2016 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 12 - Professions and Occupations
Health Care
Article 42.5 - Pharmacists, Pharmacy Businesses, and Pharmaceuticals
Part 1 - General Provisions
§ 12-42.5-124. Disciplinary actions

(1) (a) The board may deny or discipline an applicant, licensee, or registrant when the board determines that the applicant, licensee, or registrant has engaged in activities that are grounds for discipline.

(b) The board may suspend or revoke a registration issued pursuant to section 12-42.5-117 (12) upon determination that the person administering a drug or combination of drugs to an animal has not demonstrated adequate knowledge required by sections 12-42.5-117 (12) and 12-42.5-118 (17).

(2) (a) Proceedings for the denial, suspension, or revocation of a license or registration and any judicial review of a suspension or revocation must be conducted in accordance with article 4 of title 24, C.R.S., and the board or, at the board's discretion, an administrative law judge, shall conduct the hearing and opportunity for review.

(b) Upon finding that grounds for discipline pursuant to section 12-42.5-123 exist, the board may impose one or more of the following penalties on a person who holds or is seeking a new or renewal license or registration:

(I) Suspension of the offender's license or registration for a period to be determined by the board;

(II) Revocation of the offender's license or registration;

(III) Restriction of the offender's license or registration to prohibit the offender from performing certain acts or from practicing pharmacy in a particular manner for a period to be determined by the board;

(IV) Refusal to renew the offender's license or registration;

(V) Placement of the offender on probation and supervision by the board for a period to be determined by the board;

(VI) Suspension of the registration of the outlet that is owned by or employs the offender for a period to be determined by the board.

(c) The board may limit revocation or suspension of a registration to the particular controlled substance which was the basis for revocation or suspension.

(d) If the board suspends or revokes a registration, the board may place all controlled substances owned or possessed by the registrant at the time of the suspension or on the effective date of the revocation order under seal. The board may not dispose of substances under seal until the time for making an appeal has elapsed or until all appeals have been concluded, unless a court orders otherwise or orders the sale of any perishable controlled substances and the deposit of the proceeds with the court. When a revocation becomes final, all controlled substances may be forfeited to the state.

(e) The board shall promptly notify the bureau and the appropriate professional licensing agency, if any, of all charges and the final disposition of the charges and of all forfeitures of a controlled substance.

(3) The board may also include in any disciplinary order that allows the licensee or registrant to continue to practice conditions that the board deems appropriate to assure that the licensee or registrant is physically, mentally, morally, and otherwise qualified to practice pharmacy in accordance with the generally accepted professional standards of practice, including any or all of the following:

(a) Requiring the licensee or registrant to submit to examinations that the board may order to determine the licensee's physical or mental condition or professional qualifications;

(b) Requiring the licensee to take therapy courses of training or education that the board deems necessary to correct deficiencies found either in the hearing or by examinations required pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (3);

(c) Requiring the review or supervision of the licensee's practice to determine the quality of and correct deficiencies in his or her practice; and

(d) Imposing restrictions upon the nature of the licensee's practice to assure that he or she does not practice beyond the limits of his or her capabilities.

(4) Upon failure of the licensee or registrant to comply with any conditions imposed by the board pursuant to subsection (3) of this section, unless due to conditions beyond the licensee's or registrant's control, the board may order suspension of the license or registration in this state until the licensee or registrant complies with the conditions.

(5) (a) (I) Except as provided in subparagraphs (II) and (III) of this paragraph (a), in addition to any other penalty the board may impose pursuant to this section, the board may fine any registrant violating this article or any rules promulgated pursuant to this article not less than five hundred dollars and not more than five thousand dollars for each violation.

(II) In addition to any other penalty the board may impose pursuant to this section, the board may fine a registrant violating part 4 of this article not less than five hundred dollars and not more than one thousand dollars for the first time the board imposes a fine, not more than two thousand dollars for the second time the board imposes a fine, and not more than five thousand dollars for a third or subsequent time the board imposes a fine. If a registrant violates an agreement to refrain from committing subsequent violations of part 4 of this article, the board may impose a fine of not more than one thousand dollars for each violation of the agreement.

(III) (A) The board, after providing notice and an opportunity to be heard, may fine a registrant who distributes a veterinary drug in violation of this article not less than fifty dollars nor more than five hundred dollars for each violation, with a maximum aggregated fine of five thousand dollars for multiple violations; except that, if, after considering the recommendations of the advisory committee created in section 12-42.5-104.5, the board determines that the registrant has committed one or more egregious violations, the board may fine the registrant in accordance with subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (a).

(B) In setting a fine, the board shall consider the registrant's ability to pay. If the board determines that paying the fine would cause the registrant an undue hardship, the board shall waive the fine.

(b) The board shall transmit any moneys collected as administrative fines pursuant to this subsection (5) to the state treasurer for credit to the general fund.

