A State employee wishing to file an appeal must notify the SSOA within 15 calendar days of receiving the notice of their suspension from performing safety-sensitive functions, to request an administrative hearing. Such a request does not create a stay of the suspension from performing safety-sensitive functions. When a suspension from performing safety-sensitive functions is contested by a State employee, the SSOA will forward the matter to Maryland Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) to set for a hearing. The hearing will be conducted in accordance with Title 28 of the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR 28.02.01). The administrative law judge’s decision is the final order of the Secretary of Transportation or Secretary’s designee.