8 Colo. Code Regs. § 1402-1-2.118
Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 20, October 25, 2024
Section 8 CCR 1402-1-2.118 - ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW AND APPEAL PANEL PROCEDURESA. The applicant or licensee must comply with all child care licensing rules and standards, including the rule(s) subject to an appeal or materials waiver request, until the applicant or licensee has received a written decision granting the appeal or waiver.B. The Department will receive, review, and schedule all appeals and materials waiver requests for review by the appeals review panel constituted under section 26.5-5-314(5), C.R.S. 1. For hardship appeals, the Department may propose that the appeals review panel grant one or more appeals as part of a consent agenda, which the appeals review panel may approve with a single vote; except if any panel member objects to the consent agenda, the appeals on such agenda must be decided individually. The appeals review panel may not deny appeals by consent agenda.2. For emergency hardship appeals, the Department may administratively grant the appeal if it meets the definition of an emergency situation and the proposed alternate compliance plan adequately protects the health, safety, and wellbeing of children in care. If the Department does not administratively grant the emergency hardship appeal, it must schedule the appeal for review by the appeals review panel.3. For materials waiver requests, the Department will administratively grant or deny the waiver request within sixty (60) days after receipt of the request. If it denies a waiver, the Department must provide notice in its decision of the child care center's right to appeal the denial within forty-five (45) days and the center's right to meet with Department personnel as part of that appeal.4. If a child care center appeals the denial of a materials waiver request within forty-five (45) days of the denial, the Department will schedule the appeal for review by the appeals review panel within forty-five (45) days of the appeal. The entire appeal process must not last longer than one hundred (100) days from the date of the notice of denial.C. The appeals review panel will adopt a written decision recommending that the Department grant, deny, or grant with modifications an appeal or materials waiver request. The Department must send an official decision letter, including the written decision of the appeals review panel, to the applicant or licensee, within ten (10) days from the date of the appeals review panel meeting. 1. For hardship appeals and materials waiver requests, the official decision letter must be posted next to the child care license until its expiration date. If there is no expiration date, the letter expires three (3) years from its date.2. If the Department approves a hardship appeal or materials waiver request and the applicant or licensee wishes to make changes to the alternate compliance plan or safety policy submitted with the original appeal or request, the applicant or licensee must submit a new hardship appeal or materials waiver request.3. If, after the Department approves a hardship appeal or materials waiver request, the applicant or licensee violates the terms and conditions described in the approved alternate compliance plan, approved safety policy, or official decision letter, the Department's approval will immediately be rescinded and considered null and void. For purposes of this provision, any injuries, accidents, or founded complaints or investigations related to the appealed or waived licensing rule constitute a violation.D. Hearing requests 1. For hardship or stringency appeals, if an applicant or licensee is aggrieved by the decision of the Department, the applicant or licensee may request an administrative hearing pursuant to section 24-4-105, C.R.S. Written requests for an administrative hearing must be received in writing within thirty (30) calendar days from the date the applicant or licensee received the Department's decision. In all such administrative hearings, the applicant or licensee will bear the burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence.2. For appeals from denials of materials waiver requests, the Department's decision is a final agency decision subject to judicial review pursuant to section 24-4-106, C.R.S.46 CR 22, November 25, 2023, effective 12/15/2023