TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OR RESTRICTION OF REGISTRATION.

(a) The president of the board shall appoint a disciplinary panel consisting of three board members to determine whether a registration under this chapter should be temporarily suspended or restricted. If a majority of the panel determines from evidence or information presented to the panel that the registrant by continuation in practice as a pharmacy technician or pharmacy technician trainee would constitute a continuing threat to the public welfare, the panel shall temporarily suspend or restrict the registration as provided by Subsection (b).

(b) A disciplinary panel may temporarily suspend or restrict the registration:

(1) after a hearing conducted by the panel after the 10th day after the date notice of the hearing is provided to the registrant; or

(2) without notice or hearing if, at the time the suspension or restriction is ordered, a hearing before the panel is scheduled to be held not later than the 14th day after the date of the temporary suspension or restriction to determine whether the suspension or restriction should be continued.

(c) Not later than the 90th day after the date of the temporary suspension or restriction, the board shall initiate a disciplinary action under this chapter, and a contested case hearing shall be held by the State Office of Administrative Hearings. If the State Office of Administrative Hearings does not hold the hearing in the time required by this subsection, the suspended or restricted registration is automatically reinstated.

(d) Notwithstanding Chapter 551, Government Code, the disciplinary panel may hold a meeting by telephone conference call if immediate action is required and convening the panel at one location is inconvenient for any member of the disciplinary panel.