The Registrar issues a citation to a licensed contractor whenever the Registrar’s investigator (1) finds evidence that the contractor has violated a regulation and (2) wants to send the case to a hearing.
If the Registrar does not want to send the case to a hearing, but sees evidence of a violation, then the Registrar will issue a warning letter.
A citation against a licensed contractor is issued under A.R.S. § 32-1155.
The citation is what comes after a complaint and an investigation. The citation requires the contractor who receives it to file a written answer.
(Note: Filing an answer to the citation is very important.)
The statute that governs this process is A.R.S. § 32-1155, which states:
A. On the filing of a written complaint with the registrar charging a licensee with the commission of an act that is cause for suspension or revocation of a license, including an act that is in violation of title 44, chapter 11, article 11, the registrar after investigation, in its sole discretion, may issue a citation directing the licensee, within ten days after service of the citation on the licensee, to appear by filing with the registrar the licensee’s written answer to the citation and complaint showing cause, if any, why the licensee’s license should not be suspended or revoked. The complaint must be filed within the statute of limitations prescribed by 32-1162.
What happens after a citation is issued?
After the Registrar issues a citation and the contractor files an answer, the Registrar sets the case for an administrative hearing at the Office of Administrative Hearings.
At that that hearing, the contractor will have the chance to defend the contractor’s license. If the defense is completely succesful, the complaint that led to the citation can be dismissed.
If the defense does not succeed, the contractor’s license can be disciplined.
