53C-2-6. Hearings and appeals.

(a) Any administrative hearing required or permitted to be held by the Commissioner shall be conducted in accordance with Article 3A of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes.

(b) Upon an appeal to the Commission by any party from an order entered by the Commissioner following an administrative hearing pursuant to Article 3A of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes, the chair of the Commission may appoint an appellate review panel of not fewer than three members to review the record on appeal, hear oral arguments, and make a recommended decision to the Commission. Unless another time period for appeals is provided by this Chapter, any party to an order by the Commissioner may, within 20 days after the order and upon written notice to the Commissioner, appeal the Commissioner's order to the Commission for review. The notice of appeal shall state the grounds for the appeal and set forth in numbered order the assignments of error for review by the Commission. Failure to state the grounds for the appeal and assignments of error shall constitute grounds to dismiss the appeal. Failure to comply with the briefing schedule provided by the Commission shall also constitute grounds to dismiss the appeal. Upon receipt of a notice of appeal, the Commissioner shall, within 30 days of the notice, certify to the Commission the record on appeal. Any party to a proceeding before the Commission may, within 20 days after final order of the Commission, petition the Superior Court of Wake County for judicial review of a final determination of any question of law that may be involved. The petition for judicial review shall be entitled "(insert name) Petitioner v. State of North Carolina on Relation of the Commission." A copy of the petition for judicial review shall be served upon the Commissioner pursuant to G.S. 150B-46. The petition shall be placed on the civil issue docket of the court and shall have precedence over other civil actions. Within 15 days of service of the petition for judicial review, the Commissioner shall certify the record to the Clerk of Superior Court of Wake County. The standard of review of a petition for judicial review of a final order of the Commission shall be as provided in G.S. 150B-51(b).

(c) The hearing officer at administrative hearings conducted under the authority of the Commissioner may be the Commissioner, a deputy commissioner, or other suitable person designated by the Commissioner to serve as a hearing officer.

(d) The Commission may conduct public hearings on matters within its purview.