(1) If a licensee believes that a county or district public health agency is taking regulatory action outside the scope of its authority, the licensee may file a written complaint with the department within thirty days after the licensee's knowledge of the regulatory action.
Within forty-five days after receipt of a written complaint pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, the department shall convene a dispute resolution panel that consists of one person from the department, one person from the retail food industry, and one person from a county or district public health agency who is not within the jurisdiction of the licensee requesting resolution. The dispute resolution panel shall allow the licensee and the county or district public health agency to provide information related to the grievance. The dispute resolution panel shall make findings concerning the grievance and shall recommend to the county or district public health agency a resolution to the dispute. The county or district public health agency shall implement the recommendations within thirty days after receipt of the findings and recommendations from the dispute resolution panel. If the parties to the grievance resolve the complaint prior to review by the dispute resolution panel, the parties shall notify the department in writing and the grievance shall be dismissed.
If the county or district public health agency fails to implement the recommendationsof the dispute resolution panel within thirty days after receipt of the recommendations, the county or district public health agency shall provide the licensee with the opportunity to request an administrative hearing in accordance with section 24-4-105, C.R.S.
Source: L. 2009: Entire section added, (SB 09-223), ch. 255, p. 1157, § 10, effective May 15.