(a) The Department of Public Health shall have the following powers and duties with regard to the boards and commissions listed in subsection (b) of this section which are within the Department of Public Health. The department shall:

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(1) Control the allocation, disbursement and budgeting of funds appropriated to the department for the operation of the boards and commissions;

(2) Employ and assign such personnel as the commissioner deems necessary for the performance of the functions of the boards and commissions;

(3) Perform all management functions including purchasing, bookkeeping, accounting, payroll, secretarial, clerical and routine housekeeping functions;

(4) Adopt, with the advice and assistance of the appropriate board or commission, and in accordance with chapter 54, any regulations which are consistent with protecting the public health and safety and which are necessary to implement the purposes of this chapter and chapters 368v, 369 to 375, inclusive, 378 to 381, inclusive, 383 to 388, inclusive, 398 and 399;

(5) Develop and perform all administrative functions necessary to process applications for licenses and certificates;

(6) Determine the eligibility of all applicants for permits, licensure, certification or registration, based upon compliance with the general statutes and administrative regulations. The department may deny the eligibility of an applicant for a permit or for licensure by examination, endorsement, reciprocity or for reinstatement of a license voided pursuant to subsection (f) of section 19a-88, voluntarily surrendered or, by agreement, not renewed or reinstated pursuant to subsection (d) of section 19a-17, or may issue a license pursuant to a consent order containing conditions that must be met by the applicant if the department determines that the applicant:

(A) Has failed to comply with the general statutes and administrative regulations governing the applicant’s profession;

(B) Has been found guilty or convicted as a result of an act which constitutes a felony under (i) the laws of this state, (ii) federal law, or (iii) the laws of another jurisdiction and which, if committed within this state, would have constituted a felony under the laws of this state, except any applicant for licensure as a barber under chapter 386, a hairdresser and cosmetician under chapter 387 or an embalmer and funeral director under chapter 385;

(C) Is subject to a pending disciplinary action or unresolved complaint before the duly authorized professional disciplinary agency of any state, the District of Columbia, a United States possession or territory, or a foreign jurisdiction;

(D) Has been subject to disciplinary action similar to an action specified in subsection (a) of section 19a-17 by a duly authorized professional disciplinary agency of any state, the District of Columbia, a United States possession or territory, or a foreign jurisdiction;

(E) Has committed an act which, if the applicant were licensed, would not conform to the accepted standards of practice of the profession, including, but not limited to, incompetence, negligence, fraud or deceit; illegal conduct; procuring or attempting to procure a license, certificate or registration by fraud or deceit; or engaging in, aiding or abetting unlicensed practice of a regulated profession, provided the commissioner, or the commissioner’s designee, gives notice and holds a hearing, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, prior to denying an application for a permit or a license based on this subparagraph; or

(F) Has a condition which would interfere with the practice of the applicant’s profession, including, but not limited to, physical illness or loss of skill or deterioration due to the aging process, emotional disorder or mental illness, abuse or excessive use of drugs or alcohol, provided the commissioner, or the commissioner’s designee, gives notice and holds a hearing in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, prior to denying an application for a permit or a license based on this subparagraph;

(7) Administer licensing examinations under the supervision of the appropriate board or commission;

(8) Develop and perform all administrative functions necessary to process complaints against persons licensed by the department;

(9) Consent to the approval or disapproval by the appropriate boards or commissions of schools at which educational requirements shall be met;

(10) Conduct any necessary review, inspection or investigation regarding qualifications of applicants for licenses or certificates, possible violations of statutes or regulations, and disciplinary matters. In connection with any investigation, the Commissioner of Public Health or the commissioner’s authorized agent may administer oaths, issue subpoenas, compel testimony and order the production of books, records and documents. If any person refuses to appear, to testify or to produce any book, record or document when so ordered, a judge of the Superior Court may make such order as may be appropriate to aid in the enforcement of this section;

(11) Conduct any necessary investigation and follow-up in connection with complaints regarding persons subject to regulation or licensing by the department. In connection with any such investigation, the department may restrict, suspend or otherwise limit the license or permit of any person subject to regulation or licensing by the department pursuant to an interim consent order entered during the pendency of such investigation;

