LAC 46:XXV.1009. Complaint Origination

A. The administrator is authorized to receive complaints against licensees and applicants from any person. The administrator is also authorized to initiate a complaint upon receipt of information that, if proven, would constitute grounds for discipline under the Practice Act or this Part. B. Upon receipt of a complaint, the administrator shall verify its compliance with this Chapter. The administrator may reject a complaint if: 1. the respondent cannot be determined from the complaint; 2. the respondent is neither a licensee nor an applicant; 3. the complaint is illegible or incomplete; or 4. the complaint does not allege facts which, if proven, would constitute a violation of the Practice Act or this Part. C. When the administrator rejects a complaint pursuant to subsection B, the complainant shall be notified in writing. The administrator shall report to the board at its next regularly scheduled meeting the nature of any rejected complaints and the reason for the rejection. D. All complaints received by the administrator and not rejected shall be assigned a complaint number in accordance with a numbering system prescribed by the administrator. The administrator shall notify the respondent in writing that a complaint has been received. E. When two complaints concern the same or related respondents and describe the same or a substantially similar event, transaction, or conduct, the administrator may consolidate the complaints. The board may order two or more complaints consolidated or sever consolidated complaints for good cause. F. To assist in an investigation, the board is authorized to issue, as necessary or upon request, such investigative subpoenas as may be required to obtain documents, the appearance of witnesses, or sworn statements or testimony. G. As part of an investigation, the board is authorized to obtain criminal history record information from respondents who have not previously submitted to the requirements of R.S. 37:2710.