<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gsg" article_name="State Government" number="10-202" title_number="10" title_name="Governmental Procedures" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Administrative Procedure Act -- Contested Cases">
  <level label="a">
    <text>In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>“Agency” means:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>an officer or unit of the State government authorized by law to adjudicate contested cases; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>a unit that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>is created by general law;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>operates in at least 2 counties; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>is authorized by law to adjudicate contested cases.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>“Agency head” means:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>an individual or group of individuals in whom the ultimate legal authority of an agency is vested by any provision of law; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>the secretary of the State department that is responsible for State programs that are administered by the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>“Contested case” means a proceeding before an agency to determine:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>a right, duty, statutory entitlement, or privilege of a person that is required by statute or constitution to be determined only after an opportunity for an agency hearing; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the grant, denial, renewal, revocation, suspension, or amendment of a license that is required by statute or constitution to be determined only after an opportunity for an agency hearing.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Contested case” does not include a proceeding before an agency involving an agency hearing required only by regulation unless the regulation expressly, or by clear implication, requires the hearing to be held in accordance with this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>“License” means all or any part of permission that:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>is required by law to be obtained from an agency;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>is not required only for revenue purposes; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>is in any form, including:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>an approval;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>a certificate;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>a charter;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>a permit; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>a registration.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>“Office” means the Office of Administrative Hearings.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>“Presiding officer” means the board, commission, agency head, administrative law judge, or other authorized person conducting an administrative proceeding under this subtitle.</text>
  </level>
</section>
