In this Division, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated: Administrative Citation means a prepayable citation issued for the violation of any law or regulation for which this Code provides for administrative adjudication under this Division and which charges a person with violation of the law or regulation and requires the person to pay a fine and abate the infraction. Administrative Hearing Officer means an individual nominated by the Director, but shall be approved by the Board to conduct hearings or proceedings pursuant to this Division. Administrative Hearing Unit means the panel of Administrative Hearing Officers that conduct hearings or proceedings pursuant to this Division. Board means the Prince George's County Nuisance Abatement Board under Section 14-173 of the County Code. Chairperson means the Chairperson of the Board or the Chairperson's designee. Charging agency means the Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement Day in this Division, shall mean calendar days. Department means the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement. Director means the Director of the Prince George's County Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement or the Director's designee. Hearing Administrator means an individual nominated by the Director and approved by the Board to consider and issue decisions where reconsideration of an Administrative Hearing Officer's decision is requested pursuant to Sec. 13-1128 of this Code. Inspector means a County employee of the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement who has been authorized by the employee's agency to issue citations, or violation notices, under this Subtitle, or any other relevant provisions of the County Code. Party means a charging agency or a respondent. Person means: an individual; a receiver, trustee, guardian, personal representative, fiduciary, or representative of any kind; or a partnership, firm, association, corporation, governmental agency, or other entity of any kind. Prima facie evidence means evidence that, on its face, would be sufficient to establish something as a fact unless later rebutted by subsequent evidence to the contrary. Probative means tending to prove or disprove a point in a dispute. Respondent means the person to whom a citation is issued. Violation notice means a document issued by a department inspector, or enforcement officer informing a party of non-compliance with the law that requires abatement.

These rules shall govern all proceedings under this Division and any other relevant provisions of the County Code. The requirements of Subtitle 28 of the Prince George's County Code do not apply to this Division. The issuance of a citation under this Division does not preclude the pursuit of any other remedy or enforcement action under any other provisions of the County Code.

The Administrative Hearing Unit has full authority to enforce the provisions of this Division, including any rules and regulations adopted under them.

In general. The Director shall recommend rules and regulations to the Administrative Hearing Unit. The Administrative Hearing Unit may accept or reject the recommendations as it deems appropriate. The Administrative Hearing Unit shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to carry out its powers and duties, which they may amend, under this Division and shall make those rules and regulations publicly available. Matters included. The rules and regulations shall include: procedures for the issuance and enforcement of administrative citations, notices of violations, civil fines, and civil penalties; procedures for the adjudication of contested matters, including the conduct of hearings and appeals by the Administrative Hearing Unit; procedures for the enforcement of any order that is contained in a citation or made part of an order or decision of an Administrative Hearing Officer; and procedures for authorizing, but not mandating electronic filing.

Required contents. A citation issued under this Division shall include, at a minimum: date of issuance; the name and address of the party charged; the address of the location at which the violation occurred; the date and time that the violation occurred; a description of the nature of the violation; the section of this Code that was violated; the manner and time in which the person shall either: pay the prescribed fine prescribed for the violation and correction of the violation or request a hearing on the violation; the time within which the violation, if ongoing, must be abated; and a notice that failure to pay the fine and correct the violation, or to request a hearing, within the prescribed time may result in a default decision and order entered against the party. Service of citations. A citation shall be: issued by an Inspector; and served on the person or property and the property owner cited by one of the following methods: in person; first class mail; delivery to a person 18 years or older who resides at the cited person's last known address; or posting on the front door of the property; or delivery to the registered agent by first class mail; or delivery by email, by written consent. Email is the exchange of computer-stored messages from one user to one or more recipients through the internet that requires a webmail server address. The Department shall provide guidelines for implementation of email methods of service set forth in Section 13-112(a) of this Subdivision. It is the responsibility of those who consent in writing to be served an administrative citation of the Housing Code by email to maintain a current email address with the Department. if applicable, mailed to the property owner and registered management agent for multifamily property. Effect of citation. When properly issued and served, the citation or a copy of it shall: constitute full and complete notice of the violation cited in it; constitute full and complete notice of an order of abatement, if abatement is ordered; and constitute prima facie evidence of the facts contained in it, if sworn to or affirmed under the penalties of perjury. Single document permissible. A single document may be used to issue two or more separately numbered citations. Electronic signature. An electronic signature may be used to execute a citation and to serve as an affirmation, under the penalties of perjury, that the facts stated in the citation are true. Records of citation to be kept. The original or a copy of the citation shall be filed and retained in the records of the Administrative Hearing Unit.

