(a) If a hearing or investigation is conducted by the board or its authorized representative in regard to an appeal by an employee, the hearing or investigation shall be commenced within a reasonable time after the filing of the appeal. For appeals from actions resulting in the termination of an employee, if an evidentiary hearing has not commenced within six months of the filing of the appeal, the employee may make a written request for a priority hearing by the board. Upon receipt of the written request, the board shall schedule an evidentiary hearing within 60 days of the request at a hearing location designated by the board.
(b) The board shall render its decision within a reasonable time after the conclusion of the hearing or investigation, except that the period from the filing of the appeal to the decision of the board shall not exceed six months.
(c) The provisions described in subdivision (b) relating to the six-month period for a decision may be waived by the employee but if not so waived, a failure to render a timely decision is an exhaustion of all available administrative remedies.
(d) The board may order all of, or a portion of, any hearing to be conducted using electronic media pursuant to board rules.
(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 427, Sec. 19. (AB 1062) Effective January 1, 2014.)