This bill establishes time limitations for investigations conducted by the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) in response to allegations of professional misconduct. Specifically, it mandates that within 30 days of receiving an allegation, the OPLC must determine if the allegation constitutes a claim of professional misconduct. If the allegation is deemed valid, the OPLC is required to complete the investigation within 90 days and report its findings to the board at its next regularly scheduled meeting. If the investigation is not completed within this timeframe, the board has the discretion to either instruct the OPLC to continue the investigation or make a final determination on the claim within an additional 60 days.

The bill also includes provisions for the board to dismiss allegations that do not state a claim of professional misconduct. Notably, the legislation does not provide funding or authorize new positions to accommodate the increased workload that these time constraints may create. The OPLC anticipates needing to hire additional staff, including five investigative paralegals and a physician investigator, which could result in an estimated fiscal impact of $500,000 to $1,000,000. The effective date for the new investigation time limits is set for March 1, 2026, while the remainder of the act will take effect 60 days after its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 310:9
As Amended by the Senate: 310:9