(12) With respect to any complaint filed with the department on or after October 1, 2010, alleging incompetence, negligence, fraud or deceit by a person subject to regulation or licensing by any board or commission described in subdivision (1) to (8), inclusive, (12) to (14), inclusive, or subdivision (16) of subsection (b) of this section:

(A) Upon request of the person who filed the complaint, provide such person with information on the status of the complaint;

(B) Upon request of the person who filed the complaint, provide such person with an opportunity to review, at the department, records compiled as of the date of the request pursuant to any investigation of the complaint, including, but not limited to, the respondent’s written response to the complaint, except that such person shall not be entitled to copy such records and the department (i) shall not disclose (I) information concerning a health care professional’s referral to, participation in or completion of an assistance program in accordance with sections 19a-12a and 19a-12b, that is confidential pursuant to section 19a-12a, (II) information not related to such person’s specific complaint, including, but not limited to, information concerning patients other than such person, or (III) personnel or medical records and similar files the disclosure of which would constitute an invasion of personal privacy pursuant to section 1-210, except for such records or similar files solely related to such person; (ii) shall not be required to disclose any other information that is otherwise confidential pursuant to federal law or state statute, except for information solely related to such person; and (iii) may require up to ten business days written notice prior to providing such opportunity for review;

(C) Prior to resolving the complaint with a consent order, provide the person who filed the complaint with not less than ten business days to submit a written statement as to whether such person objects to resolving the complaint with a consent order;

(D) If a hearing is held with respect to such complaint after a finding of probable cause, provide the person who filed the complaint with a copy of the notice of hearing issued pursuant to section 4-177, which shall include information concerning the opportunity to present oral or written statements pursuant to subsection (b) of section 4-177c; and

(E) Notify the person who filed the complaint of the final disposition of such complaint not later than seven business days after such final disposition;

(13) Perform any other function necessary to the effective operation of a board or commission and not specifically vested by statute in the board or commission;

(14) Contract with a third party, if the commissioner deems necessary, to administer licensing examinations and perform all attendant administrative functions in connection with such examination; and

(15) With respect to any investigation of a person subject to regulation, licensing or certification by the department and in any disciplinary proceeding regarding such person, except as required by federal law:

(A) Not be denied access to or use of copies of patient medical records on the grounds that privilege or confidentiality applies to such records; and

(B) Not further disclose patient medical records received pursuant to the provisions of this subdivision or personnel records received during the course of the investigation. Patient records received pursuant to this subdivision or personnel records received during the course of the investigation shall not be subject to disclosure under section 1-210.

(b) The department shall have the powers and duties indicated in subsection (a) of this section with regard to the following professional boards and commissions:

(1) The Connecticut Medical Examining Board, established under section 20-8a;

(2) The Connecticut State Board of Examiners for Optometrists, established under subsections (a) to (c), inclusive, of section 20-128a;

(3) The Connecticut State Board of Examiners for Nursing, established under section 20-88;

(4) The Dental Commission, established under section 20-103a;

(5) The Board of Examiners of Psychologists, established under section 20-186;

(6) The Connecticut Board of Veterinary Medicine, established under section 20-196;

(7) Repealed by P.A. 13-208, S. 79;

(8) The Connecticut State Board of Examiners for Opticians, established under subsections (a) to (c), inclusive, of section 20-139a;

(9) The Connecticut State Board of Examiners for Barbers and Hairdressers and Cosmeticians, established under section 20-235a;

(10) The Connecticut Board of Examiners of Embalmers and Funeral Directors, established under section 20-208;

(11) Repealed by P.A. 99-102, S. 51;

(12) The State Board of Naturopathic Examiners, established under section 20-35;

(13) The State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, established under section 20-25;

(14) The Connecticut Board of Examiners in Podiatry, established under section 20-51;

(15) The Board of Examiners of Electrologists, established under section 20-268; and

(16) The Connecticut State Board of Examiners for Physical Therapists.

