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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, First Regular Session
permit; license; denials; agency hearing
Purpose
Requires criteria for a state, county or municipal license or permit to be stated in clear and unambiguous language, unless the criteria are established by federal law. Outlines requirements for informal hearings relating to appealable actions and contested cases involving state agencies.
Background
All parties must be afforded an opportunity for a hearing in a contested case involving a state agency (A.R.S. § 41-1061). Most contested cases and appeals of state agency actions are overseen by the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) pursuant to the Uniform Administrative Hearing Procedures requirements (OAH hearings) (A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 6, Article 10). The Director of the OAH is required to assign administrative law judges from the OAH to a state agency on a temporary or permanent basis to preside over OAH hearings (A.R.S. § 41-1092.01). Contested cases within agencies exempt from OAH hearing requirements are instead conducted by each state agency pursuant to the requirements for adjudicative proceedings (state agency adjudicative hearings) (A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 6, Article 6).
State agency adjudicative hearings and OAH hearings may be conducted in an informal manner without adherence to the rules of evidence required in judicial proceedings. Neither the manner of conducting the hearing or the failure to adhere to the rules of evidence are grounds for reversing any administrative decision, so long as the evidence supporting the decision or order is substantial, reliable and probative (A.R.S. §§ 41-1062 and 41-1092.07).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
Criteria for a License or Permit
1. Requires a state agency, municipality or county, in any case in which a license or permit is required before a person engages in a constitutionally-protected activity, to specify the criteria for license or permit approval in clear and unambiguous language, unless the criteria are established by federal law.
2. Requires a court to determine whether criteria for a license or permit is clear and unambiguous in any court proceeding involving a denial of a license or permit for a constitutionally-protected activity.
3. Specifies that an applicant is entitled to approval or denial of an application for a license or permit involving a constitutionally-protected activity within 30 days of submitting an application, unless another timeframe is specified in statute or rule.
State Agency Adjudicative Hearings and OAH Hearings
4. Removes the exemption from the rules of evidence for state agency adjudicative hearings.
5. Removes the prohibition on the following from being grounds for reversing an administrative decision or order:
a) the manner of conducting a state agency adjudicative hearing or OAH hearing; or
b) a failure to adhere to the rules of evidence in a state agency adjudicative hearing.
6. Prohibits a state agency adjudicative hearing from being conducted in an informal manner, unless:
a) the parties agree to an informal hearing;
b) the state agency is authorized by statute to use an informal hearing; and
c) there is no disputed issue of material fact or the disputed issue of material fact that involves an amount of $1,000 or less.
7. Requires a state agency to state the agency's selection of an informal state agency adjudicative hearing in the notice of the hearing.
8. Requires a party that objects to an informal state agency adjudicative hearing to object in the party's pleading.
9. Requires the presiding officer to resolve an objection to the use of an informal state agency adjudicative hearing:
a) before the hearing, based on the pleadings and written submissions in support of the pleadings; and
b) in favor of the licensee in a disciplinary proceeding involving an occupational license.
10. Allows the presiding officer to deny the use of an informal state agency adjudicative hearing or require a formal hearing after an informal hearing is commenced, if it is determined that:
a) a cross-examination is necessary for proper determination of the matter; and
b) the delay, burden or complication due to allowing cross-examination in the informal hearing will be more than minimal.
11. Requires the presiding officer in an informal OAH hearing to regulate the course of the hearing and allow the parties and others to offer written and oral comments on issues.
12. Allows the presiding officer in an informal OAH hearing to:
a) limit the use of witnesses, testimony, evidence and argument; and
b) limit or prohibit the use of pleadings, intervention, discovery, prehearing conferences and rebuttal.
13. Transfers, from the applicant to the state agency, the burden of persuasion in an OAH hearing relating to the:
a) denial of a license or permit;
b) denial of an application for a license or permit; and
c) request for modification of a license or permit.
14. Requires the burden of proof in all state agency OAH hearings to be at least a preponderance of the evidence.
15. Makes technical and conforming changes.
16. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
RA 2/4/19 DPA 4-3-0-0
3rd Read 2/14/19 31-29-0
Prepared by Senate Research
March 14, 2019
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