Failure to respond to administrative citation constitutes an admission of liability. Any person cited under an administrative citation is conclusively considered to have admitted liability for the violation cited and responsibility for abating the violation if, after thirty (30) days of service of the violation, the person: fails to pay the prescribed prepayable fine and abate the violation; or fails to request a hearing on the violation; or fails to appear on the designated hearing date, if the party has requested a hearing. Order of an Administrative Hearing Officer, default penalty. Under any of the circumstances described in subsection (a) of this section, an Administrative Hearing Officer may: render a default decision and order against the Respondent; and impose a civil penalty, after consideration of certain factors, which may include, the nature and severity of the underlying violation, history of past violations, mitigating or aggravating circumstances, that is: no less than the amount of the prepayable fine specified for the violation in question; and a maximum of: one thousand dollars ($1,000); or three times the prepayable fine specified for the violation in question. Notice of default order. Before an order based on a default becomes final, an Administrative Hearing Officer shall notify the Respondent, by first-class mail, of: the default decision and order; the amount of all penalties imposed; and the right of the Respondent, within thirty (30) days of the notice, to avoid a final judgment and collection proceedings by requesting that the default be vacated for good cause shown.

In general. The Administrative Hearing Unit, acting through its Administrative Hearing Officers, and other authorized agents shall: conduct hearings and other proceedings for adjudicating violations of the laws, rules, and regulations enforced by the Administrative Hearing Unit; and have full authority to render decisions and orders, as well as impose civil penalties provided by law for those violations. Every decision of an Administrative Hearing Officer from which no reconsideration is sought constitutes a final action of Administrative Hearing Unit.

A Respondent found liable at a hearing conducted pursuant to this Subtitle shall be entitled to reconsideration of the matter if a written application is received by the Department or is postmarked within 10 calendar days of the date of a finding of liability. The application for reconsideration shall set forth one or more of the following grounds: Newly discovered or newly available relevant evidence; Need for additional evidence to establish a defense; Probable error committed by the Administrative Hearing Officer in the proceeding, including failure to judicially notice a fact on which the decision of the Administrative Hearing Officer rests or failure to inform the respondent of a judicially noticed fact on which the decision of the Administrative Hearing Officer; or A clear need for further consideration of the issues. An application for reconsideration shall contain all documents or evidence in support of reconsideration. On reconsideration, the matter shall be reviewed by the Hearing Administrator, or a designee. The Hearing Administrator shall issue a decision on an application for reconsideration within sixty (60) days of receipt of the application. Failure by the Hearing Administrator, or a designee, to issue a decision within sixty (60) calendar days after receipt of an application for reconsideration shall be deemed a decision in favor of the Respondent. A decision on application for reconsideration constitutes the final decision of the Administrative Hearing Unit.

Any party who is aggrieved by a final decision of the Administrative Hearing Unit may seek judicial review of that decision by petition to the Circuit Court for Prince George's County in accordance with the Maryland Rules. The filing of an appeal does not stay an order of the Administrative Hearing Unit, unless the Circuit Court for Prince George's County grants a stay.

