Sec. 10.12.04.51. Emergency Suspension

A. The Secretary may immediately suspend a license on finding that the public health, safety, or welfare imperatively requires emergency action.

B. The Department shall deliver a written notice to the center:

(1) Informing it of the emergency suspension;

(2) Giving the reasons for the action and the regulation or regulations with which the licensee has failed to comply that forms the basis for the emergency suspension; and

(3) Notifying the center of its right to request a hearing and to be represented by counsel.

C. The filing of a hearing request does not stay the emergency action.

D. When a license is suspended by emergency action:

(1) The center shall immediately return the license to the Department;

(2) The center shall stop providing adult day care services immediately; and

(3) The licensee shall notify the participants or representatives of the participants of the suspension and make every reasonable effort to assist them in making other arrangements for adult day care services.

E. A person aggrieved by the action of the Secretary under this regulation may appeal the Secretary's action by filing a request for a hearing in accordance with Regulation .53 of this chapter.

F. Show Cause Hearing. In addition to the right to request a hearing in accordance with Regulation .53 of this chapter, a person aggrieved by the action of the Secretary under this regulation shall be provided with the opportunity for a hearing to show cause why the Department should lift the summary suspension.

G. If requested in writing, the show cause hearing shall be held promptly within a reasonable time after the effective date of the order of summary suspension. The time limit for filing an appeal with the Office of Administrative Hearings to obtain an evidentiary hearing shall be tolled by the filing of a request for a show cause hearing.

H. The show cause hearing shall be a non-evidentiary hearing to provide the parties with an opportunity for oral argument on the summary suspension.

I. The show cause hearing shall be conducted before the Secretary or a designee of the Secretary, who:

(1) Shall determine procedural issues;

(2) May impose reasonable time limits on each party's oral argument; and

(3) Shall make rulings reasonably necessary to facilitate the effective and efficient operation of the show cause hearing.

J. At the conclusion of the show cause hearing, the Secretary or the Secretary's designee may:

(1) Affirm the order of summary suspension;

(2) Rescind the order of summary suspension;

(3) Enter into a consent order; or

(4) Enter into an interim order warranted by the circumstances of the case, including one providing for a stay of the summary suspension subject to certain conditions.

K. After the show cause hearing, if the Secretary or the Secretary's designee decides to continue the summary suspension, the person aggrieved by the decision may request an evidentiary hearing before the Office of Administrative Hearings in accordance with Regulation .53 of this chapter.

L. The Office of Administrative Hearings shall conduct a hearing as provided in Regulation .53 of this chapter and issue a proposed decision within the time frames set forth in COMAR 28.02.01. Exceptions may be filed by an aggrieved person pursuant to COMAR 10.01.03. The Secretary shall make a final decision pursuant to COMAR 10.01.03.

M. If the Secretary's final decision does not uphold the emergency suspension, the center may resume operation.