What investigation tool is the Board authorized to issue?

The Board is authorized to issue subpoenas as an investigative tool, which allows it to compel the attendance of witnesses or the production of documents that are pertinent to an investigation. This tool is essential in the regulatory process because it enables the Board to gather necessary evidence and ensure compliance with regulations. Subpoenas help establish a foundation for further actions, such as disciplinary hearings or investigations into potential misconduct.

While warnings, investigative reports, and settlement agreements play important roles within the disciplinary and regulatory framework, they do not serve as direct investigative tools. Warnings may convey issues of concern but do not compel information; investigative reports summarize findings but are the result of an inquiry rather than an investigative action; and settlement agreements typically occur after a formal process has commenced, marking the resolution rather than the initiation of an investigation. Subpoenas stand out as the legal instrument that directly facilitates the investigative process.