A. Whenever the Board determines there are reasonable grounds to believe that there has been a violation of any of the provisions of the Oklahoma Rabbit and Rabbit Products Inspection Act, any rule or regulation promulgated thereto, or any order of the Board, it shall give written notice to the alleged violator specifying the cause of complaint. Such notice shall require that the matters complained of be corrected or that the alleged violator appear before the Board at a time and place within the affected area or in a mutually agreeable location specified in the notice and answer the charges. The notice shall be delivered to the alleged violator or violators in accordance with the provisions of subsection D of this section not less than twenty (20) days before the time set for the hearing.
B. The Board shall afford the alleged violator or violators an opportunity for a fair hearing in accordance with the provisions of subsection E of this section. On the basis of the evidence produced at the hearing, the Board shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law and enter an order thereon. The Board shall give written notice of such order to the alleged violator and to such other persons as shall have appeared at the hearing and made written request for notice of the order. If the hearing is held before any person other than the Board itself, such person shall transmit the record of the hearing together with recommendations for findings of fact and conclusions of law to the Board which shall thereupon enter its order. The Board may, in its discretion, enter its order on the basis of such record or, before issuing its order, require additional hearings or further evidence to be presented. The order of the Board shall become final and binding on all parties unless appealed to the district court as provided in Article II of the Administrative Procedures Act within thirty (30) days after notice has been sent to the parties.
C. Whenever the Board finds that an emergency exists requiring immediate action to protect the public health or welfare it may without notice or hearing issue an order reciting the existence of such an emergency and requiring that such action be taken as it deems necessary to meet the emergency. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection B of this section, such order shall be effective immediately. Any person to whom such an order is directed shall comply therewith immediately but on application to the Board shall be afforded a hearing within ten (10) days. On the basis of such hearing, the Board shall continue such order in effect, revoke it or modify it; provided, that any person aggrieved by such order continued after the hearing provided in this subsection may appeal to the district court of the area affected within thirty (30) days. Such appeal when docketed shall have priority over all cases pending on said docket, except criminal.
D. Except as otherwise expressly provided, any notice, order or other instrument issued by or under authority of the Board may be served on any person affected thereby personally or by publication. Proof of such service shall be made as in case of service of a summons or by publication in a civil action, such proof to be filed in the office of the Board; or such service may be made by mailing a copy of the notice, order or other instrument by registered mail directed to the person affected at his last-known post office address as shown by the files or records of the Board, and proof thereof may be made by the affidavit of the person who did the mailing, filed in the office of the Board.
Every certificate or affidavit of service made and filed as herein provided shall be prima facie evidence of the facts therein stated, and a certified copy thereof shall have like force and effect.
E. The hearings herein provided may be conducted by the Board itself at a regular or special meeting of the Board, or the Board may designate hearing officers who shall have the power and authority to conduct such hearings in the name of the Board at any time and place. Such hearings shall be conducted in conformity with and records made thereof as provided in the Administrative Procedures Act.
Added by Laws 1989, c. 170, § 13, operative July 1, 1989.