This section applies to an individual required to apply for State and national criminal history records checks under this subtitle. An individual may contest the finding of a felony conviction reported in a printed statement issued by the Department as provided in this section. In contesting the finding of a felony conviction, the individual shall contact the office of the Secretary, or a designee of the Secretary, and a hearing shall be convened within 20 workdays, unless subsequently waived by the individual. The Secretary, or a designee of the Secretary, shall render a decision regarding the appeal within 5 workdays after the hearing. For the purposes of this subtitle, the record of a felony conviction or a copy of the record certified by the clerk of the court or by a judge of the court in which the conviction occurred shall be conclusive evidence of the conviction. Failure of the individual to appear at the scheduled hearing shall be considered grounds for dismissal of the appeal.