(a) In the event a person is hospitalized for mental illness or as an alcoholic as defined in chapter 1.10 of title 23, the board may, without the necessity of the proceedings provided for in § 5-40-16, suspend, or refuse to renew the license of that person for the duration of his or her confinement or until that person is medically discharged from hospitalization.
(b) A plea of nolo contendere cannot be used as a defense to prevent the board from suspending or refusing to renew the license.