Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

     Purpose: The rule-making order amends chapter 16-08 WAC to clarify the director's designees for the presiding officer and reviewing officer roles in adjudicative proceedings and to clarify how a request for hearing is timely filed with the agency.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 16-08-002, 16-08-021, 16-08-031, and 16-08-141.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapter 34.05 RCW.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 11-15-045 on July 14, 2011.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 4, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 4, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: September 27, 2011.

Dan Newhouse

Director

OTS-4055.1

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 5081, filed 8/23/95, effective 9/23/95)

WAC 16-08-002   Definitions.   The definitions ((set forth)) in this section ((shall)) apply ((throughout)) to this chapter unless the context otherwise requires:

     (((1))) "Date of service" means the date the department places a properly dated and stamped document into the United States Postal Service or other mail service for delivery.

     "Department" means the department of agriculture of the state of Washington.

     (((2))) "Director" means the director of the department of agriculture.

     (((3))) "Presiding officer" means the person designated by the director to preside over adjudicative proceedings.

     "Reviewing officer" means the ((deputy)) director ((or administrative regulations analyst of the department of agriculture, who the director hereby designates to exercise all decision making powers to review initial orders, and prepare and enter final orders for the director of agriculture pursuant to RCW 34.05.464(2), or the director of agriculture. The reviewing officer shall mean the director in those cases where the deputy director has acted as the presiding officer)) of agriculture or the person designated by the director to review initial orders and prepare and enter final orders for the director.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW. 95-18-008 (Order 5081), § 16-08-002, filed 8/23/95, effective 9/23/95; 91-23-051, § 16-08-002, filed 11/15/91, effective 12/16/91.]

     (a) ((In matters involving an adjudicative proceeding, the director may designate as presiding officer)) An administrative law judge assigned by the office of administrative hearings under the authority of chapter 34.12 RCW((,)); or

     (b) The deputy director((, the)); or

     (c) An assistant director((, agency operations division; the assistant director, laboratory services division)); or ((the administrative regulations analyst of the department;

     (b) In matters involving an emergency or brief adjudicative proceeding or involving a proceeding pursuant to WAC 16-08-022, the director may designate in writing staff persons to function as the presiding officer.)) (d) A staff person trained to act as a presiding officer in adjudicative proceedings.

     (2) A person who has served as an investigator, prosecutor, or advocate in any stage of an adjudicative proceeding or someone who is subject to the authority or direction of such a person, may not serve as a presiding officer in the same proceeding.

     (3) The presiding officer ((shall have)) has the authority to:

     (a) Determine the order of presentation of evidence;

     (b) Administer oaths and affirmations;

     (c) Issue subpoenas;

     (d) Rule on procedural matters, objections, and motions;

     (e) Rule on offers of proof and receive relevant evidence;

     (f) Interrogate witnesses called by the parties in an impartial manner to develop any facts deemed necessary to fairly and adequately decide the matter;

     (g) Call additional witnesses and request additional exhibits deemed necessary to complete the record and receive such evidence subject to full opportunity for cross-examination and rebuttal by all parties;

     (h) Take any appropriate action necessary to maintain order during the hearing;

     (i) Permit or require oral argument or briefs and determine the time limits for their submission ((thereof));

     (j) Take any other action necessary and authorized by any applicable statute or rule;

     (k) Waive any requirement of these rules unless a party shows that ((it)) he or she would be prejudiced by such a waiver.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW. 95-18-008 (Order 5081), § 16-08-021, filed 8/23/95, effective 9/23/95. Statutory Authority: RCW 34.05.425. 93-10-059, § 16-08-021, filed 4/30/93, effective 5/31/93. Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW. 91-23-051, § 16-08-021, filed 11/15/91, effective 12/16/91.]

     (4) If the request for hearing is not timely filed with the department, the applicant waives his or her right to a hearing.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW. 97-14-050, § 16-08-031, filed 6/27/97, effective 7/28/97; 91-23-051, § 16-08-031, filed 11/15/91, effective 12/16/91.]

     (a) Actions taken by the agency based on the failure:

     (i) To maintain, supply, or display records; and/or

     (ii) To display evidence of a license; and/or

     (iii) To display or post information required by law; and/or

     (iv) To possess required insurance, bonding or other security.

     (b) Actions taken with respect to late application renewal fees.

     (c) Actions taken with respect to certificate of compliance agreements under WAC 16-461-010.

     (d) Actions taken with respect to sale permits pursuant to RCW 15.13.270.

     (e) Actions taken to revoke certification of plant material as foundation or breeder planting stock pursuant to RCW 15.14.110.

     (f) Penalty actions taken with respect to cattle breed name use.

     (g) Penalty actions taken against milk producers pursuant to RCW 15.36.115 or 15.36.595.

     (h) Dairy degrade or permit suspension actions taken pursuant to chapter 15.36 RCW.

     (i) Actions taken with respect to licenses for sale of milk for animal food pursuant to RCW 15.37.030 et seq.

