No license or specialty certification shall be suspended or revoked until notice is served upon the person licensed under the Social Worker’s Licensing Act and a hearing is held before the State Board of Licensed Social Workers. The notice shall be served by registered mail and shall state the time and place of the hearing and shall set forth the ground or grounds constituting the charges against the person licensed under this act. The licensed person is entitled to be heard in his or her defense either in person or by counsel and may produce testimony and may testify in his or her own behalf. A record of the hearing shall be taken and preserved. The record shall contain the notice; all papers, documents and data filed in the proceedings and all statements of the Board pertinent thereto; the testimony and exhibits; and the findings of fact and orders of the Board in writing. The State of Oklahoma shall be a party in the prosecution of all such actions and hearings before the Board pertaining to the suspension or revocation of a license or specialty certification, and the Attorney General, or one of the Attorney General’s assistants, is authorized and directed to appear in behalf thereof. The hearing may be adjourned from time to time. If the licensed person fails or refuses to appear, the Board may proceed to hear and determine the charges in his or her absence. If the licensed person pleads guilty, or if upon hearing of the charges a majority of the Board finds them true, the Board may enter an order suspending or revoking the license or specialty certification.

Added by Laws 1965, c. 140, § 17. Amended by Laws 1980, c. 124, § 15, eff. Oct. 1, 1980; Laws 2003, c. 85, § 18, eff. Nov. 1, 2003.