<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" citation="COMAR 13A.17.16.03" title_num="13A" subtitle_num="17" chapter_num="16" heading="Hearing Requests.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>A hearing shall be held when:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>An applicant or holder of a letter of compliance requests a hearing to contest:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The denial of an application for a letter of compliance;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A revocation or suspension of a letter of compliance; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Any other action that adversely impacts the holder of the letter of compliance, including, but not limited to:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>The setting of capacity at a number below that requested;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>A reduction in capacity; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>A limitation on the ages or numbers of children who may be admitted to the child care center.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>An individual requests a hearing to contest the imposition of civil penalties for providing child care or advertising child care services without a valid letter of compliance; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>An individual requests a hearing to contest the prohibition of employment at a facility holding a letter of compliance.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Non-emergency Action Hearing Requests.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>All non-emergency action hearing requests shall be forwarded in writing to the Office and shall state the name and address of the holder of the letter of compliance or the individual contesting the imposition of a civil penalty, and the effective date and nature of the action appealed from.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A hearing request shall be filed not later than 20 days after the date of the notice of the action taken by the Office.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The Office shall forward a hearing request to the Office of Administrative Hearings within 10 days of the filing date.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>A hearing decision shall be rendered within 90 days of the filing date.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Any non-emergency action is stayed if a hearing request is timely filed, unless the action is:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A revocation that immediately follows an emergency suspension period; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A denial which follows the expiration of the provisional period of a letter of compliance that was issued on a provisional basis.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Emergency Action Hearing Requests.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>All emergency action hearing requests shall be filed with the Office within 30 days of the hand delivery of the notice of the Office's action, and shall state the name and address of the licensee or holder of the letter of compliance, and the effective date and action appealed from.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The Office shall notify the Office of Administrative Hearings at once upon receipt of an emergency action hearing request. Oral notification shall be followed by written notification within 24 hours.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>A hearing request shall not stay an emergency action.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>A hearing shall be conducted within 7 days of the filing date of the hearing request.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>A decision by the administrative law judge shall be rendered within 7 days after the conclusion of the hearing.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>