A board may conduct, or contract for services with an entity to conduct, a health professionals assistance program to protect the public from impaired persons regulated by the board. The program does not affect a board's authority to discipline violators of a board's practice act. A health professionals assistance program shall include the following standards:

1. (1) Program personnel qualified to manage mental health and substance use related issues and disorders;
2. (2) Admission criteria;
3. (3) Criteria for denial of admission pursuant to § 36-2A-8;
4. (4) Program participation components;
5. (5) Termination criteria; and
6. (6) Successful discharge criteria.

Source: SL 1996, ch 227 , § 2; SL 2013, ch 171 , § 2; SL 2021, ch 170 , § 3.