions to the board. The board  shall thereupon take such action upon said findings and  conclusions  as  it  deems  proper.  If  the accused is found not guilty by the board, it  shall order a dismissal of the charges and  his  exoneration.    If  the  accused is found guilty of the charges, or any of them, the board shall,  in  its discretion, issue an order suspending, revoking or annulling the  license or registration of the accused, assessing a  civil  penalty  and  otherwise disciplining him.    5. Where the license or registration of any person has been revoked or  annulled, as herein provided, the board may, after the expiration of two  years,  entertain  an  application  for  restoration  of such license or  registration.    6. A licensed nursing home administrator whose license or registration  has been suspended, revoked or annulled, or who is otherwise disciplined  under  this  article,  may   commence   a   proceeding   under   article  seventy-eight  of the civil practice law and rules in the supreme court,  Albany county, for the purpose of reviewing such determination,  but  no  such  determination  shall  be stayed or enjoined except after notice to  the attorney general of the commencement of the proceeding.