California Regulations 9788.32

• Final regulation section adopted, effective 12/15/04

(a) After reviewing a completed application, if the Administrative Director finds that the applicant meets the qualifications, he/she shall notify the applicant by mail, and add the applicant's name to the list of second opinion physicians.

(b) If a physician applicant does not qualify only because the physician has a record of previous discipline by a governmental physician licensing agency and if at least five years have elapsed since discipline was imposed, the Administrative Director shall notify the physician that the physician may within ninety days submit written evidence of the physician's rehabilitation from the offenses or inadequacies for which discipline was imposed. If no evidence is submitted within that time period, the Administrative Director shall reject the application. If the physician submits evidence, the Administrative Director shall consider any written evidence submitted by the physician along with any other evidence the Administrative Director may obtain through investigation. The Administrative Director shall make a finding as to whether the physician has been rehabilitated from the offenses or inadequacies for which discipline was imposed. If the Administrative Director does not find that the physician has been rehabilitated, the Administrative Director shall reject the application.

(c) If the Administrative Director finally determines that an applicant does not meet the qualifications, he/she shall notify the applicant by mail that the application is rejected.

(d) An applicant whose application has been rejected may, within 30 days of the mailing of the notice of rejection, request a hearing by filing a written request for hearing with the Administrative Director. If a written request for hearing is not received by the Administrative Director within 30 days of the mailing of the notice of rejection, the applicant shall be deemed to have waived any appeal or request for hearing.

(e) Upon receipt of a written request for hearing, the Administrative Director shall serve a statement of issues, as provided in Government Code section 11504.

(f) Hearings shall be held under the procedures of Chapter 5 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code (commencing with section 11500) and the regulations of the Office of Administrative Hearings (California Code of Regulations, Title 1, Division 2).

(g) Failure to file timely a mailed notice of defense or failure to appear at a noticed hearing or conference shall constitute a waiver of a right to a hearing.

(h) An applicant whose application has been rejected may reapply after: 1. one year has elapsed from the date his application was rejected; or 2. the time when the deficiencies which were the reasons for rejection have been corrected; whichever occurs first.

Authority: Sections 133 and 5307.3, Labor Code; Sections 11400.20, 11415.10, Government Code. Reference: Sections 4062 (b) and 4600, Labor Code.