<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".07" citation="COMAR 07.01.04.07" title_num="07" subtitle_num="01" chapter_num="04" heading="Scheduling and Notice.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Except as provided in §§B and D of this regulation, upon receiving an appeal request, OAH shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Promptly schedule a hearing; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Send the parties a hearing notice at least 15 calendar days before the scheduled hearing.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Intentional Program Violation Appeal. When the agency makes a referral to OAH concerning an intentional program violation, OAH shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Promptly schedule a hearing; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Send the parties a hearing notice at least 30 calendar days before the scheduled hearing.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Hearing Notice. The hearing notice shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Summarize the hearing procedures;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Advise the appellant of:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The date, time, and place of the hearing,</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The right to be represented at the hearing by a lawyer, relative, friend, or other individual,</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The availability of any free legal services,</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>The right to present documents and witnesses, including agency employees, at the hearing,</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>The right to examine the agency's case record in preparation for the hearing,</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>The procedure to follow if the appellant cannot attend the hearing, and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>Except in an appeal concerning an intentional program violation, the authority of an administrative law judge to dismiss the appeal if the appellant fails, without good cause, to attend the hearing; and</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>In an appeal concerning an intentional program violation, include:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The charge,</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A warning that the decision shall be based solely on information provided at the hearing if the appellant fails to appear at the hearing,</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>A statement that, to have a hearing rescheduled, the appellant has 10 calendar days from the date of the hearing to present to the administrative law judge good cause for not appearing and for not asking for a postponement before the hearing,</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>A description of the disqualification penalties and a statement of the applicable penalty,</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>A statement of the appellant's rights during the hearing, and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>A warning that the hearing does not preclude the State or federal government from prosecuting the appellant or pursuing collection of the overpayment.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Child Support Enforcement Record Review. Upon receipt of a request for a record review pursuant to COMAR 07.07, OAH shall send notice of:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The date on which the record review will be conducted;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The agency's obligation to submit the relevant collection record before the scheduled record review;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The parties' right to submit additional evidence not later than 5 calendar days before the scheduled record review; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>The appellant's right to examine the collection record in preparation for submitting additional evidence.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Upon being advised by the appellant or an agency that an appellant plans to move from the State, OAH shall expedite the processing of the appeal so that a final administrative decision may be rendered before the move.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>OAH may schedule a group hearing when it receives multiple appeal requests concerning a change in State or federal law or regulation to the extent that each appellant has waived the right to confidentiality.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>Consolidated Appeals.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>OAH may consolidate appeals concerning a single appellant when the factual issues arise out of the same circumstances.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>OAH shall provide notice to the parties of the consolidation before the hearing.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>If one of the appeals concerns an intentional program violation, OAH shall follow the time frames applicable to intentional program violation appeals, unless those time frames are waived at the appellant's request.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>