§ 6510-d. Voluntary non-disciplinary surrender of a license. A
professional who is licensed pursuant to article one hundred thirty-nine
of this title may voluntarily surrender a license to the committee on
drug and alcohol abuse when such licensee requests to be monitored
and/or receive peer support services in relation to the use, misuse or
addiction to drugs. The committee shall accept such voluntary
non-disciplinary surrender of a license and provide for expedited
reinstatement of the license if the licensee meets criteria set by the
committee. Such criteria will include, but not be limited to, confidence
that the licensee's use of drugs and/or alcohol has not resulted in harm
to a patient or client and the licensee is not incapacitated, unfit for
practice or a threat to the health, safety and welfare of the public.
Such voluntary surrender, if accepted by the committee, shall result in
an immediate reinstatement of the license and shall provide immunity
from a violation of subdivision three or four of section six thousand
five hundred nine of this article and cannot be deemed an admission or
used as evidence in professional misconduct. Acceptance by the committee
shall not require a report to the department of health or to any
employer or licensing authority of another jurisdiction, nor require any
disclosure to patients or to the public that such license has been
temporarily surrendered, except if it is subsequently determined by the
department that a participant being monitored by the department is found
to have used drugs and/or alcohol which has resulted in harm to a
patient or client.