N.J. Admin. Code § 8:24-11.8

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 23, December 2, 2024

Section 8:24-11.8 - Hearing on enforcement actions

(a) When the Department summarily suspends the permit of a cottage food operator, the operator maintains the right to petition the Commissioner of the Department for emergency relief.

1. To request emergency relief, the cottage food operator must submit to the Department, within 30 days from the date of the notice of summary suspension, a request in writing accompanied by a response to the notice of summary suspension.

i. Failure to submit a request for emergency relief within 30 days from the date of the notice of summary suspension shall result in the cottage food operator's forfeiture of all rights to emergency relief.

2. All applications for emergency relief will be handled in accordance with N.J.A.C. 1:1-12.6(c).

3. Unless emergency relief is granted, the summary suspension shall remain in effect until lifted by either the Department or a court of competent jurisdiction.

4. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the Department from simultaneously, or thereafter, moving to suspend or revoke the permit of a cottage food operator or to issue the cottage food operator a monetary penalty.

(b) If the Department issues a notice of proposed assessment of a monetary penalty, permit suspension or revocation, and/or denial of permit issuance or renewal, the Department shall afford the applicant or permit holder an opportunity for a hearing to contest the proposed action.

1. A monetary penalty, permit suspension (excluding summary suspensions) or revocation, and/or denial of permit issuance or renewal shall become effective and final 30 days from the date of the notice of proposed action, unless the applicant or permit holder, within that 30-day period, submits a written request for a hearing to the Department with a response to the proposed action.

i. Failure to submit a written request for a hearing within 30 days from the date of the notice of proposed action shall result in the applicant or permit holder forfeiting all rights to such a hearing.

ii. If the applicant or permit holder submits a timely request for a hearing, then the monetary penalty, and/or the suspension (excluding summary suspensions), revocation, and/or denial of permit renewal shall be held in abeyance until the hearing is concluded and a final decision is rendered.

iii. A monetary penalty that is the subject of a hearing, which the applicant or permit holder timely requests pursuant to this section, is due 45 days after the Commissioner's issuance of a final agency decision determining the penalty.

iv. A revocation, suspension, or denial of issuance or renewal of a Cottage Food Operator Permit is effective immediately upon the Commissioner's issuance of a final agency decision on the action.

(c) The Department shall transmit hearing requests to the Office of Administrative Law.

(d) Hearings shall be conducted pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act, N.J.S.A. 52:14B-1et seq., and 52:14F-1 et seq., and the Uniform Administrative Procedure Rules, N.J.A.C. 1:1.

N.J. Admin. Code § 8:24-11.8

Adopted by 53 N.J.R. 1711(a), effective 10/4/2021