If you have a professional license, you probably know that violating the laws and regulations that apply to your license can jeopardize your career. While avoiding misconduct and violations is the best way to protect your license, it can also be helpful to familiarize yourself with the regulator that governs your profession.
Knowing your regulator can make a huge difference if you accidentally violate a rule or are baselessly accused of misconduct. At Bertolino LLP, our Texas professional license defense lawyers are here to educate you on the body that regulates your profession and help you protect your license.
Let’s discuss your regulator further so you can handle complaints and investigations with ease.
Texas Health and Human Services and Texas Department of State Health Services
If you are a Sex Offender Treatment Provider (SOTP) or a Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC), you should know that the Health Care Regulation (HCR) Department of the Texas Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regulates your profession.
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), which is a division of the HHS, regulates and licenses paramedics, EMTs, and Emergency Care Attendants (ECAs). As a SOTP, LCDC, or emergency medical worker, understanding the body that regulates your profession can help you abide by important rules and respond to complaints appropriately.
The HHS offers a wide variety of programs that help over 7.5 million Texans a month. Along with other departments, the HHS conducts investigations into alleged violations and takes disciplinary actions, including license suspension and revocation. The HHS is comprised of the following offices:
- Office of the Executive Commissioner
- Office of the Chief Operating Officer
- Office of the Chief Financial Officer
- Office of the Chief Counsel
- Office of the Chief Program & Services Officer
- Office of the Chief Medicaid & CHIP Services Officer
- Office of the Chief Policy & Regulatory Officer
- Office of the Chief Public Affairs Officer
- Chief Audit Executive
- Dept. of State Health Services
If you are under investigation for an alleged violation, we strongly advise you not to contact the HHS or an associated body without the help of an attorney. A medical license defense lawyer from Texas can help you craft a response letter and represent you. That said, you might find it helpful to have the following contact information:
- File a complaint about an HHS program or service: To file a complaint, call 877.787.8999 or fax 888.780.8099.
- Report Abuse or Neglect: To file a report of immediate danger, call 800.252.5400 or 9-1-1
- Report Fraud, Waste or Abuse: To file a report, call the Texas State Auditor’s office at 800-TX-AUDIT or the HHS Office of Inspector General, at 800.436.6184.
- Open Records Requests: To request records, fax 512.424.6586 or email OpenRecordsRequest@hhs.Texas.gov.
Texas Department of Insurance
If you are an insurance adjuster or agent, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI). The TDI licenses, regulates, and certifies insurers, adjusters, and other insurance professionals like yourself. The TDI also provides important information and ensures that the insurance market is fair and stable.
If a complaint is filed against your license, the TDI will conduct an investigation and recommend disciplinary action. Familiarizing yourself with the rules and regulations enforced by the TDI can help you avoid making a career-ending mistake.
Learning about the offices that comprise the TDI can also help you obtain important information about your profession. Make sure to take note of the following TDI offices:
- Chief Deputy Commissioner
- Administrative Operations
- Consumer Operations
- Financial Regulation
- Fraud and Enforcement
- General Counsel
- Property and Casualty
If the TDI is currently investigating you due to complaints made against your license, you won’t want to make contact with a member of the board. Instead, consider hiring a Texas insurance license defense attorney to help you provide the necessary information.
That said, reaching out to the board for information about your profession can help you abide by the rules and avoid an investigation. To learn more about your license and the rules that apply to it, reach out to one of the following offices:
- Help line: Call 800.252.3439 for help.
- TDI Main line: Call 800.578.4677.
- Fraud unit: Call 800.252.3439 to report fraud.
- Agent & Adjuster Licensing Office: Call 512.676.6500 to speak with a representative from this office.
Texas Education Agency
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) oversees primary and secondary public education in Texas and monitors for compliance with state and federal guidelines. The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC), a division of the TEA, handles complaints made against educators and sanctions educators who are found guilty of violating rules or laws.
Learning about the laws and rules set forth by the TEA can help you avoid an investigation and life-altering disciplinary actions. If you’ve received notice that you are under investigation, a Texas teacher license defense lawyer can help you respond to the notice and handle communications with relevant parties.
If you are interested in learning more about the rules that apply to your license or have another inquiry, the following contact information may be of use to you:
- Main contacts: The switchboard number is 512.463.9734, and the main fax number is 512.463.9838.
- Public Information Requests (PIA): The open records main line is 512.463.3464, the fax number is 512.463.1022, and the email is pir@tea.Texas.gov.
- State Board of Education Support: The phone number is 512.463.9007, and the email is sboesupport@tea.texas.gov.
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Knowing Your Regulator Can Help You Preserve Your Career
Familiarizing yourself with the rules set forth by your regulator and getting in touch with the offices that comprise the body that oversees your profession can help you stay compliant with rules and regulations. It can also help you respond to complaints and investigations in an appropriate manner.
Ultimately, knowing your regulator is like having a professional license defense attorney on retainer. That said, hiring a lawyer is still strongly recommended if you’re under scrutiny for alleged violations. An attorney can help you respond to a complaint letter, represent you during legal proceedings, and work hard to help you avoid serious consequences.
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Meet With a Professional License Defense Lawyer for Free
Since 2008, Bertolino LLP has protected hardworking educators, insurers, medical workers, and other professional license holders from severe disciplinary actions. You can count on us to do everything we can to respond to complaints and investigations appropriately and defend you from a penalty that could seriously impact your career.
While knowing your regulator is incredibly helpful, there’s no substitute for a highly experienced license defense attorney from Texas. Contact our team today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about your legal options.
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