Penalty as debt and lien. Any civil penalty imposed on a person by the Administrative Hearing Unit, whether on hearing, on default, or otherwise: is a personal debt owed by that person to the County; and if the offense involves real property owned by that person, creates a lien on that property in favor of the County. Collection of penalties and liens. All penalties and liens incurred under this Division: are collectible from and enforceable against any of the assets of the person who incurred the penalty; and may be collected and enforced in the same way that the County collects and enforces other debts due to it or liens in its favor. Priority over other liens and encumbrances. All penalties and liens incurred under this Division have priority over all other liens and encumbrances, except taxes or other government assessments.

Payment does not relieve obligation to correct. Payment of a fine does not relieve the respondent of the obligation to correct ongoing violations by the date specified in the administrative citation. Additional administrative citations may be issued for uncorrected violations by the date specified in the citation. Correction does not relieve obligation to pay. The correction of a violation does not relieve the respondent of the obligation to pay the prescribed fine. Authority to abate violations upon issuance of final decision of Administrative Hearing Unit. In the event that a Respondent fails to comply with a final decision by the Administrative Hearing Unit that includes an order to abate a violation within fifteen (15) days of the issuance of the final decision, the Department is hereby authorized and empowered to undertake the abatement of the violation by County personnel or by contract. The Department is further authorized to defray the costs of the abatement by assessing those costs to Respondent. Respondent shall be responsible for those costs and shall be notified through the issuance of a written notice served through the following means: Mailing by United States Postal Service first-class mail addressed to Respondent and mailed to the property at which the violation occurred, and Mailing by United States Postal Service first-class mail addressed to Respondent and mailed to any address provided by Respondent to the Administrative Hearing Unit during the course of administrative proceedings, and if the Respondent is the record owner of the property at which the violation occurred, mailing by United States Postal Service first-class mail to the address shown for Respondent on the real property tax records in the Treasurer's Office for Prince George's County. Charges included in tax bill. Where the full amount due the County for the costs of abatement in accordance with subsection (c) above is not paid by Respondent within thirty (30) days after written notice, the Department shall cause to be recorded with the Director of Finance a sworn statement showing the cost and expense incurred for the work, the date the work was done, and the location of the property on which said work was done. Recordation of such statement shall constitute a lien on such property and shall be collected in the same manner as other County real estate taxes. Assistance of law enforcement in carrying out abatement order. The Department may request the assistance of law enforcement, including the Police Department, to undertake any abatement action authorized by this Subtitle. The Police Department is authorized to assist in any such abatement action upon the request of the Department.

In addition to the remedies provided in Section 13-1131 above, the Department may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for enforcement of any decision, order, or subpoena issued under this division.

