§ 17-31-309 - Revocation -- Grounds -- Proceedings.
17-31-309. Revocation -- Grounds -- Proceedings.
(a) The Arkansas State Board of Registration for Foresters may receive and investigate complaints against registered foresters and make findings thereon.
(b) The board may revoke the certificate of any registered forester who has been convicted of a felony or who is found guilty by the board of any fraud, deceit, gross negligence, misrepresentation, willful violation of contract, misconduct, or gross incompetence. The board shall investigate such charges.
(c) All charges, unless dismissed by the board as unfounded or trivial, shall be heard by the board within three (3) months after the date on which they are presented to the board.
(d) Before the board shall revoke the certificate of any registered forester, the board shall conduct a hearing, the time and place for which shall be fixed by the board. A copy of the charges, together with a notice of the time and place of hearing, shall be personally served on or mailed by registered letter to the last known address of the registered forester at least thirty (30) days before the date fixed for the hearing.
(e) At any hearing, the accused registered forester shall have the right to appear personally and, by counsel, to cross-examine witnesses appearing against him or her and to produce evidence and witnesses in his or her own defense.
(f) A written record, including the testimony of all witnesses, shall be made and filed by the Secretary of the Arkansas State Board of Registration for Foresters.
(g) If the accused registered forester is found guilty of the charges made against him or her, the board shall revoke his or her certificate of registration.
(h) A registered forester whose certificate of registration has been revoked may apply for a review of the proceedings of the board by any court of competent jurisdiction within sixty (60) days following the action of the board. The petition to the circuit court shall set out in detail what adverse action of the board was erroneous. After citation of the board as provided by law and full hearing, the court shall make such decree sustaining or reversing the action of the board as may seem just and proper.