2009 Rhode Island Code
Title 5 - Businesses and Professions
CHAPTER 5-8.1 - Land Surveyors
§ 5-8.1-15 - Board of registration for professional land surveyors – Disciplinary actions.

SECTION 5-8.1-15

   § 5-8.1-15  Board of registration for professional land surveyors – Disciplinary actions. – (a) Revocation, suspension, and censure. After notice and a hearing as provided in this section, the board of land surveyors may in its discretion: (1) suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew any certificate of registration; (2) revoke or suspend or refuse to renew any certificate of authorization; (3) publicly censure, or reprimand or censure in writing; (4) limit the scope of practice of; (5) impose an administrative fine, not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each violation; (6) place on probation; and/or (7) for good cause shown order a reimbursement of the board for all fees, expenses, costs, and attorneys' fees in connection with the proceedings, which amounts shall deposited as general revenues; all with or without terms, conditions or limitations, holders of a certificate of registration or a certificate of authorization, hereafter referred to as registrant(s), for any one or more of the causes set out in subsection (b) of this section.

   (b) Grounds. The board may take actions specified in subsection (a) of this section for any of the following causes:

   (1) Bribery, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation in obtaining a certificate of registration or certificate of authorization;

   (2) Practicing land surveying in another state or country or jurisdiction in violation of the laws of that state, country, or jurisdiction;

   (3) Practicing land surveying in this state in violation of the standards of professional conduct established by the board;

   (4) Fraud, deceit, recklessness, gross negligence, misconduct, or incompetence in the practice of land surveying;

   (5) Use of a land surveyor's stamp in violation of § 5-8.1-12;

   (6) Violation of any of the provisions of this chapter;

   (7) Suspension or revocation of the right to practice land surveying before any state or before any other country or jurisdiction;

   (8) Conviction of or pleading guilty or nolo contendere to any felony or to any crime of, or an act constituting a crime of, forgery, embezzlement, obtaining money under the false pretenses, bribery, larceny, extortion, conspiracy to defraud, or any other similar offense or offenses involving moral turpitude, in a court of competent jurisdiction of this state or any other state or of the federal government;

   (9) Failure to furnish to the board or any person acting on behalf thereof in a reasonable time such information as may be legally requested by the board;

   (10) In conjunction with any violation of subdivisions (1) – (9) of this subsection, any conduct reflecting adversely upon the registrant's fitness to engage in the practice of land surveying; and

   (11) In conjunction with any violation of subdivisions (1) – (9) of this subsection, any other conduct discreditable to the land surveying profession.

   (c) Procedures. (1) Any person may prefer charges of fraud, deceit, gross negligence, incompetence, or misconduct against any applicant or registrant. In addition, the board may, on its own motion, investigate the conduct of an applicant or registrant of the board, and may in appropriate cases file a written statement of charges with the secretary of the board. The charges shall be in writing and shall be sworn to by the person or persons making them and shall be filed with the board of land surveyors. All charges, unless dismissed by the board of land surveyors as unfounded or trivial, shall be heard by the board within three (3) months after the date on which they were referred.

   (2) The time and place for the hearing shall be fixed by the board of land surveyors, and a copy of the charges, together with a notice of the time and place of the hearing, shall be personally served on or mailed to the last known address of the registrant at least thirty (30) days before the date fixed for the hearing. At any hearing, the accused registrant or applicant has the right to appear personally and/or by counsel, to cross examine witnesses appearing against him or her, and to produce evidence and witnesses in his or her defense.

   (3) If, after the hearing, the charges are sustained, the board of land surveyors may in its discretion suspend, refuse to renew, or revoke the certificate of registration, or certificate of authorization or publicly censure the registrant, or take any other action and/or order any other penalty permitted by this section.

   (4) The board of land surveyors may, at its discretion, reissue a certificate of registration or certificate of authorization or renewal to any person or firm denied registration under this section or upon presentation of satisfactory evidence of reform and/or redress.

   (d) Legal counsel. The board of land surveyors may employ counsel and necessary assistance to aid in the enforcement of this chapter, and their compensation and expenses shall be paid from the funds budgeted for and under the control of the board.

   (e) Nothing in this chapter shall prevent the board of land surveyors from charging one or both parties a fee for the direct costs associated with hearings and transcripts.