(a) In accordance with §507.302 of the Occupations Code, a license shall be temporarily suspended when the Council or an executive committee of the Council determines that the continued practice by a licensee (respondent) would constitute a continuing and imminent threat to the public welfare.
(b) An executive committee of the Council shall convene as follows:
  (1) For each temporary suspension proceeding, the Council shall appoint a three-member executive committee, called a "suspension panel," to consider the information and evidence presented by agency staff. The suspension panel must have at least one member from the same profession as the respondent and a majority of members from the respondent's member board. The suspension panel shall confer with each other and name a chair of the suspension panel.
  (2) In the event of the recusal of a suspension panel member or the inability of a suspension panel member to attend a temporary suspension proceeding, the presiding officer for the Council may appoint an alternate council member to serve on the suspension panel.
  (3) The suspension panel may convene in-person or via telephone, video conference, or other electronic means.
(c) Temporary Suspension Hearing. The meeting at which the suspension panel considers a temporary suspension is a temporary suspension hearing. At the temporary suspension hearing, agency staff shall present evidence and information to the suspension panel that the continued practice by a person licensed by the Council would constitute a continuing and imminent threat to the public welfare. Notice of the temporary suspension hearing shall be sent to the respondent no less than 10 days before the hearing by personal service or by registered or certified mail.
(d) Order of Temporary Suspension. If a majority of the suspension panel votes to temporarily suspend a license, the suspension shall have immediate effect, and the chair of the suspension panel will sign an Order of Temporary Suspension. The Order of Temporary Suspension shall include a factual and legal basis establishing imminent peril to the public health, safety, or welfare, as required by §2001.054(c-1) of the Government Code. The Order shall be sent to the respondent by first-class mail or email.
(e) Temporary Suspension Without Notice. In accordance with §507.302(b) of the Occupations Code, a license may be suspended without notice to the respondent if at the time of the suspension, agency staff request a hearing before SOAH to be held as soon as practicable but no later than 14 days after the date of the temporary suspension. The hearing is referred to as the "probable cause hearing."
(f) Notice, Continuance, and Waiver of Probable Cause Hearing. Agency staff shall serve notice of the probable cause hearing upon the respondent in accordance with SOAH's rules. The respondent may request a continuance or waiver of the probable cause hearing. If the ALJ grants the continuance request or the respondent waives the probable cause hearing, the suspension remains in effect until the suspension is considered by SOAH at the continued probable cause hearing or at the final hearing. If the probable cause hearing is not held within 14 days and the respondent did not request a continuance or waive the probable cause hearing, the suspended license is reinstated.
(g) Probable Cause Hearing. At the probable cause hearing, an ALJ shall determine whether there is probable cause to continue the temporary suspension of the license and issue an order on that determination.
(h) Final Hearing. The State Office of Administrative Hearings shall hold a hearing no later than 61 days from the date of the temporary suspension. At this hearing, agency staff shall present evidence supporting the continued suspension of the license and may present evidence of any additional violations related to the licensee. This hearing is referred to as the "final hearing."
(i) Notice and Continuance of Final Hearing. Agency staff shall send notice of the final hearing in accordance with SOAH's rules. The respondent may request a continuance or waive the final hearing. If a final hearing is not held within 61 days of the date of the temporary suspension and the respondent did not request a continuance or waive the final hearing, the license is reinstated.
(j) Proposal for Decision. Following the final hearing, the ALJ shall issue a PFD on the suspension. The PFD may also address any other additional violations related to the licensee.
(k) A temporary suspension takes effect immediately and shall remain in effect until:
  (1) a final or superseding order of the Council is entered;
  (2) the ALJ issues an order determining that there is no probable cause to continue the temporary suspension of the license; or
  (3) a SOAH hearing is not timely held.

Source Note: The provisions of this §884.40 adopted to be effective September 1, 2020, 45 TexReg 4769