Sec. 505.451. GROUNDS FOR DENIAL OF LICENSE OR ORDER OF RECOGNITION OF SPECIALTY; DISCIPLINARY ACTION

The board shall deny an application for a license or order of recognition of specialty and shall revoke or suspend, including a suspension on an emergency basis, a license or order, place a holder of a license or order that has been suspended on probation, refuse to renew a person's license, or reprimand a holder of a license or order for:

(1) violating this chapter or a rule adopted by the board under this chapter;

(2) circumventing or attempting to circumvent the requirements of this chapter or a rule adopted by the board under this chapter;

(3) directly or indirectly participating in a scheme to evade the requirements of this chapter or a rule adopted by the board under this chapter;

(4) engaging in unethical conduct;

(5) engaging in conduct that discredits or tends to discredit the social work profession;

(6) performing an act, allowing an omission, or making an assertion or representation that is fraudulent, deceitful, or misleading or that tends to create a misleading impression;

(7) knowingly associating with or permitting the use of a license holder's professional services or identification in connection with an enterprise that the person knows or should have known in the exercise of reasonable diligence violates this chapter or a rule adopted by the board under this chapter;

(8) knowingly associating with or permitting the use of a license holder's name, professional services or identification, or endorsement in connection with an enterprise that the person knows or should have known in the exercise of reasonable diligence is a trade, business, or professional practice of a fraudulent, deceitful, or misleading nature;

(9) directly or indirectly revealing or causing to be revealed a confidential communication transmitted to the license holder by a client or other recipient of the license holder's services unless revealing the communication is required by law;

(10) having been denied an application for a license or certificate to practice social work in another jurisdiction for a reason that the board determines would be a violation of this chapter or a rule adopted by the board under this chapter;

(11) holding a license or certificate in another jurisdiction that is suspended or revoked for a reason that the board determines would be a violation of this chapter or a rule adopted by the board under this chapter;

(12) having been convicted of a felony in this state, another state, or the United States;

(13) refusing to perform an act or service within the scope of the license holder's license solely because of the recipient's age, sex, race, religion, national origin, color, or political affiliation; or

(14) committing an act for which liability exists under Chapter 81, Civil Practice and Remedies Code.

Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 707 , Sec. 26, eff. September 1, 2005.