1. (a) An informal conference is defined as an informal meeting between a licensee and person(s) designated by the executive director or a board committee with subject-matter responsibility, held for the purpose of reaching agreement on a proposed informal disposition of a disciplinary action. An informal conference shall be voluntary and shall not be a prerequisite to a hearing in a disciplinary action.

2. (b) Procedure.

   1. (1) The executive director or committee may request the parties, their attorneys, or representatives to appear at a specified time and place for an informal conference.
   2. (2) Notice of an informal conference shall state the nature of the charge or charges against the respondent and shall be served on the respondent no less than 10 days prior to the date of said conference either personally or by mailing a copy thereof by certified mail to the last known address of the respondent.
   3. (3) Complainant shall be notified and given opportunity to appear at the informal conference.
3. (c) At any informal conference, the respondent may appear in person and by counsel and may produce evidence and witnesses on his own behalf.
4. (d) Informal disposition. In the event the respondent and the board agree to an informal disposition, an agreed consent order shall be prepared and presented to the board for final decision thereon. The agreed consent order shall contain agreed findings of fact and conclusions of law, and shall be signed by all parties thereto.

5. (e) Ratification by the board. An agreed consent order shall be submitted to the board for ratification and the board may:

   1. (1) adopt the order, at which time it becomes final; or
   2. (2) remand the order to the committee.

Source Note:The provisions of this §519.6 adopted to be effective December 10, 1998, 23 TexReg 12307.