Section 127235 Of Chapter 1. Health Planning From California Health And Safety Code >> Division 107. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 1.
127235
. (a) Within 45 calendar days of the receipt of the complete
application, or an application otherwise deemed complete pursuant to
Section 127220, the office shall do one of the following:
(1) Approve the application. The office may approve the
application pursuant to this subdivision with modifications or
conditions, provided that the applicant agrees in writing to the
modifications or conditions.
(2) Order a hearing if the office determines that substantial
questions exist as to the eligibility of the proposed project for
certificate-of-need approval. Except as otherwise provided in this
section, the hearing shall be held in the health service area served
by the applicant.
(b) The office shall order a hearing by the service of a copy of
the order on the applicant and the Office of Administrative Hearings.
The order shall include the intended position of the Division of
Certificate of Need of the office. Upon receipt of the order, the
Office of Administrative Hearings shall promptly consult with the
parties to the hearing in order to determine the time and place of
hearing. Except as otherwise agreed by the parties and the Office of
Administrative Hearings, the hearing shall commence within 15 days of
the date of the order. Upon the scheduling of the hearing, the
Office of Administrative Hearings shall promptly serve notice of the
date, location, and time of the hearing upon the parties to the
hearing. The Office of Administrative Hearings shall also publish a
notice of the date, location, and time of the hearing in at least one
newspaper of general circulation in the health service area served
by the applicant. The notice shall also include the name and address
of the applicant, the nature of the proposed project, and other
information, deemed relevant by the Office of Administrative
Hearings.
(c) The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 5
(commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of
the Government Code, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
The hearing shall be conducted by a hearing officer assigned by the
Office of Administrative Hearings who shall rule on the admission and
exclusion of evidence and may exercise all other powers relating to
the conduct of the hearing. With the concurrence of the parties to
the hearing, law and motion matters pertaining to the hearing may be
heard by the hearing officer in a location other than the geographic
location of the hearing.
(d) The hearing shall conclude within 45 calendar days after
commencement of the hearing unless one of the following occurs:
(1) The applicant agrees to extend the time for conclusion of the
hearing.
(2) The hearing is ongoing and continuing during consecutive
business days, in which case it shall be concluded as soon as
reasonably practicable thereafter.
(e) Within seven days after the conclusion of the hearing, the
hearing officer shall render a proposed decision supported by
findings of fact, based solely upon the record of the hearing, and
conclusions of law. The proposed decision, findings of fact, and
conclusions of law shall be served upon the parties to the hearing.
(f) The director shall make a final decision on an application
within seven calendar days after issuance of the proposed decision by
the hearing officer. The decision shall either approve the
application, approve it with modifications, reject it, or approve it
with conditions mutually agreed upon by the applicant and the office.
The failure of any applicant to fulfill the conditions under which
the certificate of need was granted shall constitute grounds for
revocation of the certificate of need.
(g) Notice of the substance of the office's decision shall be
published in a newspaper of general circulation within the health
service area served by the applicant, within 10 calendar days
following the decision.