Any decision issued pursuant to Section 127235 shall take effect 30 calendar days following its issuance unless within that time the applicant files a petition for appeal with the Advisory Health Council. The Advisory Health Council shall render a decision on each appeal, and appeal shall be by right. The filing of a petition shall operate to suspend and stay the decision by the office pending the hearing and entry of a final decision.
A petition for appeal shall be filed with the council within 30 calendar days following the date a decision is issued by the office. The petition shall be filed in the form and manner as prescribed by the office. As soon as a petition is filed, the council shall be polled and respond in writing to determine within 30 calendar days whether it will take oral argument on the petition. The council shall order a hearing if at least seven of the members certify in writing that they agree to take oral argument. If the council orders a hearing, the hearing shall be held within 60 calendar days of the date of the council’s order. If a hearing is denied, a statement of the reasons for denial shall be issued by the council that shall be sent to the applicant, the office, and persons requesting the statement.
The council shall cause to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the area where the proposed project is to be located, at least 30 calendar days prior to the appeal hearing, a notice summarizing the application and the office’s decision, with particulars as the council may deem necessary, including, but not limited to, the name and address of the applicant, the type of project, and the date, time and place of the appeal hearing. In addition, the council shall send copies of the notice to the applicant, the office, and any person requesting a notice.
Parties to the appeals proceedings may only be the applicant and the office. Any other person shall have the right to appear and be heard at the appeal hearing, but shall not be a party to the proceedings.
The appeal hearing may be held by the council or by a hearing officer, as ordered by the council. If there is a hearing officer, he or she shall rule on the admission and exclusion of evidence. The council shall exercise all other powers relating to the conduct of the hearing, but may delegate any or all powers to the hearing officer. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, appeal hearings shall conform to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, except that the office may use its own hearing officer.
(Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 415, Sec. 9. Effective January 1, 1996.)