(a) At any time prior to issuance of the final order or determination, parties may enter into a stipulation for the resolution of any or all issues.

(b) The commissioner, or the appropriate board or council, may issue a consent order upon agreement or stipulation of the parties. A consent order shall have the same force and effect as an order issued after a hearing.

(c) In matters governed by Public Health Law, sections 230, 230-a, 230-b and 230-c, a licensee, who is under investigation or against whom a determination has been made that a hearing is warranted, as a condition for the satisfaction of all charges and potential charges, shall admit guilt to at least one of the acts of misconduct alleged, or shall agree not to contest the allegations, or shall assert that he or she cannot successfully defend against at least one of the acts of misconduct alleged, and shall either surrender his or her license or agree to a penalty. The signators to such an agreement shall be the licensee, his or her counsel, if the licensee is represented, the attorney for the department, the director of the Office of Professional Medical Conduct and the chairperson of the State Board for Professional Medical Conduct. The chairperson of the State Board for Professional Medical Conduct shall issue a surrender or consent order based upon said agreement. The order shall have the same force and effect as an order issued after a hearing.