In general. The jurisdiction and authority of the Administrative Hearing Unit extends to each of the provisions of the Prince George's County Code that are specified in subsection (e) of this section, as those provisions may be amended, including any rules and regulations adopted under them. The issuance of an administrative citation does not preclude pursuit of any other remedy or enforcement action authorized by law. Prepayable fines. The basic prepayable civil fine for a violation of a provision is specified next to the listing of that provision in subsection (e) of this section. The basic prepayable fines is doubled, however, on any administrative citation that is issued to a person or property if, within the past twelve (12) months: a final order of an Administrative Hearing Officer, whether issued on hearing, on default, or otherwise, imposed a penalty on that person or property for a violation of the same provision; or that person prepaid an administrative citation for violation of the same provision. Continuing violations. If a provision of law provides that the continuation or reoccurrence of a violation constitutes a separate offense, a separate citation may be issued for each separate offense. Prior notice not required. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Prince George's County Code to the contrary, notice need not be given before the issuance and enforcement of an administrative citation for any of the provisions listed in subsection (e) of this section. Provisions and penalties enumerated. In Section 13-101 of the County Code, the County adopted the International Property Maintenance Code, as amended in Subtitle 13 and known as the "Housing Code." An Inspector may issue and an Administrative Hearing Officer may adjudicate administrative citations issued pursuant only to Sections 108, 181, 184, 186, 187, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, and 404 of the Housing Code, and all of the respective subsections thereunder. The penalty for violation of any of the enumerated sections is $300.00 per violation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the penalty for a violation of Section 13-186 of the Housing Code is up to Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the penalty for a violation of Section 302.8 of the Housing Code is Five Hundred Dollars ($500) for the first violation, Seven Hundred Fifty ($750) for the second violation and One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) for the third and for any subsequent violations. In Subtitle 4, Division 1 of the County Code, the County adopted and amended certain provisions of the International Building Code and the International Residential Code. An Inspector may issue and an Administrative Hearing Officer may adjudicate notices of violation and administrative citations issued pursuant to Sections 4-116, 4-117, 4-255, and 4-256 and all of the respective subsections thereunder. The penalty for violation of any of the enumerated sections is One Thousand dollars ($1,000.00) per violation. In Subtitle 5, Division 8 of the County Code, the County enacted licensing requirements for short-term rentals. An Inspector may issue and an Administrative Hearing Officer may adjudicate penalties, citations, suspensions, and revocations issued pursuant to Sections 5-175.05, 5-175.06, and 5-175.07 of this Code, and all of the respective subsections thereunder. The penalty for violation of any of the enumerated sections is $1,000.00 per violation. In Subtitle 13, Division 7 of the County Code, the County enacted minimum standards for maintenance of structures, equipment, and exterior property for all property and structures used or zoned for commercial and industrial purposes and for residentially zoned property where the use is other than residential. An inspector may issue and an Administrative Hearing Officer may adjudicate notices of violation and administrative citations issued pursuant to Sections 13-244 and 13-246, and all of the respective subsections thereunder. The penalty for an administrative citation issued pursuant to any of the enumerated sections is $1000.00 per violation.

These rules and regulations in conjunction with the Administrative Hearing Unit's promulgated rules and regulations shall govern all proceedings under this Division.

All documents permitted or required to be filed with the Administrative Hearing Unit shall be filed in accordance with the established rules of the Administrative Hearing Unit.

Captions. Each document filed with the Administrative Hearing Unit shall contain a caption that sets forth: the title of the action; the citation number or the docket number assigned to the proceeding; and a brief descriptive title of the document that indicates its nature. Signature—By attorney. Every document of a party represented by an attorney shall be signed by at least one attorney who has been admitted to practice law in the State of Maryland. The signature of an attorney constitutes a certification that: the attorney has read the document; to the best of the attorney's knowledge, information and belief, there is good ground to support it; and it is not interposed for delay. Signature—By party. Every document of a party who is not represented by an attorney shall be signed by the party. Signature—Sanctions. If a document is not signed as required (except an inadvertent omission to sign, if promptly corrected) or is signed with intent to defeat the purpose of this rule, it may be stricken, and the action may proceed as though the document had not been filed. Service. This subsection applies to all documents, except for administrative citations, that are required to be served on other parties. If service is required on a party represented by an attorney, service shall be made on the attorney unless the party is self-represented, then service shall be made upon the party through either first-class mail to the party or, if applicable, a registered agent. Each document shall be accompanied by a signed certificate of service that specifies the date, manner of service and copies were provided to all parties. Electronic Filing. The Administrative Hearing Unit may prescribe methods to allow parties to submit any required papers or documents through electronic means. The submission of any paper or documents through electronic means shall constitute filing for all purposes under this Subtitle so long as the submission complies with the prescribed methods in all respects. Requirements for electronic filing of papers: All papers to be filed electronically shall be submitted in an electronic format to be specified by the Administrative Hearing Unit. Any specifications as to particular filing formats shall be made publicly available through the public website for the Administrative Hearing Unit. All papers or documents that are required to be signed must include the signer's typewritten name accompanied by a visual image of the signer's handwritten signature or by the symbol /s/. A party who elects to file papers electronically assumes responsibility for any delay, disruption, interruption of electronic signals, and legibility and completeness of the paper. The Administrative Hearing Unit shall make all reasonable efforts to resolve any such complications, but a party who elects to file papers electronically accepts the risk that any of the above circumstances may result in a determination by the Administrative Hearing Unit that a submission may be deemed not filed or not timely filed.

