(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.

(Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 435, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1997.)