R357-16-9. Appeal of Application Denial

  (1) A denial of an applicant's request for a grant may be appealed by written request pursuant to Utah Code Section 63G-4-201, and in accordance with this rule.

  (2) Hearings must be requested within 30 calendar days from the date that the Office sends written notice of its denial of grant.

  (3) Failure to submit a timely request for a hearing constitutes a waiver of due process rights. The request must explain why the party is seeking agency relief, and the party must submit the request on the "Request for Hearing/Agency Action" form. The party must mail or email a scanned copy of the form to the address or email address contained on the denial.

  (4) The Office considers a hearing request that a recipient sends via mail to be filed on the date of the postmark. If the postmark date is illegible, erroneous, or omitted, the Office considers the request to be filed on the date that the Office receives it, unless the sender can demonstrate through convincing evidence that it was mailed before the date of receipt.

  (5) The Office shall hold informal adjudicative proceedings in accordance with Utah Code Sections 63G-4-202 and 203. The Office shall notify the petitioner and Office representative of the date, time and place of the hearing at least ten days in advance of the hearing. Continuances of scheduled hearings are not favored, but may be for good cause shown. Failure by any party to appear at the hearing after notice has been given shall be grounds for default and shall waive both the right to contest the allegations and the right to the hearing.

  (6) The Petitioner named in the notice of agency action and the Office shall be permitted to testify, present evidence, and comment on the issues. Formal rules of evidence shall not apply; however,

  (a) Testimony may be taken under oath.

  (b) All hearings are open to all parties.

  (c) Discovery is prohibited; informal disclosures will be ruled on at the pre-hearing conference.

  (d) A respondent shall have access to relevant information contained in the Office's files and to material gathered in the investigation of respondent to the extent permitted by law.

  (e) The Office may cause an official record of the hearing to be made, at the Office's expense.

  (7) Within a reasonable time, not to exceed 60 days after the close of the informal proceeding, the Office shall issue a signed decision in writing that includes a findings of fact and conclusions of law, and time limits for appeals rights, and administrative or judicial review in accordance with Utah Code Subsection 63G-4-203(i).