     (j) Actions taken with respect to registration of commercial feed pursuant to RCW 15.53.9036.

     (k) Actions taken with respect to pesticide registration under RCW 15.58.110.

     (l) Actions taken with respect to organic certification pursuant to RCW 15.86.060 and/or 15.86.070.

     (m) Actions taken with respect to mushroom buyer or dealer licenses pursuant to RCW 15.90.020.

     (n) Actions taken with respect to animal health certificates pursuant to RCW 16.36.050.

     (o) Actions taken with respect to destruction or treatment of quarantined animals pursuant to RCW 16.36.090.

     (p) Actions taken with respect to licenses for garbage feeding to swine pursuant to RCW 16.36.108.

     (q) Actions taken with respect to licenses related to custom farm slaughter pursuant to chapter 16.49 RCW.

     (r) Actions taken with respect to licenses related to custom meat facilities pursuant to chapter 16.49 RCW.

     (s) Actions taken with respect to approval of livestock pens within feedlots pursuant to RCW 16.58.080.

     (t) Actions taken with respect to certified feed lot licenses pursuant to RCW 16.58.130.

     (u) Actions taken with respect to seizure and destruction of incorrect weights and measures pursuant to RCW 19.24.250.

     (v) Actions taken with respect to licenses of grain dealers or warehousemen pursuant to RCW 22.09.471.

     (w) Revocation of compliance agreements for the completion of state phytosanitary, sanitation, or brown garden snail certificates pursuant to chapters 15.13 and 17.24 RCW.

     (x) Revocation of compliance agreements for preprinting or use of rubber stamps for nursery stock inspection certificates pursuant to chapter 15.13 RCW.

     (y) Revocation of compliance agreements for root sampling of nursery stock pursuant to chapter 15.13 RCW.

     (((aa))) (z) Agency refusal to certify seed stocks because of misleading or confusing labeling pursuant to chapter 15.60 RCW and WAC 16-316-345.

     (((bb))) (aa) Rescinding of permit for seed conditioning pursuant to chapter 15.60 RCW and WAC 16-316-185(8).

     (((cc))) (bb) Expulsion from or refusal to allow entry into a seed or plant certification program pursuant to chapters 15.60 and 15.13 RCW.

     (2) A party to a brief adjudicative hearing has ((twenty)) twenty-five days to file an application or request from the date of service of the department's notice of intent to take action. The application or request for a brief adjudicative hearing shall be filed at the address listed on the form provided by the department. The party filing the application or request for a brief adjudicative proceeding shall submit a written explanation of their view of the matter along with the application or request. Other parties may file a written response within ten days after service of the application for a brief adjudicative proceeding. Copies of the response shall be served on all parties. Oral statements may be submitted and considered as follows:

     (a) If a party to a brief adjudicative proceeding desires an opportunity to make an oral statement, it should be requested in the application or request.

     (b) A request to make an oral statement may be granted if the presiding officer believes such a statement would benefit him or her in reaching a decision. The presiding officer shall notify the parties within a reasonable time of the decision to grant or deny the request to hear oral comments, and if the request is granted, shall notify the parties of the time and place for hearing comments.

     (3) At the time any unfavorable action is taken, the presiding officer shall serve upon each party a brief statement of the reasons for the decision. Within ten days of the decision, the presiding officer shall give the parties a brief written statement of the reasons for the decision and information about any internal administrative review available.

     (4) The presiding officer's written decision is an initial order. If no review is taken of the initial order, it shall be the final order.

     (5) The reviewing officer shall conduct a review of an initial order resulting from a brief adjudicative proceeding upon the written or oral request of a party if the director receives the request within twenty-one days from the service of the initial order. If no request is filed in a timely manner, the reviewing officer may review, on his or her own motion, an order resulting from a brief adjudicative proceeding and adopt, modify, or reject the initial order; but the reviewing officer shall not take any action on review less favorable to any party without giving that party notice and opportunity to explain his or her view of the matter.

     (6) A request for review of an initial order shall contain an explanation of the party's view of the matter and a statement of reasons why the initial order is incorrect. The request for review shall be filed with the director and copies shall be served on all parties, and evidence of such service filed. Responses to a request for review of an initial order shall be filed with the director and served on all parties within ten days after service of the request for review.

     (7) The order on review shall be in writing, shall include a brief statement of the reasons for the decision, and shall be entered within twenty days after the date of the initial order or of the request for review, whichever is later. The order shall include a description of any further available administrative review or, if none is available, a notice that judicial review may be available.

     (8) The record in a brief adjudicative proceeding shall consist of any documents regarding the matter that were considered or prepared by the presiding officer for the brief adjudicative proceeding and/or by the reviewing officer for any review.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW. 97-14-050, § 16-08-141, filed 6/27/97, effective 7/28/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 34.05.425. 93-10-059, § 16-08-141, filed 4/30/93, effective 5/31/93. Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW. 91-23-051, § 16-08-141, filed 11/15/91, effective 12/16/91.]

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