Voluntary non-disciplinary surrender of a license

§ 6510-d. Voluntary non-disciplinary surrender of a license. A professional who is licensed pursuant to article one hundred thirty-nine of this title may voluntarily surrender a license to the committee on drug and alcohol abuse when such licensee requests to be monitored and/or receive peer support services in relation to the use, misuse or addiction to drugs. The committee shall accept such voluntary non-disciplinary surrender of a license and provide for expedited reinstatement of the license if the licensee meets criteria set by the committee. Such criteria will include, but not be limited to, confidence that the licensee's use of drugs and/or alcohol has not resulted in harm to a patient or client and the licensee is not incapacitated, unfit for practice or a threat to the health, safety and welfare of the public. Such voluntary surrender, if accepted by the committee, shall result in an immediate reinstatement of the license and shall provide immunity from a violation of subdivision three or four of section six thousand five hundred nine of this article and cannot be deemed an admission or used as evidence in professional misconduct. Acceptance by the committee shall not require a report to the department of health or to any employer or licensing authority of another jurisdiction, nor require any disclosure to patients or to the public that such license has been temporarily surrendered, except if it is subsequently determined by the department that a participant being monitored by the department is found to have used drugs and/or alcohol which has resulted in harm to a patient or client.