Sec. 33a.

(1) The department shall issue an initial or renewal license or permit for regulated activities described in sections 31 and 33, other than a grade A dairy farm, a bulk milk hauler/sampler, or a certified industry farm inspector, not later than 90 days after the applicant files a completed application. Receipt of the application is considered the date the application is received by any agency or department of this state.

(2) If the application is considered incomplete by the department, the department shall notify the applicant in writing, or make information electronically available, within 30 days after receipt of the incomplete application, describing the deficiency and requesting the additional information. The 90-day period is tolled upon notification by the department of a deficiency until the date the requested information is received by the department. The determination of the completeness of an application does not operate as an approval of the application for the license or permit and does not confer eligibility of an applicant determined otherwise ineligible for issuance of a license or permit.

(3) If the department fails to issue or deny a license or permit within the time required by this section, the department shall return the license or permit fee and shall reduce the license or permit fee for the applicant's next renewal application, if any, by 15%. The failure to issue or deny a license or permit within the time required under this section does not allow the department to otherwise delay the processing of the application, and that application, upon completion, must be placed in sequence with other completed applications received at that same time. The department shall not discriminate against an applicant in the processing of the application based upon the fact that the license or permit fee was refunded or discounted under this subsection.

(4) As used in this section, "completed application" means an application that is complete on its face and submitted with any applicable licensing or permit fees and fines as well as any other information, records, approval, security, or similar item required by law or rule from a local unit of government, a federal agency, or a private entity but not from another department or agency of this state. Under appropriate circumstances, completed application includes the completion of construction or renovation of any facility and the passing of a satisfactory inspection.

History: Add. 2004, Act 277, Imd. Eff. July 23, 2004 ;-- Am. 2008, Act 136, Eff. June 20, 2008 ;-- Am. 2018, Act 301, Imd. Eff. June 29, 2018