In general. Persons are permitted to participate in proceedings before the Administrative Hearing Unit as provided in this section. Individuals. An individual respondent may appear: in person, in his or her own behalf; by an attorney licensed to practice in the State of Maryland; or by an person with a valid Power of Attorney that meets the requirements set forth by the Administrative Hearing Unit. Businesses. A business, non-profit organization, or government agency may appear: by an attorney licensed to practice in the State of Maryland; or to the extent allowed by law, by any officer, employee, or authorized agent.

Administrative Hearing Unit to keep. The Administrative Hearing Unit shall maintain files containing all documents, evidence, and other items and information submitted to or produced by an administrative hearing officer during the course of a proceeding. Files to be public. These files shall be available for public inspection in accordance with the Maryland Public Information Act, Section 4-101 et seq. of the General Provisions Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

On written application to the Hearing Administrator and for good cause shown, the Hearing Administrator may reschedule a scheduled hearing for a brief period.

In the interest of the convenient, expeditious, and complete determination of cases involving the same or similar issues or the same parties, an administrative hearing officer may consolidate two or more citations for adjudication at one hearing.

In general. On timely, written request, a respondent is entitled to receive from the charging agency: a list of the names of witnesses intended to be called; and copies of documents intended to be submitted into evidence. To be timely, the request must be submitted to the Hearing Administrator at least fifteen (15) days before the scheduled hearing. The Hearing Administrator shall forward the request to the charging agency within forty-eight (48) hours of submission. Within seven (7) days after it receives the request from the Hearing Administrator, the charging agency shall serve a written response on the respondent, with a copy sent to the Hearing Administrator. Limitations. Pre-hearing discovery is limited to the matters enumerated in subsection (a) of this section. All other applications or motions for discovery, including depositions on oral examinations shall be made to the administrative hearing officer at the start of the hearing, and the administrative hearing officer may order further discovery, as appropriate. Supplementation. If a party has responded to a request for discovery, and before the hearing obtains further material information, the party shall supplement the response promptly. Sanctions. If any party fails to properly respond to a lawful discovery request or order or wrongfully refuses to answer questions or produce documents, an administrative hearing officer may take appropriate action, including, but not limited to, precluding evidence or witnesses of the offending party or striking the pleadings or defenses of that party.

In general. If a respondent timely requests a hearing, an administrative hearing officer shall: set the date, time, and place for the hearing; provide the parties with at least twenty (20) days' notice of the hearing. Contents of notice. The notice shall state: the date, time, place, and nature of the hearing; the right of a party to be represented, at the party's own expense, by an attorney or, if permitted by law, another representative; the right of a party to seek discovery under Section 13-1141 of the Prince George's County Code; the right of party to call witnesses and submit documents or other evidence under Section 13-1231 of the Prince George's County Code; and that failure to appear for the scheduled hearing may result in an adverse action against the party.

In general. Absent a showing of good cause, and unless a specific time standard is prescribed by another provision of this Code, the hearing date shall be within one hundred eighty (180) days of the filing of a request for hearing or appeal filed under this Subtitle or under another provision of this Code. Accelerated hearing. A Respondent or other appellant may waive the twenty (20) days' notice provision in Section 13-1142 of this Subdivision and may request an accelerated hearing. Upon receipt of a request for accelerated hearing, the Hearing Administrator may assign the case for an immediate hearing, on appropriate notice to the charging agency and subject to the availability of the charging agency to appear. By requesting an accelerated hearing, a party waives any right to discovery.

