<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" citation="COMAR 10.32.02.05" title_num="10" subtitle_num="32" chapter_num="02" heading="Disciplinary Panel Exceptions Process and Final Order.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Application.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>This regulation applies to cases under Health Occupations Article, §§1-307, 14-405, 14-5A-17(b), 14-5B-14(b), 14-5C-17(b), 14-5D-15, 14-5E-16(b), 14-5F-18(b) and 15-315 Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>This regulation does not apply to cases under Health Occupations Article, §14-404(b), 14-5A-17(c), 14-5B-14(c), 14-5C-14(c), 14-5D-14(b), 14-5E-16(f), or 14-5F-18(c) or 15-314(b), Annotated Code of Maryland, or to cease and desist orders issued under Health Occupations Article, §14-206(e), Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Exceptions.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Written Exceptions.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Any party may file with the disciplinary panel, that delegated the case to an administrative law judge, exceptions to a proposed decision of an administrative law judge within 15 days of its issuance. A party may file a response to any exceptions within 15 days of the date the exceptions are filed. The disciplinary panel may extend the period for filing exceptions and responses. The disciplinary panel may grant a party filing exceptions the opportunity to file a reply to a response within a stated period of time as determined by the disciplinary panel in any specific case. No further exceptions or responses of any kind may be accepted.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Format.</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Written exceptions and responses to exceptions are limited to 15 pages in length, double-spaced and in at least 12-point type, and with margins of at least 1 inch.</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Any reply to responses to exceptions is limited to five pages in the same format.</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>If a party attaches any part of the record to the exceptions, response, or reply, the attached pages are not to be encompassed within the applicable page limit. The disciplinary panel may require the attachment of those parts of the record cited in the exceptions in a form designated by the Board.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Exceptions, responses, and replies may refer to the record by citing the exhibit number or the transcript page.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>The disciplinary panel chair or the disciplinary panel chair’s designee may in each case rule on specific procedural issues with respect to written exceptions.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>The disciplinary panel may not accept additional evidence through the written exceptions process.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Oral Exceptions Hearing.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>If either party files exceptions, the disciplinary panel shall schedule a hearing, ordinarily 30 days after the receipt of responses to the exceptions, after which the disciplinary panel shall issue an order containing the disciplinary panel’s findings of fact, conclusions of law, and disposition.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The presiding disciplinary panel member, usually the disciplinary panel chair, shall:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Determine all procedural issues that are governed by this section;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Make any rulings reasonably necessary to facilitate the effective and efficient operation of the hearing; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Ordinarily limit oral presentation by the respondent and the administrative prosecutor to 20 minutes each.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The party who filed the first exceptions shall ordinarily proceed first.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Additional Evidence. At the oral exceptions hearing, the disciplinary panel may not accept additional evidence unless:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Both parties consent to the admission of additional documentary evidence and the disciplinary panel determines that acceptance of the additional evidence would promote the just and efficient completion of the process; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The disciplinary panel determines that either:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>A compelling reason exists that would create an obvious injustice if the additional documentary evidence were not considered and the evidence can be admitted without compromising the rights of the other party, including the other party’s opportunity to see the proffered evidence in a timely manner or cross-examine the source of the proffered document and present evidence to the contrary; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>The evidence has been timely proffered before the administrative law judge and the administrative law judge abused his or her discretion in refusing to admit the evidence.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>If the parties do not file exceptions, the disciplinary panel shall consider the record, including the proposed decision of the administrative law judge, and issue its order based on the disciplinary panel’s findings of fact and conclusions of law.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>A Board staff member who testified at the hearing before the administrative law judge may not be present during disciplinary panel deliberations.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Board Action.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Final Order. The disciplinary panel shall issue a final order within 90 days after the conclusion of:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>An exceptions hearing; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Other formal disciplinary panel proceedings.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Effect of Revocation Order.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>When a time period is not stated in an order for revocation, the disciplinary panel may not entertain an application for postdisciplinary reinstatement until at least 3 years after the date of the order.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A revocation of a license may not be for less than 1 year and may be permanent.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The disciplinary panel may not entertain an application for postdisciplinary reinstatement after an order of revocation unless:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Any time period stated in the order has expired;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>The conditions set out in the order have been fulfilled;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>The applicant has filed a formal application and paid the fee; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>The applicant meets all of the requirements for reinstatement set out in COMAR 10.32.01.10.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>The disciplinary panel that issued the final order revoking or suspending the respondent shall entertain applications for reinstatement pursuant to the procedures and standards of Regulation .06B of this chapter.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Tolling.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Except as a disciplinary panel order directs otherwise in a specific case, if a licensee subject to probation or suspension fails to renew a license:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>The failure to renew the license does not remove the suspension or probation from the licensee’s disciplinary record during the period of nonrenewal;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Any condition of probation or condition precedent to terminating a suspension that is dependent on possessing a license is tolled until the probationer or suspended licensee again possesses a license; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>The time period of probation or suspension, if any, is tolled until the probationer or suspended licensee again possesses a license.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Section C(3)(a) of this regulation does not:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Apply to fines; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Require the disciplinary panel to reinstate any former licensee.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>