(c) No board shall exist for the following professions that are licensed or otherwise regulated by the Department of Public Health:

(1) Speech and language pathologist and audiologist;

(2) Hearing instrument specialist;

(3) Nursing home administrator;

(4) Sanitarian;

(5) Subsurface sewage system installer or cleaner;

(6) Marital and family therapist and marriage and family therapist associate;

(7) Nurse-midwife;

(8) Licensed clinical social worker;

(9) Respiratory care practitioner;

(10) Asbestos contractor, asbestos consultant and asbestos training provider;

(11) Massage therapist;

(12) Registered nurse’s aide;

(13) Radiographer;

(14) Dental hygienist;

(15) Dietitian-Nutritionist;

(16) Asbestos abatement worker;

(17) Asbestos abatement site supervisor;

(18) Licensed or certified alcohol and drug counselor;

(19) Professional counselor and professional counselor associate;

(20) Acupuncturist;

(21) Occupational therapist and occupational therapist assistant;

(22) Lead abatement contractor, lead consultant contractor, lead consultant, lead abatement supervisor, lead abatement worker, lead training provider, lead inspector, lead inspector risk assessor and lead planner-project designer;

(23) Emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician, emergency medical responder and emergency medical services instructor;

(24) Paramedic;

(25) Athletic trainer;

(26) Perfusionist;

(27) Master social worker subject to the provisions of section 20-195v;

(28) Radiologist assistant, subject to the provisions of section 20-74tt;

(29) Homeopathic physician;

(30) Certified water treatment plant operator, certified distribution system operator, certified small water system operator, certified backflow prevention device tester and certified cross connection survey inspector, including certified limited operators, certified conditional operators and certified operators in training;

(31) Tattoo technician;

(32) Genetic counselor;

(33) Behavior analyst;

(34) Art therapist;

(35) Esthetician;

(36) Eyelash technician; and

(37) Nail technician.

The department shall assume all powers and duties normally vested with a board in administering regulatory jurisdiction over such professions. The uniform provisions of this chapter and chapters 368v, 369 to 381a, inclusive, 383 to 388, inclusive, 393a, 395, 398, 399, 400a and 400c, including, but not limited to, standards for entry and renewal; grounds for professional discipline; receiving and processing complaints; and disciplinary sanctions, shall apply, except as otherwise provided by law, to the professions listed in this subsection.

(d) Except as provided in subdivision (15) of subsection (a) of this section and section 20-13e, all records obtained by the department in connection with any investigation of a person or facility over which the department has jurisdiction under this chapter, other than a physician as defined in subdivision (5) of section 20-13a, shall not be subject to disclosure under section 1-210 for a period of one year from the date of the petition or other event initiating such investigation, or until such time as the investigation is terminated pursuant to a withdrawal or other informal disposition or until a hearing is convened pursuant to chapter 54, whichever is earlier. A complaint, as defined in subdivision (6) of section 19a-13, shall be subject to the provisions of section 1-210 from the time that it is served or mailed to the respondent. Records that are otherwise public records shall not be deemed confidential merely because they have been obtained in connection with an investigation under this chapter. Records disclosed to a person who files a complaint pursuant to subdivision (12) of subsection (a) of this section that are otherwise confidential shall not be deemed public records merely because they have been disclosed pursuant to said subdivision (12).

(e) The department shall not issue a license to any applicant against whom professional disciplinary action is pending or who is the subject of an unresolved complaint with the professional licensing authority in another jurisdiction.

(f) (1) Upon the issuance of a complaint under this chapter concerning any board or commission listed in subsection (b) of this section, or upon the filing of a petition for a declaratory ruling with, or the initiation of a proceeding for declaratory ruling by, any such board or commission pursuant to section 4-176, such board or commission shall notify the department of such complaint, petition or initiation of a proceeding.

(2) The Commissioner of Public Health or his or her designee may, not later than fifteen calendar days after receipt of the notice described in subdivision (1) of this subsection, notify such board or commission that the decision rendered by such board or commission in such matter shall be a proposed decision and that the commissioner or his or her designee shall render the final determination of the matter. The board or commission in making any such proposed decision shall comply with the requirements set forth in section 4-179. The commissioner or his or her designee may approve, modify or reject the proposed decision or remand the proposed decision for further review or for the taking of additional evidence. Any party to the matter may file written exceptions to the proposed decision not later than thirty days after the proposed decision is issued by the board or commission. The decision of the commissioner or his or her designee shall be the final decision in accordance with section 4-180 and for purposes of reconsideration in accordance with section 4-181a or appeal to the Superior Court pursuant to section 4-183.