(a) Any interested person may request the commissioner to review his or her action in issuing, refusing, revoking, suspending, or conditioning a permit to use or possess a restricted material. The commissioner shall review the request and issue a written decision in response to the request to review within 10 days of receipt of the request, or as soon as practicable. The commissioner may affirm, modify, or cancel the permit action reviewed. A directly affected person may thereafter appeal to the director to review the commissioner’s action.

(b) The commissioner and director shall conduct each review in an expeditious manner so that needed pest control measures are not adversely affected.

(c) Each request for review shall be submitted in writing to the commissioner by the person requesting the review and shall include all of the following:

(1) The location of persons, property, or areas that would be affected and the location of property to be treated.

(2) The name of the restricted material involved.

(3) The name and address of the person in charge of the property to be treated, if different from the person filing the request for review.

(4) Any other information that the person filing the request for review or the commissioner determines to be relevant.

(d) In an appeal of a commissioner’s action to the director, the issues are limited to any of the following:

(1) Whether the proposed permit use is consistent with applicable pesticide label restrictions and applicable regulations.

(2) Whether the commissioner properly considered the provisions of Section 14006.5.

(3) Whether the commissioner abused his or her discretion in issuing, refusing, revoking, or conditioning the permit.

(e) The director shall act on these appeals within 10 days of receipt thereof or as soon thereafter as is practicable. The director may stay the operation of a permit until his or her review is complete.

(f) (1) Prior to conducting a public review, the director shall notify directly affected persons at least 72 hours in advance of the location and time of the public review.

(2) Before acting on an appeal, the director shall, in a specified location open to the public, review the information provided to him or her as specified in this section if requested to do so in writing by any interested person.

(3) The director may request additional testimony or other evidence specified in this section at the public review from interested persons.

(g) Judicial review of any decision by the director pursuant to this section shall be pursuant to Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Review shall be limited to whether the proposed permit use is consistent with applicable pesticide label restrictions and regulations and whether the director abused his or her discretion.

(Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 435, Sec. 9. Effective January 1, 1997.)