Sec.20-576a-7. Grounds for discipline

(a) The commissioner may suspend, revoke or refuse to renew a registration of an authorized collector or reverse distributor, place conditions on such registration, issue a letter of reprimand, or take other actions permitted by statute or regulation, including sections 20-579, 21a-8 and 21a-70 of the Connecticut General Statutes. Failure to renew a registration in a timely manner shall not be a violation for purposes of this section. Any of the following shall be sufficient cause for such action:

(1) Furnishing of false or fraudulent information in any application or other document filed with the department;

(2) Any criminal conviction of the authorized collector or reverse distributor under any federal or state statute concerning drugs;

(3) Any civil action under any federal or state statute, or regulation or local ordinance relating to the applicant’s, licensee’s or registrant’s profession, or involving drugs, medical devices or fraudulent practices;

(4) Failure to maintain effective controls against diversion, theft or loss of controlled substances or other materials placed in the collection receptacles by authorized collectors while the rigid container is in the collection receptacle and by reverse distributors, after receiving the rigid container from the authorized collector;

(5) Discipline by, or a pending disciplinary action or unresolved complaint, with regard to any professional license or registration of any federal, state or local government;

(6) Failure to keep and maintain accurate records as required by sections 20-576a-1 to 20-576a-7, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies;

(7) Denial, suspension or revocation of a license or registration, or the denial of a renewal of a license or registration, by any federal, state or local government or a foreign jurisdiction;

(8) False, misleading or deceptive representations to the public or the commissioner;

(9) Involvement in a fraudulent or deceitful practice or transaction;

(10) Performance of incompetent or negligent work;

(11) Failure to maintain the entire collection receptacle or pharmacy area in which it is located in a clean, orderly and working condition;

(12) Failure to cooperate or give information to the department, local law enforcement authorities or any other enforcement agency upon any matter arising out of conduct by or at an authorized collector or a reverse distributor;

(13) Failure to comply with any provision of sections 20-576a-1 to 20-576a-7, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies; or

(14) A violation of a statute or regulation relating to drugs, devices or the practice of pharmacy of this state, any state of the United States, the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States or a foreign jurisdiction.

(b) Before denying, suspending, revoking or refusing to renew a registration, the commissioner shall afford the applicant an opportunity for a hearing in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 of the Connecticut General Statutes.

(c) No authorized collector or reverse distributor whose registration has been revoked may apply for a registration under sections 20-576a-1 to 20-576a-7, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies for at least one year from the date of such revocation.

(d) A registrant may at any time voluntarily surrender its certificate of registration for any or all of the following reasons: (1) As an indication of its good faith in desiring to remedy any incorrect or unlawful practices or (2) as a voluntary act arising out of such registrant's desire to terminate prescribing or handling of controlled substances in any or all schedules. Any such voluntary surrender shall constitute authority for the commissioner or said commissioner's authorized agent to terminate and revoke any registration without a hearing or any other proceeding.

(Effective July 8, 2019)