<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".12" citation="COMAR 10.38.05.12" title_num="10" subtitle_num="38" chapter_num="05" heading="Revocation of Hearing Authority from the Office of Administrative Hearings.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Consistent with the provisions of State Government Article, §10-205, Annotated Code of Maryland, the Board may revoke authority delegated to the Office of Administrative Hearings by written notice.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Criteria for Revocation of Authority in a Specific Case. The Board may revoke all or part of the Office of Administrative Hearings’ authority in a specific case if the case:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Involves novel or unanticipated factual or legal issues;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Has significant fiscal consequences to the Board;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Involves policy issues of general applicability; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Is likely to have precedential value.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Procedures for Revocation of the Office of Administrative Hearings’ Authority in a Specific Case.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The Board shall provide written notice of a revocation of the Office of Administrative Hearings’ authority:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>To:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>All parties; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>The Office of Administrative Hearings; and</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>That includes:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>A brief statement of the reasons for the revocation;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Whether all or part of the Office of Administrative Hearings’ delegated authority has been revoked; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>If only part of the delegation has been revoked, the portions of the contested case for which the delegation has been revoked.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The Board may revoke the Office of Administrative Hearings’ 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>A decision issued by the Board shall reflect that the Office of Administrative Hearings’ authority was revoked.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>The Board shall include as part of the record a copy of the revocation notice.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>