Orderly but informal. All hearings shall be conducted in an orderly but informal manner. Expedition. Hearings shall proceed with all reasonable expedition and, to the extent practicable, shall be held at one place and continue without suspension, except for brief recesses, until concluded.

The Administrative Hearing Unit shall arrange for a stenographic, mechanically, and/or digitally-created record of all hearings.

Subject to modification by an administrative hearing officer for good cause, all hearings shall be conducted in the following order: presentation and argument of motions preliminary to a hearing on the merits; presentation of opening statements, if any; charging agency's case in chief; respondent's case in chief; charging agency's case in rebuttal; charging agency's closing argument; respondent's closing argument; and charging agency's rebuttal closing, if necessary.

In general. Before testifying, a witness is required to declare that the witness will testify truthfully and under the penalties of perjury. Administration. The declaration shall be by oath or affirmation, administered: in the form of Maryland Rule 1-303; or in special circumstances, in some other form or affirmation calculated to impress on the witness the duty to tell the truth.

General duties. An Administrative Hearing Officer has the duty to: conduct a fair and impartial hearing; take all necessary action to avoid delay in the disposition of proceedings; maintain order; and ensure the hearing provides fundamental fairness. General powers. An Administrative Hearing Officer has all powers necessary to these ends, including the power to: administer oaths and affirmations; issue discovery orders and rule on objections to those orders; receive evidence and rule on offers of proof; regulate the course of the hearing and the conduct of the parties and their representatives; hold conferences for simplification of issues or for any other proper purposes; interrogate witnesses; consider and rule on all procedural and other motions, including requests for adjournment; and make and file recommended decisions and orders.

An Administrative Hearing Officer may not receive any ex-parte communication from any party, including, but not limited to, the charging agency, or a Respondent or appellant about a proceeding.

In general. An Administrative Hearing Officer should disqualify himself or herself from any hearing in which the Administrative Hearing Officer's impartiality might reasonably be questioned, including any instances in which the Administrative Hearing Officer: has a personal bias or prejudice about a party; has personal knowledge of disputed evidentiary facts in the proceeding; served as a lawyer in the matter in controversy or was professionally associated with another person while that person served as a lawyer in the matter in controversy; has been a material witness to the matter; has a financial interest in the subject matter in controversy or in a party to the proceeding; has any other interest that could be substantially affected by the outcome of the proceeding; knows that his or her spouse or dependent child: is serving as a lawyer in the matter in controversy or is professionally associated with another person who is serving as a lawyer in the matter in controversy; is likely to be a material witness in the proceeding; has a financial interest in the subject matter in controversy or in a party to the proceeding; or has any other interest that could be substantially affected by the outcome of the proceeding; or any other reason creating a conflict of interest. Motion to disqualify. A party may request that an Administrative Hearing Officer disqualify him- or herself for good cause shown. The request shall be ruled on by the Administrative Hearing Officer in the proceeding. If the Administrative Hearing Officer denies the request, the party may obtain a brief adjournment to seek review by the Hearing Administrator. Notice of disqualification. When an Administrative Hearing Officer disqualifies him- or herself from a proceeding, the Administrative Hearing Officer shall do so on the record and shall notify the Hearing Administrator of the recusal. Replacement. On disqualification of an Administrative Hearing Officer, the Hearing Administrator shall appoint another Administrative Hearing Officer to conduct the hearing.

