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 states 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 incomplete after 90 days, the board may either instruct the OPLC to continue the investigation or make a final determination within 60 days.

The bill also includes several insertions and deletions to current law, such as the addition of the 30-day and 90-day timeframes for the investigation process. However, it does not provide funding or authorize new positions to accommodate the increased workload, which the OPLC estimates will require hiring additional investigative staff. Consequently, the OPLC anticipates needing to raise fees for all boards to cover the estimated costs of $500,000 to $1,000,000 associated with these new positions. The effective date for the new investigation timelines 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