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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".21" citation="COMAR 07.01.04.21" title_num="07" subtitle_num="01" chapter_num="04" heading="Delegation and Revocation of Hearing Authority.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>The Secretary may delegate to OAH all or part of the authority to hear a contested case.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>The Secretary has delegated to OAH the authority to issue the final decision of the agency in all cases to which this chapter applies except those specified in §C of this regulation.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>The Secretary has delegated to OAH the authority to issue a proposed decision, including proposed findings of fact and proposed conclusions of law, in decisions rendered pursuant to:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>COMAR 07.02.11 Foster Care;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>COMAR 07.02.12 Adoption;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>COMAR 07.02.25 LDSS Foster Home Requirements; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>COMAR 14.31.05 Licensing and Monitoring of Residential Child Care Programs.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Consistent with the provisions of State Government Article, §10-205, Annotated Code of Maryland, the Secretary may revoke, modify, or supplement authority delegated to OAH by written notice.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Criteria for Revocation of Authority in a Specific Case. The Secretary may revoke or modify all or part of OAH's authority in a specific case if the case may:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Involve novel or unanticipated factual or legal issues;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Have significant social or fiscal consequences;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Involve policy issues of general applicability; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Be likely to have precedential value.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Procedures for Revocation of OAH's Authority in a Specific Case.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The Secretary shall provide written notice of a revocation of OAH's authority to all parties and OAH, which shall contain a brief statement of the reason for the revocation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The Secretary may revoke OAH's authority to decide a case at any time before the earlier of:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Issuance of a ruling by the administrative law judge on a substantive issue; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Taking of oral testimony from the first witness.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The Secretary shall specify whether all or part of OAH's authority to decide a case has been revoked. If only part of the delegation has been revoked, the Secretary shall specify in writing in the notice of revocation the portions of the contested case for which delegation has been revoked.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>A decision issued by the Secretary shall reflect that OAH's authority was revoked, and a copy of the revocation notice shall be included as part of the record.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>