(a)  On or before December 31, 1997, the office shall adopt regulations establishing an expedited appeals process by which a petitioner or responsible party may appeal any failure by a public agency to take timely action on the issuance or denial of a repair or maintenance project permit or consolidated permit in accordance with the time limits set pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 57053.1.

(b)  If the office finds that the time limits under appeal have been violated without good cause, the office shall establish a date certain by which the public agency shall act on the repair or maintenance project permit or consolidated permit application with adequate provision for the requirements described in subparagraphs (A) to (C), inclusive, of paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 57053.1, and shall provide for the full reimbursement of any filing or permit processing fees paid by the responsible party to the public agency for the permit application under appeal. For purposes of this section, “good cause” shall have the same meaning as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 15376 of the Government Code.

(c)  The determination of the office on an appeal shall be based only on procedural violations, including, but not limited to, the exceeding of time limits, not on any nonprocedural matter with regard to the repair or maintenance project permit, or permit application, or the consolidated permit, or consolidated permit application.

(d)  In cases of a violation of time limits set pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 57053.1, the determination of the office to order a reimbursement of any application fee pursuant to the regulations adopted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall only be applicable to the consolidated permit agency or to the participating permit agencies that are in violation of the time limits without showing good cause.

(e)  An appeal taken pursuant to this section shall be only for violations of the time limits set pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 57053.1.

(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 405, Sec. 71. Effective January 1, 2003.)