(6) (a) When a complaint or an investigation discloses an instance of misconduct that, in the opinion of the board, does not warrant formal action by the board but should not be dismissed as being without merit, the board may send a letter of admonition by certified mail to the licensee or registrant against whom the complaint was made or who was the subject of investigation and, in the case of a complaint, may send a copy of the letter of admonition to the person making the complaint.

(b) When the board sends a letter of admonition to a licensee or registrant complained against, the board shall include in the letter a statement advising the licensee or registrant that the licensee or registrant has the right to request in writing, within twenty days after receipt of the letter, that the board initiate formal disciplinary proceedings to adjudicate the propriety of the conduct upon which the letter of admonition is based.

(c) If the licensee or registrant timely requests adjudication, the letter of admonition is vacated, and the board shall process the matter by means of formal disciplinary proceedings.

(7) (a) When a complaint or an investigation discloses an instance of conduct that does not warrant formal action by the board but the board determines that the conduct could warrant action if continued, the board may send a confidential letter of concern to the licensee or registrant against whom the complaint was made or who was the subject of investigation. If a complaint precipitated the investigation, the board shall send a response to the person making the complaint.

(b) A confidential letter of concern is not discipline.

(8) When a complaint or an investigation discloses an instance of misconduct that, in the opinion of the board, warrants formal action, the board shall not resolve the complaint by a deferred settlement, action, judgment, or prosecution.

(9) (a) If it appears to the board, based upon credible evidence as presented in a written complaint by any person, that a licensee or registrant is acting in a manner that is an imminent threat to the health and safety of the public or a person is acting or has acted without the required license or registration, the board may issue an order to cease and desist the activity. The board shall set forth in the order the statutes and rules alleged to have been violated, the facts alleged to have constituted the violation, and the requirement that all unlawful acts or unlicensed or unregistered practices immediately cease.

(b) Within ten days after service of the order to cease and desist pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (9), the respondent may request a hearing on the question of whether acts or practices in violation of this article have occurred. The board shall conduct the hearing pursuant to sections 24-4-104 and 24-4-105, C.R.S.

(10) (a) If it appears to the board, based upon credible evidence as presented in a written complaint by any person, that a person has violated any other portion of this article, then, in addition to any specific powers granted pursuant to this article, the board may issue to the person an order to show cause as to why the board should not issue a final order directing the person to cease and desist from the unlawful act or unlicensed or unregistered practice.

(b) The board shall promptly notify a person against whom the board has issued an order to show cause pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (10) of the issuance of the order and shall include in the notice a copy of the order, the factual and legal basis for the order, and the date set by the board for a hearing on the order. The board may serve the notice upon the person against whom the order is issued by personal service, by first-class United States mail, postage prepaid, or as may be practicable. Personal service or mailing of an order or document pursuant to this subsection (10) constitutes notice to the person.

(c) (I) The board shall commence the hearing on an order to show cause no sooner than ten and no later than forty-five calendar days after the date of transmission or service of the notification by the board as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection (10). The board may continue the hearing by agreement of all parties based upon the complexity of the matter, number of parties to the matter, and legal issues presented in the matter, but in no event shall the board commence the hearing later than sixty calendar days after the date of transmission or service of the notification.

(II) If a person against whom an order to show cause has been issued pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (10) does not appear at the hearing, the board may present evidence that notification was properly sent or served upon the person pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subsection (10) and such other evidence related to the matter as the board deems appropriate. The board shall issue the order within ten days after the board's determination related to reasonable attempts to notify the respondent, and the order becomes final as to that person by operation of law. The hearing must be conducted pursuant to sections 24-4-104 and 24-4-105, C.R.S.

(III) If the board reasonably finds that the person against whom the order to show cause was issued is acting or has acted without the required license or registration or has or is about to engage in acts or practices constituting violations of this article, the board may issue a final cease-and-desist order directing the person to cease and desist from further unlawful acts or unlicensed or unregistered practices.

(IV) The board shall provide notice, in the manner set forth in paragraph (b) of this subsection (10), of the final cease-and-desist order within ten calendar days after the hearing conducted pursuant to this paragraph (c) to each person against whom the final order has been issued. The final order issued pursuant to subparagraph (III) of this paragraph (c) is effective when issued and is a final order for purposes of judicial review.

(11) If it appears to the board, based upon credible evidence presented to the board, that a person has engaged in or is about to engage in any unlicensed or unregistered act or practice, any act or practice constituting a violation of this article, any rule promulgated pursuant to this article, or any order issued pursuant to this article, or any act or practice constituting grounds for administrative sanction pursuant to this article, the board may enter into a stipulation with the person.

(12) If any person fails to comply with a final cease-and-desist order or a stipulation, the board may request the attorney general or the district attorney for the judicial district in which the alleged violation exists to bring, and if so requested such attorney shall bring, suit for a temporary restraining order and for injunctive relief to prevent any further or continued violation of the final order.

(13) A person aggrieved by the final cease-and-desist order may seek judicial review of the board's determination or of the board's final order as provided in section 12-42.5-125.