Administrative Hearing Officer may allow. If doing so will facilitate the determination of a controversy on the merits, an Administrative Hearing Officer may allow, upon written motion by the applicable party and leave of the Administrative Hearing Officer, appropriate amendments to a citation or notice of violation, subject to conditions necessary to avoid injustice, prejudice or unfair surprise to a party. Without Leave of the Administrative Hearing Officer. A charging agency may file an amendment to citation or notice of violation without leave of the Administrative Hearing Officer by the date set forth in a scheduling order or, if there is no scheduling order, no later than 30 days before a scheduled hearing date. Within 15 days after service of an amendment, any other party to the action may file a motion to strike setting forth reasons why the Administrative Hearing Officer should not allow the amendment. If an amendment introduces new facts or varies the case in a material respect, an adverse party who wishes to contest new facts or allegations shall file a new or additional answer to the amendment within the time remaining to answer the original citation or within 15 days after service of the amendment, whichever is later. If no new or additional answer is filed within the time allowed, the answer previously filed shall be treated as the answer to the amendment. Conformance to evidence. When issues reasonably within the scope of a citation, but not expressly raised by the citation, are tried with both parties present: the issues shall be treated in all respects as if they had been raised by the citation; and provided it is not prejudicial, amendments of the citation may be made at any time necessary to make it conform to the evidence, with leave or permission of the Administrative Hearing Officer.

In general. The charging agency has the burden of proof in establishing by a preponderance of the evidence that the respondent has committed the violations charged in the citation. Citation as prima facie evidence. If a citation is sworn to or affirmed under the penalties of perjury, the citation constitutes prima facie evidence of the facts stated in it.

In general. Unless otherwise provided by these rules and regulations, the proceedings shall be conducted in an informal manner and the strict rules of evidence shall not apply. Right to submit. On a genuine issue of fact, a party is entitled to: call witnesses; offer evidence; including rebuttal evidence; cross-examine any witness that another party calls; and present summation and argument. Scope. The Administrative Hearing Officer: may admit probative evidence that reasonable and prudent individuals commonly accept in the conduct of their affairs and give probative effect to that evidence. may not exclude evidence solely on the basis that it is hearsay; shall give effect to a privilege recognized by law; may take official notice of a fact that is judicially noticeable or that is general, technical or scientific and within the specialized knowledge of an Administrative Hearing Officer; and may exclude evidence that is: incompetent; irrelevant; immaterial; unduly repetitious; unduly prejudicial.

Stipulation authorized. At any time before the Administrative Hearing Officer issues a recommended decision and order, the charging agency may offer the respondent a settlement of the matter by stipulation instead of a further hearing. Required elements. The stipulation shall: be in the manner and form set by the Administrative Hearing Unit; and contain: an admission of the violation; the facts stipulated to; the amount of the penalty to be imposed; and the compliance to be ordered, if any. Before initial hearing. If the stipulation is entered into and filed with the Administrative Hearing Unit before the initial hearing on the matter, the stipulation shall be reviewed by an Administrative Hearing Officer. Within a reasonable time after the stipulation has been filed, the Administrative Hearing Officer shall: issue a final written decision and order that incorporates the terms of the stipulation; or order the matter to be rescheduled for a hearing by an Administrative Hearing Officer, if the stipulation is not acceptable to the Administrative Hearing Officer. During hearing. If the stipulation is entered into during the course of a hearing and if an Administrative Hearing Officer approves the stipulation, it shall be incorporated into an Administrative Hearing Officer's written decision and order.

Administrative hearing officer to prepare. An Administrative Hearing Officer shall prepare a written decision and order within thirty (30) days of the completion of a hearing. Decision. An Administrative Hearing Officer's written decision shall set forth: finding of fact and conclusions of law; and the Administrative Hearing Officer's reasons for its findings on all material issues. Order. If an Administrative Hearing Officer finds that the charges in an administrative citation should be upheld, the Administrative Hearing Officer shall prepare a written order that sets forth: the penalty; and the remedial relief or sanctions, if authorized by law to impose such remedial relief or other sanctions. Filing. The decision and order shall be filed with the Administrative Hearing Unit and properly served on all parties. Finality. If a timely application for reconsideration is not filed under Section 13-1128 of the Prince George's County Code, the Administrative Hearing Officer's recommended decision and order: shall be adopted by the Administrative Hearing Unit, without further action; and constitutes the Administrative Hearing Unit 's final action in the matter.