15-75-321. Suspension of certificate of competency — Revocation of permit or certificate.

15-75-321. Suspension of certificate of competency — Revocation of permit or certificate. (a) The Director of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Board or any inspector of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Board is authorized to temporarily suspend the certificate of competency of any person subject to this subchapter if it shall be determined that the person, while engaged in liquefied petroleum gas operations, is so engaged in a reckless, careless, or unsafe manner or in an intoxicated state which endangers human life, provided that those persons shall have an opportunity to contest the suspension under the provisions of this subchapter as hereinafter provided for. (b) The board, upon sufficient proof, may revoke, suspend, reprimand, place on probation, refuse to renew, or refuse to issue the permit or certificate of competency of any holder or person for cause or willful violation of any of the laws or rules as promulgated by the board after due notice, provided that all persons shall be entitled to a hearing before the board to show cause why the permit or certificate of competency should not be revoked. Any person whose certificate of competency has been temporarily suspended by the director or an inspector of the board shall be entitled to a hearing before the board at its next meeting to show cause why the certificate of competency should not be permanently revoked. No person whose permit or certificate of competency is suspended temporarily or permanently revoked hereunder shall engage in any phase of the liquefied petroleum gas business until authorized to do so by order of the board. (c) The board is empowered to administer oaths and affirmations, to take depositions, to certify to official actions, and to issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, papers, and records deemed necessary as evidence in connection with any matter properly before it. In case of contumacy by a witness or a party or a refusal by any person to obey a subpoena, any court within the jurisdiction in which the witness, party, or other person is found or resides or transacts business, upon application by the board, shall issue to the witness, party, or other person as aforesaid an order requiring the person to appear before the board and to produce evidence if so ordered or to give testimony touching on the matter involved. Any failure to obey the order of the court may be punished by the court as a contempt thereof. A person who without just cause fails or refuses to attend and testify or answer any lawful inquiry or to produce books, papers, or records in obedience to a subpoena of the board shall be punished by a fine of not less than two hundred dollars ($200) or by imprisonment of not longer than sixty (60) days, or by both. Each day the violation continues is a separate offense and may be punished as such. If a holder of a permit or a certificate of competency violates any provision of this subsection, the board may immediately revoke his or her permit or certificate of competency, and the person shall not thereafter engage in any phase of the liquefied petroleum gas business until he or she has complied with reasonable orders the board may make in connection therewith. (d) All action taken by the board pursuant to this section is subject to judicial review by the Pulaski County Circuit Court as provided for in the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act, § 25-15-201 et seq. (e) An applicant for or holder of a permit may not engage in any phase of the liquefied petroleum gas business covered by the permit during any period of refusal to grant or of revocation by the board, including the period of the pendency of any appeal from action by the board. (f) All suppliers of liquefied petroleum gases, containers, and equipment, when notified by the board of a revoked permit, may not legally sell liquefied petroleum gas, containers, or equipment to any person whose permit shall have been revoked. (g) All fines, penalties, forfeitures, and moneys of all description received by the board shall be deposited into the State Treasury to the credit of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Fund.