11512.5
. (a) The commissioner may refuse, suspend, or revoke a
county registration or permit pursuant to Section 11735, 11924,
12035, or 14008. Before that action is taken, the party whose
registration or permit request is to be refused, suspended, or
revoked, the registered party, or the permittee shall be given a
written notice of the proposed action, including the basis for the
action, and shall have the right to request a hearing before the
commissioner within 20 days after receiving notice of the proposed
action. A notice of the proposed action that is sent by certified
mail to the last known address of the person against whom the action
is proposed shall be considered received even if delivery is refused
or the notice is not accepted at that address. If a hearing is
requested, notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be given
at least 10 days before the date set for the hearing. At the
hearing, the person shall be given an opportunity to present any
evidence or argument on his or her own behalf. If a hearing is not
requested in a timely manner, the commissioner may take the action
proposed without a hearing. If the party whose registration or permit
is refused, suspended, or revoked requested and appeared at a
hearing, he or she may appeal to the director within 10 days of
mailing or personal service of the commissioner's decision. The
following procedure shall apply to the appeal:
(1) The appeal need not be formal, but it shall be in writing and
signed by the appellant or his or her authorized agent and shall
state the grounds for the appeal. The commissioner's decision shall
be stayed pending the director's decision, except as provided in
subdivision (b). The party whose registration or permit has been
refused shall remain unregistered or unpermitted pending the outcome
of the appeal.
(2) Any party may, at the time of filing the appeal or within 10
days thereafter, make written application to the director to present
new evidence, stating the materiality of the evidence, and the
reasons why the evidence was not introduced at the hearing before the
commissioner. The evidence may be allowed in the discretion of the
director. Thereafter, 10 days shall be given the parties to rebut the
evidence and make written application to the director to present
oral or written argument. An application to present written argument
shall be granted, but the director shall have discretion to grant
oral argument or to grant both oral and written argument. If an
application to present oral argument is granted, written notice of
the time and place for oral argument shall be given each party at
least 10 days before the date set therefor. The time may be shortened
by mutual agreement of the parties. If written argument is granted,
all parties shall be notified thereof and shall simultaneously file
briefs within the time specified by the director.
(3) The director shall decide the appeal upon the evidence
received at the hearing before the commissioner, oral or written
argument, and new or additional evidence as the director may have
admitted.
(4) On an appeal pursuant to this section, the director may
sustain, reverse, or modify the decision of the commissioner. A copy
of the director's decision shall be delivered or mailed to each
party. This shall not be a limitation on the director's authority to
institute proceedings against any state license or other indicant of
permission issued pursuant to this division or pursuant to Division 7
(commencing with Section 12501).
(5) A review of a decision of the director may be sought by the
appellant within 30 days of the date of the decision pursuant to
Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, whenever the
commissioner has reason to believe that continuance of a registration
or permit specified in subdivision (a) endangers public health or
safety or the environment, the commissioner, without prior notice,
may immediately suspend the registration or permit. The commissioner
shall inform the party registered or the permittee, in writing, of
the suspension as soon as practical, specifying the reasons for the
immediate suspension. When acting pursuant to this subdivision, the
commissioner, within seven days of informing the permittee or
registered person of the immediate suspension, shall issue a written
notice of proposed action as specified in subdivision (a).
Subdivision (a) applies to the notice of proposed action, hearing,
and appeal, except as otherwise provided in this subdivision. If a
hearing is requested, it shall be held not later than seven days from
the date the request for the hearing is received by the
commissioner, unless the person requesting the hearing agrees to a
later hearing date. The commissioner's decision shall be issued
within 10 days after the conclusion of the hearing. If the party
against whom action was taken requested and appeared at a hearing, he
or she may appeal the commissioner's decision, issued following the
hearing, to the director as provided in subdivision (a). The director
may stay the commissioner's decision pending the director's
decision.